Xanthan Gum Free Masala Chai

Total time20 min

Prep time5 min

Cook time15 min

4.6

(15)

Warm, spiced, and deeply aromatic, this homemade chai is the kind of drink that makes you slow down and actually enjoy your morning. Whole spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper are simmered low and slow to coax out every bit of their fragrance before the tea even hits the pot. Fresh ginger adds a gentle heat that builds beautifully, and the whole milk rounds everything out into something rich and satisfying. For anyone navigating thickener sensitivities, this recipe is naturally in the clear — every single ingredient is a whole food or pantry staple with zero additives to worry about. The technique of bringing the milk and tea to a gentle boil together is what gives this chai its signature caramel color and full-bodied flavor, rather than just dunking a bag in hot water. Straining it through a fine-mesh sieve into your mug feels like a small ritual, and the result tastes like something you'd pay too much for at a café.

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Ingredients

4 servings

8 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
1 cinnamon stick (about 3 inches)
4 whole cloves
6 black peppercorns
1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced
1 star anise (optional)
2 cups water
3 tsp loose-leaf black tea or 3 black tea bags (such as assam or darjeeling)
2 cups whole milk
2–3 tbsp sugar, or to taste

Instructions

1
Combine the cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, cloves, peppercorns, ginger, and star anise (if using) in a medium saucepan with the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes, until the water is fragrant and lightly tinted.
2
Add the black tea and simmer for 2 minutes, until the liquid is a deep amber-brown.

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