If you are in search of a Chai Tea Recipe, you should realize that each Chai Tea Recipe is unique. Chai Tea has become popular in the West through popular coffee shops, such as Starbucks, and some people may know that it is actually a much-loved traditional Indian drink. And like so many things from India – be it religion, politics, music, culture, food, style – there is never any standardized way of doing anything. Everyone has their own variation. Its kind of like Christmas traditions, where families might their egg nog or cakes in their own special way.

Despite the variation, any Chai Tea Recipe has a basic foundation. The variation comes more in the flourishes.

The Chai Tea Recipe that I use is not the Starbucks variety (which can actually be bought, as they use Tazo Chai Tea.) It is a traditional Indian Chai Tea recipe, but on the very milky side.

In case you didn't know, Indian sweets are heavily milk-based. They are also extremely sweet. (You need to train yourself to take that level of sugar if you are not used to it. Not a good combination for weight watchers and dieters!)

I am a lover of Indian sweets and my Chai Tea Recipe follows that style in one respect. My recipe is made with all milk, no water.

However, in a break with the Indian tradition, I do not include sugar in my chai tea recipe. Because different people, and different cultures, have varying tolerance toward sugar, some are weight conscious, etc. I prefer to add sugar to individual cups, as with "normal" tea. (In fact, because I like to drink my chai tea with Indian sweets, I do not take sugar in my chai tea at all.) 

If you are concerned about the fat levels, you can use low-fat or non-fat milk. I do use low-fat milk when I make my Chai Tea Recipe. (Not skimmed milk, however, as the flavour is completely gone from that.)

My Chai Tea Recipe is as follows:

 

Anita’s Basic Chai Tea Recipe™

• 5 cups of milk (nonfat, low-fat, 2%, or full cream)
• 4 cloves (whole)
• 5 cardamom pods (slightly crushed to allow the seeds to be exposed)
• 1 stick of cinnamon
• 5 peppercorns
• ½ teaspoon of grated ginger
• 3 teabags, or loose black tea (your favourite brand of black tea)

Directions:

1. Bring everything to a boil on low heat, stirring regularly. (Keep standing by the stove to ensure that the milk does not boil over.)
2. Add three teabags (or the three teaspoons of loose black tea)
3. Keep boiling for 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Turn off the flame/heat, let stand for 10 minutes.
5. Strain and serve hot.
6. Sweeten to taste (in individual cups). 

 

If you do not wish to use only milk, I do have a variation of my Chai Tea Recipe that mixes milk and water, more like  "regular" tea.

 

Anita’s Chai Tea Recipe™ (Variation with Water and Milk):

1. As above, but use 4 cups of water instead of 5 cups of milk.
2. After everything comes to a boil, add ½ cup of full cream (or low fat) milk and ½ cup of evaporated milk. Bring to a boil, add three teabags (or three teaspoons of loose black tea). Keep boiling for 1 to 2 minutes. 
3. Turn off the flame / heat, let stand for 10 minutes.
4. Strain and serve hot.
5. Sweeten to taste (in individual cups).

 

Once you get the hang of this Chai Tea Recipe and can make it easily, you should not be afraid to experiment with different amounts of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, etc. according to your taste and / or dietary needs. Then you can make the Chai Tea Recipe all your own.

 

 

 

Try it out and let me know how you like it at anita@chaiteasite.com. Let me know of any variations you have, and I can post it on a separate page of Chai Tea Recipes.

If you want to try other types of Chai Tea, you can also explore this site to find some very interesting Chai Tea variations. From Rooibos Chai, to Chocolate Chai, to Coconut Chai, click on the sidebar to find out more!

 

Got Questions? We Answer Your Questions About Chai Tea Recipe With Milk here.