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There’s nothing better than a warm, cozy cup of masala chai tea on a chilly, fall day. Something about those aromatic spices just instantly soothe your soul and make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. This recipe has become an absolute favorite of mine and is something I genuinely look forward to each year when the temperatures start to drop and leaves begin to change color. In our house, the cozy season officially begins with that first batch of masala chai. As long as I’ve got all the spices on hand, I can have this recipe ready in no time, and the bonus is: the smell that takes over the house is better than any scented candle or air freshener you can find. I’ve even started making chai spice kits as holiday gifts because they’re so easy to put together and have been a huge hit with everyone I’ve gifted them to!
What is Masala Chai?
Masala chai originated in India and is traditionally made by brewing black tea with milk, sugar, and a blend of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger and pepper. The word “chai” in Hindi actually translates into “tea” and was derived from the Chinese word “cha”. Some version of this spiced tea has a long history and has been enjoyed for thousands of years, but has more recently gained popularity starting in the early 20th century. Masala chai is now enjoyed all over the world and can be found in any common grocery store and most coffee shops. My version of masala chai is certainly not authentic, but still provides the cozy taste of chai spices without any dairy or sugar so it can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone, regardless of dairy allergies or other diet restrictions.
Lets talk about the ingredients and their benefits:
- Cinnamon: Loaded with antioxidants, highly anti-inflammatory as well as antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. Helps lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar and reduces risk of heart disease and cancer.
- Cloves: Contain powerful vitamins and minerals, particularly manganese. Cloves are high in antioxidants and support liver health and bone health. They have anticancer and antibacterial properties and can help regulate blood sugar.
- Ginger: This wonderful root is absolutely full of incredible medicinal properties and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. I could write an entire post on the list of benefits ginger provides, but some of the main ones are it’s anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea effects. It’s packed with antioxidants and helps to support digestive health, heart health, joint health, and blood sugar control.
- Star anise: Rich source of antioxidants with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, and antifungal properties.
- Peppercorns: Support liver health and digestive health. High in antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, and manganese. Contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
- Cardamom pods: Support heart health, liver health, and digestive health, as well as blood sugar levels. Great source of antioxidants with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects.
- Black tea: Supports cardiovascular health, bone health, gut health, and can help regulate blood sugar. Black tea is also rich in antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.
- Maple syrup: You may be surprised to hear that maple syrup actually contains lots of antioxidants and other nutrients and is on of the best options when it comes to plant-based sweeteners.
- Vanilla extract: Vanilla actually contains a variety of health benefits, mainly due to the active compound, vanillin, which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, and neuroprotective properties.
- Oat milk: Oat milk is always my go-to milk alternative because of it’s creamy texture and neutral flavor. All plant-based milks contain a variety of nutrients, but oat milk in particular is a great source of protein, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals and has been shown to reduce blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and help protect against cancer.
Below is a step-by-step guide to making masala chai, with a full recipe summary and measurements at the bottom of the page.
Step 1:
Fill a small saucepan with 2 cups of water and add all the spices, as well as the tea bag, maple syrup and vanilla. Although it’s not shown in the picture, add the oat milk at this point as well to allow maximum infusion of the spices and flavor. Turn the heat to medium low and allow the spices to infuse for about 10-15 minutes.
Step 2:
Strain the liquid through a sieve and discard spices. Drink as a hot tea or optionally serve over ice. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to a week.
As you can see, this masala tea recipe is so easy to make and as long as you’ve got the spices on hand, you can have it ready in less than 15 minutes, whenever you’re craving those warm, winter holiday spices in a cup. The best part is, this fantastic blend of medicinal spices are not only delicious, but deeply healing for your gut and digestive system and will leave your body feeling healthy and happy. If you follow these instructions to make your own masala tea, please let me know in the comments down below how it turns out! I always love to hear your feedback.
How to make chai spice kits for a holiday gift:
Chai spice kits have become a regular addition to my homemade gift bags that I send my family and friends each year and they’re very easy to put together! I just add all the spices and the tea bag to a cute little gift bag and include a small note with the instructions. All they have to do is steep the contents of the bag with 2 cups of water and a cup of milk, add a splash of vanilla and sweeten with maple syrup or sweetener of their choice. As a bonus, I also include variations of how they can use the spice kit by making a chai simple syrup (steep in 2 cups water, strain and add equal parts sugar to liquid) or a simple chai tea, without the milk and sweetener.
Useful Equipment:
Homemade Masala Chai (Dairy-Free and Sugar-Free)
Ingredients
- 1-2 cups oat milk
- 1 black tea bag
- 5 whole cloves
- 8 cardamom pods
- 10 peppercorns
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- 5-6 slices of ginger root fresh or dried
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small saucepan with 2 cups of water and bring to a low boil over medium heat.
- Simmer for 10-15 minutes to allow to spices to infuse.
- Strain liquid through a sieve and discard spices.
- Enjoy as a hot drink or pour over ice. Store in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to a week.
