With tea becoming increasingly popular throughout the United States, you’ve surely noticed that your local cafés have expanded their menus to include two types of tea that have become well-known and loved in recent years: chai tea and masala chai. While both originate in India and have some similarities, they have distinct differences in their ingredients and preparation.
Whether you’re a new or longtime tea lover, you should be aware of the differences between chai tea and masala chai so that you never have to worry about messing up your order at your favorite café again. Let’s explore what chai tea and masala chai are and how to prepare them.
What Are Chai Tea and Masala Chai?
The word “chai” means tea in several languages, meaning chai tea is essentially the same as saying ‘tea tea.’ While both chai tea and masala chai are made with black tea, their main difference is the spices used in their preparation.
Chai tea is essentially just black tea with milk and sugar, while masala chai is prepared with a blend of spices that typically includes cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and black pepper. The spices are mixed with milk and sugar to create the rich and flavorful tea beverage that we all love.
Masala chai and chai tea are often confused for each other, as some regions use their names interchangeably and they both originate from black tea. In fact, many cafés sell the spiced tea beverage known as masala chai, but call it chai tea as it is widely accepted under this name. If you’re ever unsure, you can ask the barista if it’s a traditional chai tea (black tea with milk and sugar) or if it’s prepared with spices.
Now that you know the technical differences between these two popular tea beverages, let’s take a look at how to prepare them at home.
Chai Tea and Masala Chai Recipes
Chai Tea Recipe
As we know by now, chai tea is very simple to make. Here’s what you’ll need:
Chai Tea Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 2-3 tablespoons loose black tea or 3-4 tea bags
- Sugar or honey to taste
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil.
- Add the tea leaves or tea bags to the water and let it simmer for another 3-4 minutes.
- Add milk and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes, making sure not to let it boil.
- Strain the tea using a fine mesh strainer.
- Sweeten with sugar or honey to taste.
And that’s it! Similar to your favorite coffee, you can adjust the recipe to better fit your preference, such as adding extra sugar or using a higher milk-to-water ratio.
Chai Masala Recipe
Making chai masala can be as easy or as hard as you make it. Traditionally, chai masala is made with whole, fresh spices; however, this requires more time than using pre-made spices that you can find at the store. We’re going to provide both options so that you can experiment with both and find the one that works for you. If you choose powdered spices, don’t worry! It will still result in a café-worthy chai masala.
Masala Chai Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups milk
- 2-3 tablespoons loose black tea or 3-4 tea bags
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4-5 cardamom pods
- 4-5 whole cloves
- 1-2 slices fresh ginger
*Option: the above spices in powder - Sugar or honey to taste
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil.
- Break up the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, cloves, and ginger using a mortar and pestle.
- Add the crushed ingredients to the water and let it boil for about 5 minutes.
Note: If you use powdered spices, add them to the pot at this time. The idea is to make a blend that’s balanced but also made to your liking, which is why there’s such variety in ratios for this mix. For instance, if you only like a minor ginger flavor, then your ratio should be less than cinnamon, for example. - Add the tea leaves or tea bags to the water and let it simmer for another 3-4 minutes.
- Add milk and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes, making sure not to let it boil.
- Strain the tea and spices using a fine mesh strainer.
- Sweeten with sugar or honey to taste.
Whether you use powdered spices or fresh ingredients, you should adjust the recipe to fit your preference. It may take a couple of tries to find the perfect ratio of spices for your liking, but that’s part of the fun!
Come Enjoy a Spiced Tea at Pax & Beneficia
Both chai tea and masala chai have a beautiful history that originates in India, and we’re excited to be a part of the tradition. Come and visit one of our signature cafés for a specialized tea or coffee experience. When you stop by, make sure to tell the barista whether you want a spiced tea or a classic black tea with milk and sugar, and we’ll gladly make it exactly how you like it.
