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Masala Chai – Spiced Tea with Almond Milk and Fresh Ginger

Masala chai, or mixed spice tea, is a drink from India made by brewing black tea with milk and a mixture of spices like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves. It’s my go-to drink for this time of year and perfect for the holiday season. Instead of regular milk, I sometimes add almond milk whenever I make a fresh batch. The subtle flavor of the almonds is a nice complement to this aromatic tea.

Some people prefer unsweetened chai tea, however, I think some sweetness enhances the spices. For a healthier version, I added chopped dates to the mix but you can use honey or sugar. If you’re vegan, you can use all almond milk in this recipe, or alternatively use 1/2 cup of regular milk to achieve a more familiar consistency. Serve with vegan cocoa almond cookies made from the leftover almond milk pulp.

Masala Chai – The Perfect Winter Drink

Lightly crush cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. Add crushed spices, ginger, dates & pepper to water. Boil then simmer.

Add milk and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add tea. Steep for 4-5 minutes.

Strain out spices, then pour tea into serving cups or tea pot.

Masala Chai Recipe

  • 3-4 cardamom pods
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3-4 whole cloves
  • 1 inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced
  • 2-3 dates, chopped
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 3 cups water
  • 1/2 cup almond milk
  • 1/2 cup regular milk (use all almond milk for vegan version)
  • 2 heaping tablespoons of loose leaf black tea (Darjeeling or Assam)
  • honey or vanilla sugar (optional for more sweetness)

    Lightly crush cardamon pods, cinnamon and cloves in a mortar and pestle.

    Put water in a pot and add crushed cardamon, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, dates and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer for 4 minutes. Remove from heat and let the spices infuse their flavor for another 4-5 minutes.

    Add the milk and almond milk to the pan and bring back to a boil. Remove from heat and add the tea. Cover the pot, remove from heat and let it steep for 4-5 minutes.

    Masala Chai is ready! Use a fine sieve and strain it into a teapot or directly into serving cups. Add honey or vanilla sugar if you like sweeter tasting tea.

    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Yield: 4 servings

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