| This recipe is liked by 0 person(s). |
Tea Masala/Chai Masala Small Batch/Quick and Easy Version
Nb persons: 16
Yield: 1 cup
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Total time:
Source: chaiwithlakshmi.in/Additional Comments by Chris OE
| 25 grams | powdered ginger |
| 6.25 grams | cloves |
| 25 grams | whole black peppercorns |
| 15 grams | cinnamon, (broken small or 40 grams ground) |
| 1/4 | nutmeg, (crushed) |
| 12.5 grams | green cardamom pods |
| Directions: 1. Blend all the non-powder ingredients in an electric grinder till you have a fine power. 2. Add the powdered Ginger and blend till it is all mixed in well. 3. Store in an air tight jar. | |
A masala is one of "any number of spice mixtures ground into a paste or powder for use in Indian cooking", A Tea masala is the spice mixture used to flavor chai tea.
The quality and freshness of the spices you use will determine the quality and spiciness of your masala. Most chai served in coffee houses in the U.S. taste a bit like pumpkin pie. This mix is stronger and spicier. If you like a more pumpkin pie like chai, you may wish to increase the proportion of spices that are familiar from that recipe, such as cinnamon and nutmeg, and cut down the others (black pepper and cardamom) proportionally. Being a home made recipe (this one is from someone's mom) I'm sure different families put their own stamp on it, some families liking a firey chai, some liking more sweet spices, and so on.
I know when I shop for spices that the ground ginger I get from oriental grocery stores and indian grocery stores is way more spicy than the ginger I get from the spice section at a traditional american grocery store, so if your masala is a little tame, you may want to try your local oriental grocery, or mail order to get more high test spices. If your spice rack has dust on it, it may be time to freshen things up. If all you have locally is your supermarket, consider Penzeys.com. Their prices are comparable to your supermarket spice rack, ounce per ounce, but their quality is way great, and they have things your supermarket will not. I have no commercial interest whatever in Penzeys. I just buy stuff there and love them. .
The way I (Chris) make chai is to mix a big tablespoon with a can of sweetned condensed milk and leave it in a jar in the fridge overnight so that the spices will infuse the syrup. Then you just put a spoonful in your tea in the morning: spicy, sweet and a lot less work. But I'm a cheater. I get up in the morning, I don't want to spend a lot of time getting my tea ready.
Recipe uploaded with Shop'NCook recipe organizer software.
Display the recipe for printing
View the .scx source of the recipe
Download the .scx source of the recipe