Tea Spice Powder ( Chai Masala)

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To call me a chai enthusiast would be somewhat of an understatement, a bit like saying that the sun can be a little bright :-) For me chai can in turn refresh, revive or soothe depending on my current frame of mind, and I am convinced that only the prospect of having morning chai gets me out of my bed. When I say chai I mean tea that is made with spices and has some milk added to it, what is known as chai latte in the coffee shops these days, not black tea. I am pretty specific about the strength of the tea, the quantity of the milk, ginger and spices to be added to the tea. In short, about tea, I am very very picky :-)

Since I am so specific about my chai I find that the masalas(tea spice powder) that I get in the stores just do not cut it with me. The solution.... I make my own chai masala and find that I vastly prefer it to the store bought ones. This chai masala is something that I keep in hand most times. I make it with the spices I like in my tea. I have not referred to any particular recipe but have used proportions that work for me. I use this chai masala in pretty much the same proportion in my chai as I had used this other masala I posted a while ago . If you like masala chai, try this masala you will be sure to stay away from the store bought versions after using this:-)




Here is a picture of some of the spices used in this chai masala



Click here for a printable view of this recipe

Ingredients and Method to make Chai Masala

25 whole green cardamoms (elaichi/ ellakkai)
2 (2 inch pieces) of cinnamon (Dalchini/ pattai)
1 tsp whole black pepper (Kala miri/ Milagu)
1 tsp dried mint (optional)
2 star anise (Anas phal)
5 whole cloves (laung)
1 tsp ginger powder

Break down cinnamon sticks with a mortar and pestle into smaller pieces.

Grind together all the ingredients mentioned above in a spice grinder until fine

Keep in an air tight container and use as required

I use this tea masala in the same proportion in my tea as this one I posted a while ago.

Yields about 7 heaped teaspoons of masala

Notes

You can easily double the quantity of spices to make more masala and store up for a little while.