Chai can include a number of different spices. Cardamom is the most common ingredient, followed by some mixture of cinnamon, ginger, star anise and cloves. Pepper, coriander, nutmeg and fennel are also used, but they are slightly less common.
As a drinker of purebred coffees and teas, I was skeptical about chai and its maelstrom of spices, its blast of sugar. I lumped chai drinkers in with owners of tiny, transportable dogs and wearers of miniskirts with UGGs (full disclosure: I almost bought a pair last year. Almost.) Then, a few years ago, I was writing about Naomi Duguid and Jeffrey Alford, who had just published Mangoes & Curry Leaves. And there in their book was a recipe for Cardamom Chai. I was surprised by the ingredients, which were nothing more than milk, Assam tea, freshly crushed cardamom and sugar. Their chai recipe is one they modeled on Indian chai shops, and is made by boiling the tea for a minute or so before whisking in a cardamom-infused milk and a whisper of sugar. I gave it a try and it soon became not only a personal addiction but a favorite household pick-me-up when our kids were toddlers and the afternoons were long. When I’d call my friend Elyse to set up a playdate, she’d ask, “Are you making the chai?” Before you know it, I may be buying a miniature dog. —Amanda Hesser
Mornings in India are incomplete without chai, a drink which is now very popular in the western world as well. Chai is a blend of milk, loose black tea leaves, water and lots of other spices. There’s a lot on spices that can go into the chai like cloves, cinnamon, fennel seeds etc. however this one has only 2 – ginger and green cardamom. The tea flavored with these two are the most popular back home, commonly known as adrak wali chai (ginger tea) and elaichi chai (cardamom tea).
* I do not add sugar in my chai hence I have not mentioned the quantity of sugar in the recipe. You can add as much as you like, according to me 1/2 teaspoon cane sugar per cup should be good enough.
The popularity of chai has gone up tremendously in recent times. I mean all the coffee chains here in US do have chai on their menu. Even though the chai latte on their menu doesn’t taste exactly like the Indian chai but it’s close enough, it has milk and spices and I drink it all the time when I’m travelling. My morning doesn’t begin until and unless I sip on my hot chai and even though this is made every day in my kitchen I never though of posting this on the blog, not until today.
Everyone has their own preference when it comes to chai, the list is really long. Some like more milk in their chai, some do not like milk at all. Some prefer stronger chai while others would want very little tea flavor in their chai. Some would not like any spices in their chai while others would not drink it unless there are spices in it (like me!). So you see this recipe can also be adjusted according to preference and taste. If you want a stronger ginger flavor, add more ginger. If you like “milky chai”, add more milk and so on. This is the version that I like and that’s what I’m sharing here.
How to Make Cardamom Tea
FAQ
What is chai tea made of?
What is the difference between cardamom and masala chai tea?
What foods have cardamom in them?
What are the flavors in chai tea?
What is cardamom Chai?
Cardamom Chai is more or less very similar to doodh patti. It gives us the flexibility to make chai in the microwave or in a tea kettle since we’re not looking to develop the flavor from a ton of spices. Cardamom is pretty great at releasing flavor when exposed to heat in a short period of time.
What are the benefits of cardamom tea?
Cardamom seed pods are used as a spice to flavor savory and sweet dishes. The entire pod or just the seeds within the pods can be used whole or ground. Green and black cardamom pods are also used by Ayurvedic practitioners and are commonly used to make cardamom tea. Green cardamom is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids such as luteolin, anthocyanin, and quercetin, which offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Cardamom is also rich in minerals, vitamins, and other beneficial plant compounds. One recent study in 194 women with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) found a beneficial anti-inflammatory effect of 3 grams of green cardamom in PCOS women. PCOS is an endocrine disorder and a common cause of infertility among women that is associated with low-grade inflammation.
Does cardamom tea have caffeine?
Pure cardamom tea is a herbal tea, and it’s caffeine free so it’s suitable for any time of the day or night. However, when blended with real tea leaves, for example green or black tea, it will always contain caffeine. The caffeine content will depend on the type of tea and the brewing method.
What is cardamom chai masala?
Cardamom is a basic ingredient in Indian curries and Indian chai masala tea. This comes as no surprise, as this spice is native to India. However, today it’s growing in other countries too. Interestingly, cardamom belongs to the same botanical family as ginger and turmeric – Zingiberaceae. There are two types of cardamom – green and black.