Tea Info › How to Make Chai

How to Make Chai

Chai is black tea, or caffeine-free rooibos, blended with warming spices like ginger, cardamom and cinnamon. It's made for milk. Here are two easy ways to make it: a quick teapot method and the traditional stovetop method.

A saucepan of creamy chai on the stove beside two glass mugs of chai and whole spices: cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, star anise and ginger

The Everyday Teapot Method

Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil, 212°F.
Put 1 heaping teaspoon of chai into the teapot for each 8 oz cup.
Pour the boiling water into the teapot, cover, and let it steep for 4–5 minutes. (For Rooibos Chai, steep 5–7 minutes.)
While the chai is brewing, get your cup ready: add 2 teaspoons of sugar and milk to fill about 20% of the cup, or to taste. Steamed milk gives a richer taste.
When the chai is ready, strain it into your cup and stir.

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The Traditional Stovetop Method

This is how masala chai is often made at home in India: simmered right in the pot with milk.

Put 3 teaspoons of chai, 8 oz of water and 16 oz of milk into a saucepan. Stir and bring it to a boil.
When it boils, lower the heat and simmer for 3–5 minutes. Watch carefully: it can foam up very quickly.
Turn off the heat and stir in sugar or honey to taste.
Strain out the leaves and pour the chai into cups.

For a thinner brew, use 3 teaspoons of chai with 16 oz of water and 16 oz of milk instead.