BA's Best Masala Chai

Name: BA's Best Masala Chai
Yield: 4 Servings
Ingredients: 1 1½-inch piece fresh ginger, unpeeled, coarsely grated; 1 3-inch cinnamon stick, lightly crushed with the flat side of a knife; 6 teaspoons loose strong black tea (such as Assam) or 6 tea bags (such as PG Tips); 14 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed, or ¾ teaspoon cardamom seeds, lightly crushed; 2¾ cups milk; ¼ cup pure maple syrup

By Carla Lalli MusicPhotography by Alex Lau

February 9, 2016

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Photo by Alex Lau

This chai is definitively ginger-forward. Feel free to add a little more maple syrup if you like it on the sweeter side. This is part of BA's Best, a collection of our essential recipes.

Recipe information

Yield
4 Servings

Ingredients

1 1½-inch piece fresh ginger, unpeeled, coarsely grated

1 3-inch cinnamon stick, lightly crushed with the flat side of a knife

6 teaspoons loose strong black tea (such as Assam) or 6 tea bags (such as PG Tips)

14 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed, or ¾ teaspoon cardamom seeds, lightly crushed

2¾ cups milk

¼ cup pure maple syrup

Preparation

Step 1
Bring ginger, cinnamon, and 3½ cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Lower heat and simmer rapidly, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced by a third and very fragrant, about 20 minutes.
Step 2
Remove pan from heat, stir in tea and cardamom, and let steep 2 minutes.
Step 3
Return pan to medium-high heat and stir in milk and maple syrup. Cook, stirring occasionally and keeping a close watch, until mixture begins to foam up and boil, about 5 minutes. Immediately remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes. Strain chai through a fine-mesh sieve into a teapot or pitcher and serve.

TagsHot Drink Beverages Ginger Herbs & Spices Cardamom Cinnamon Quick Easy Nonalcoholic Healthyish Bon Appétit

Recipe information

Ingredients

Preparation

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Recipe notes