Adrak wali Chai or Ginger tea, is a popular Indian beverage made with black tea leaves (or tea bags), milk, ginger, and sugar. Serve this comforting beverage along with morning breakfast or evening snacks.
Recipe Snapshot
- Prep time: 5 minutes
- Cook time: 10 minutes
- Total time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2-3 teaspoons loose leaf black tea ((or 2 tea bags))
- 1 inch ginger (freshly grated)
- 2 cardamoms
- 2 teaspoons sugar (adjust to taste)
Method
Boil the Water with Cardamom and Ginger
- In a saucepan, bring water to a boil over medium-high heat, then add the crushed cardamom.
- Grate a 1-inch piece of ginger directly into the pot of water. Boil for 2-3 minutes, or until the water turns a light yellowish color. This method ensures that all the flavors from the ginger and cardamom are fully infused into the water.
Add Tea Leaves and Sugar
- Next, add the loose black tea leaves (or tea bags) and sugar (if using) to the boiling water.
- Allow the tea to boil for another 1-2 minutes until it reaches a deep red hue, but be careful not to over-boil, as it may become bitter.
Add Milk and Boil the Chai
- Add the milk and bring the tea to a rolling boil. Then, reduce the heat and let it simmer for another 5 minutes until the tea deepens in color. Simmering allows the tea to thicken and enhance its flavor.
- Increase the heat to high and bring the chai to a rolling boil once more. When the chai is ready, a layer of milk cream will form on top. Turn off the stove at this point. Note: You can simmer it for a longer time if you prefer a thicker consistency or a deeper color in your tea.
Strain and Serve
- Pour the tea through a fine mesh sieve or tea strainer directly into cups or teapots. Drink hot!
Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note
Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.