Elaichi ki Chai
A fragrant, comforting Indian milk tea brewed with crushed cardamom pods and sweetened with sugar. It has a rich, creamy texture and a warm, aromatic spiced flavour.
Crushed cardamom
1.1 gAdded to the pan at the start (step 1)Everything else
Method
- Add 1.25 litres (1250 g) water, 259 g milk, 150 g granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons tea leaves, and the crushed cardamom into a large, heavy saucepan.
- Place over medium-high heat, bring the liquid to a rolling boil, and maintain the boil for about 5 minutes.
- Pour the brewed chai through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof jug or directly into warm mugs to serve.
Don't have something?
Tea bagUse 1 bag for about 2 g tea leaf; open the bag if the recipe needs loose leaf.
Green tea leavesUse the same weight; lighter and less tannic, so steep a little longer and taste.
JaggeryUse equal weight; grate or shave finely so it dissolves rapidly, giving a warm, caramel-like sweetness and slightly darker sauce.
Green cardamom seedUse 35 to 40% of the total pod weight; lightly bruise the seeds before frying in oil to release their essential oils.
Ground green cardamomUse 20 to 25% of the pod weight (about 1 generous pinch per pod); stir in toward the end of cooking so the delicate floral notes do not dissipate.
White cardamom podUse 1:1 by pod count or weight; crack gently before using, though it is slightly less intensely floral.
Whole milkUse equal weight; provides the standard rich dairy fat and body expected in creamy Indian bases.
Single creamDilute 3 parts cream with 1 part water to match the weight; yields a richer, glossier gravy that resists curdling.
Plain yogurtWhisk thoroughly and use equal weight; adds extra body and a mild pleasant acidity, best added off the heat.
Similar dishes
- Same: Like this dish, Masala Chai is an Indian milk tea sweetened with granulated sugar and infused with green cardamom pods.
- Different: Masala Chai incorporates clove, cinnamon stick, ground ginger, and ground fennel seed in addition to cardamom, and uses a much larger volume of milk relative to the sugar.
- Same: Sheer Chai also relies on a rich, heated milk base.
- Different: Sheer Chai uses salt, more milk, and an aeration brewing method with bicarbonate of soda, while omitting the sugar and green cardamom pods of this dish.
- Same: Gauti Chai is a sweetened milk tea flavored with green cardamom and tea, like this dish.
- Different: Gauti Chai adds water, cinnamon stick, and lemongrass and uses a tea bag, with much less sugar and more milk than this dish, which uses loose tea leaf and no water or extra spices.
- Same: Adrak Chai shares milk, green cardamom, tea and sugar with this dish and is also brewed as a hot milk tea.
- Different: Adrak Chai uses a teabag, full-fat milk, water, fresh ginger and cassia bark, while this dish uses loose tea leaf, milk, cardamom and much more sugar.