Chai Masala: 10 Chai Masala Powders That You Must Add To Your Tea

Chai Masala Powders That You Must Add To Your Tea

There’s nothing that a cup of tea cannot comfort. A bad start to the day, an ongoing sleepy morning, a headache, a cold, or even a heartbreak. Tea is an age-old elixir that had such a high value that in many parts of Asia back in the day, tea leave blocks were used as currency. Today, tea drinkers would agree that the mere act of brewing a cup and sipping on it is a powerful emotion. This hot or cold beverage has astounding medicinal value and has become a popular beverage for its soothing, aromatic, and wellness properties. In addition, the mere preparation of tea can enhance the beverage’s flavour, making it strong, milky, or light and flavoursome. So, if you are bored of sipping your regular cup of tea, why not experiment with a Masala chai instead? Add a dash of these delicious chai masala powder that instantly adds a pop of flavour while enhancing its medicinal property.

What’s the Difference Between Tea and Masala Chai?

In India, a basic Chai or tea represents tea boiled with or without milk and sugar. On the other hand, Masala tea takes it a step higher by combining black tea, milk with chai masala powder or select spices. Masala chai became a household beverage for the hidden masala tea benefits including its innate ability to help in soothing a plethora of ailments like indigestion, a cold, cough, headache, and more serious illnesses like joint pain, chronic inflammations while boosting immunity. If nothing, a hot cup of masala tea is refreshing, flavoursome, and stimulates vibrant overall health. The chai masala powder is added to the brewing tea to bring out the intensity of the flavour and its medicinal goodness. 

10 Chai Masala Powder to Add to Your Tea

Cinnamon Powder

One of the main ingredients of chai masala powder, cinnamon, has so many medicinal benefits and nutritional value. Research suggests that cinnamon powder could be key in reducing total cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and nausea while improving digestion with its anti-bacterial properties. Cinnamon powder is also known to reduce hunger pangs, preventing you from overeating during the day. As little as a dash of cinnamon powder in your Masala chai can do wonders!

Cardamom Powder

An aromatic powder, ground cardamom is a must in every chai masala powder mix. Probably one of the most expensive spices by weight, its flavour and health benefits set it apart. Some of the benefits include:

• Cancer-fighting compounds
• Helps digestive issues
• Treats bad breath and cavities
• Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory properties
• May lower Blood pressure

To make the perfect powder consistency, cardamom pods are cracked open to remove seeds. These are ground finely or coarse for use. The skin of the pod is either mixed with loose tea to soak the aroma and flavour or crushed with the seeds themselves to prevent the powder from encrusting. Then, boil it as a whole spice or grind with your tea to get the perfect flavour. You can also buy masala chai from a store with cardamom flavour.

Clove Powder

Cloves are the perfect antioxidant spice. It has compounds that help the body to rid free radicals that damage cells and can lead to diseases. It is also known to reduce the risk of diabetes, heart diseases, liver diseases and certain types of cancer.  Cloves also consist of Manganese, an essential mineral for steady brain function and strong bone health. When you buy masala chai readymade, you probably get the smell of cloves along with cardamom, the strongest. This black spice with a crown has an enticing flavour and is used in small amounts to boost your regular tea’s flavour instantly. 

Jeera Powder

The king in sorting out digestion issues and great for weight loss, jeera powder adds excellent benefits when combined with tea. Its bitter yet warm flavour complements the other spices in a typical chai masala powder mix too. A staple in many Indian dishes, Jeera or cumin, is thin, yellowish and oval in shape if you were to buy masala chai from a traditional tea stall, except to munch bits of jeera at the bottom of your cup for that authentic flavour.

Dry Ginger Powder

While the process of grounding ginger reduces the amount of gingerol (the active medicinal ingredient), it is still one of the top 7 ingredients to add to your cup of tea for its aroma and taste. In addition, gingerol has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects and its popular use of keeping nausea at bay.  

Mint Powder

Refreshing, reviving, aromatic. These are all synonymous with the green herb Mint that bursts with freshness. When dried and powdered to add to a steaming chai masala powder brewed tea, it’s just the perfect beverage to kick start your day or sip at the end of a heavy meal. Mint is considered to assist in digestion and is a great anti-oxidant too. 

Basil Powder

Basil or the Holy Tulsi is a medicinal plant that offers excellent support to heal from a range of health issues. It helps protect against infections, lowers blood sugar, protects the urinary system, fluid retention, rids worm infections and many more. Basil is also known to help reduce the effects of stress on our mental and physical bodies as it acts as an adaptogen. Powder the leaves of this plant to enjoy in your chai masala powder mix or sprinkle its fresh leaves after your tea has boiled. 

Orange Peel Powder

Rich in Vitamin C and with a tangy taste, orange peel powder isn’t a spice but can add an aromatic, zesty flavour to your tea. Known to soothe ailments like asthma, bronchitis, a chesty cough, colds and heartburns, orange peel powder is like magic dust to the human body.  Additional benefits include relief from constipation, aids in weight loss and promoting fat burning; the rinds of the orange fruit is dried and ground to form the powder and can float an unforgettable aroma in your home. Mix with black tea, cinnamon and honey to enjoy its benefits.

Lemon Peel Powder

Sister concern of the above, lemons too have a zesty punch in flavour and are packed in antioxidants that are extremely beneficial to the overall body. The bright yellow sour flavour enhances your regular cup of tea in taste and offers you a jolt of Vitamin C that’ll help boost your immune system. Previous research also suggests that adding lemon peel powder to your tea works as great prevention towards certain types of cancers like skin cancer. In addition, its anti-inflammatory properties can possibly relieve internal inflammation like in the walls of veins (think varicose veins, haemorrhoids, etc.). Incorporate lemon peels or its powder in your tea to add to your daily dose of nutrients.

Kadak Masala Chai Powder

A staple drink in most Indian households, there’s nothing that a kadak chai cannot resolve. A kadak masala chai is an enigmatic strong tea with a combination of spices like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, etc., with milk. The subtle balance of all tastes together in a warm and hearty cup of tea makes it a popular drink while socialising and for health too. Since it’s the combination of all powders mentioned above, it’s safe to say you get the best of all worlds in one piping hot cup.  All those wondering how to choose the right masala tea online, your search comes to an end as the Auric Kadak Masala Chai with Moringa is the finest tea with Moringa and 7 select spices as key ingredients. With each ingredient sourced from different parts of the country- you can only expect the best taste and experience. Moringa has a mix of powerful antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that act as natural immunity boosters while influencing thick hair growth and healthy skin and nails. If you want to buy masala chai that’s ready to prepare instantly, opt for a powdered mix like the Kadak Masala Chai powder that’s easy to use.

How To Prepare Kadak Masala Chai Recipe?

While you may be tempted to buy masala chai in a takeaway cup from a tea stall, why not experiment and prepare a cup for yourself at home? The beauty of a Masala chai is that it can be customised based on your personal choice. Bring a cup of water to a boil. Add one spoon full of masala tea powder to the water. Brew for a few minutes to capture the flavour (you’ll know it’s done when your kitchen smells absolutely divine!). The key to the perfect masala chai is to not boil the mix for too long as it can become bitter. So our best advice? Stick to a maximum of 2-3 minutes to brew. Add milk to this mix depending on how strong or light you like your tea to be. Finally, strain the boil into a cup, put your feet up and sip onto the most splendid experience in tea- Masala chai.

Final Words

Enjoy abundant health benefits while sipping on a hot cup of tea by incorporating a selection of these Masala powders in your daily cup. Now that you are well versed with all the spices and know your brew, the next time you buy Auric Kadak Masala Chai, you’ll definitely know which spice is playing on the tip of your tongue!

Authored By: Divya Shankar

About Author: Divya Shankar is a multifaceted content writer with 7+ years of experience. She has exclusive writing expertise in ayurveda.