Karak chai. Take your afternoon tea time up a notch with this spiced tea. The name literally translates to “strong tea”, and it’s a variation of classic masala chai. This warm and cozy drink features simple tea infused with spices like cardamom and cinnamon, and the addition of evaporated milk makes it extra rich and creamy. Perfect way to beat the winter blues!
You might be familiar with masala chai and chai latte, but have you ever heard of this creamy version of spiced tea? It involves tea infused with classic spices like cinnamon and cardamom. The tea, originally from South Asian countries, is hugely popular in the Gulf countries. Every cafe has their own recipe for the perfect cuppa, but I think sweetness in the form of caramelized sugar or even caramel syrup is a welcome addition.
So, what is so special about this tea? The basic components are just tea, milk and sugar. The creaminess is what makes it so good, and it comes from evaporated milk. The tea leaves give it a very strong flavor which is brilliantly balanced by the addition of evaporated milk and whole milk. As I mentioned before, caramelized sugar is totally optional, but it tastes so good.
Key Ingredients In Karak Chai
- Tea - Loose tea is perfect, but tea from tea bags is also great.
- Evaporated milk - The essential ingredient to make tea rich and creamy.
- Spices - Cardamom and cinnamon.
- Sugar - Caramelized sugar add the much needed sweetness to the chai.
How To Make Karak Chai
Caramelize sugar - This step is optional. Place sugar in a saucepan and let it melt slowly to get an amber color. Pour in water immediately and let it boil.
Make tea - To this mixture, you will need to add the tea leaves, cardamom and cinnamon. Bring to a simmer and then add whole milk and evaporated milk. Ideally, this tea mixture needs to simmer for about 10 minutes. The aroma and color of this tea is just mesmerizing!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 cups water
- 2 teaspoons high quality loose leaf tea or emptied from tea bags
- 2 cardamom pods
- 1 cm cinnamon stick
- 2-3 saffron strands optional
- ½ cup evaporated milk
- ¼ cup whole milk
Instructions
- Add sugar to a saucepan and place it over medium heat.
- Let sugar caramelize to get a vibrant amber color.
- Pour in water.
- At this stage, the sugar crystals may harden.
- Bring to a boil.
- Add tea leaves, cardamom and cinnamon.
- Add saffron, if using.
- Bring to a boil. Simmer for about 2 minutes.
- Add evaporated milk and whole milk.
- Stir to combine.
- Simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Strain into a pot, and serve.
Video
Notes
- Caramelized sugar - The traditional recipe doesn’t use caramelized sugar, but it adds another depth of flavor. Skip if you don’t like it and add sugar just before serving.
Nutrition
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Check out more tea recipes:
- Masala Chai - The classic indian spiced tea.
- Chai Hot Chocolate - Simple hot chocolate infused with chai spices.
- Homemade Hot Chocolate - The warm winter hug in a cup.
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