In this recipe, the well-loved Masala Chai – India’s famous spiced tea, comes together with superfood chia seeds to produce an aromatic and nutrient-dense drink – a superb immunity and energy booster.
Combining the rich flavour of Masala Chai and the gelatin texture of chia seeds, the Masala-Chia Chai is your perfect healthy alternative when you need it.
Packed with a ton of health benefits, chia seeds are native to Mexico’s ancient Mayan civilisation and among the healthiest food on the planet. They are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fibre, iron and calcium.
This rejuvenating tea is delicious enough to be enjoyed on its own or with your favourite choice of (dairy or dairy-free) milk.
What you’ll need
Ingredients for two
- 10-14 cardamom pods
- 6-8 cloves
- 1 star anise
- 10 peppercorns
- 2 cups water
- 3 slices ginger
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 heaped tablespoon loose leaf black tea
- Optional: milk of your choice (we used soy milk)
- Optional: 2–3 teaspoons sweetener – honey, maple syrup or agave syrup
- 2 tbsps chia seeds
- Ice
How to make it
- Lightly crush cardamom, cloves, star anise, peppercorns and star anise using a pestle, and place in a small pot with 2 cups water.
- Add ginger, cinnamon and black tea.
- Bring to a boil. Turn off heat, cover, and let steep for 10 minutes.
- Remove cover and leave to cool completely. Alternatively, if you’re in a hurry, pour into a bottle filled with ice and leave in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.
- Portion tea into two glasses, then add 1 tbsp of chia seeds into each glass.
- Leave to stand for 20 minutes for chia seeds to fully bloom.
- Add milk if desired.
- Sweeten, and add ice.