Karak Chai | Indian Tea Recipe

Karak Chai | Indian Tea Recipe | Doodh Wali Chai | How To Make Kadak Chai At Home

Karak Chai | Indian Tea Recipe | Doodh Wali Chai | How To Make Kadak Chai At Home with step by step instructions.

Kadak Chai is that cup of exhilarating tea needed to jumpstart and give momentum to your daily routine.

Karak Chai and beyond.

Karak Chai is strongly embedded in Indian culture and now other lifestyles as well. Families spend time chatting and enjoying their sips of Karak Chai. Be it office, while driving, or at home, a cup of Karak Chai is always a treat.  One sees tea vendors on road sides, pulling up their caramel colored tea to create the foamy Kadak Chai. Throughout the year, tea stalls have heavy foot fall of Karak Chai lovers.

One cutting Chai please!

Must have heard this at the tea vendors predominantly in Mumbai. Well, this is individual small or half portion of Kadak Chai normally served in special shot size glasses or paper cups. It makes sense to me! To stay energized, it is preferable to sip on modest amounts of Karak Chai throughout the day while gobbling vada pav, samosa, muffins or biscuits.

What Is Karak/Kadak Chai

Literally ‘Karak/Kadak’ means strong, ‘Chai’ means tea.

Karak Chai is a traditional tea of the Indian subcontinent comprising of dried tea leaves that is brewed to a dark color. Then to this, sugar and milk is added and simmered further to give a caramel color. Ginger or cardamom maybe added for subtle flavors but not mandatory. The perfect Karak Chai has a balance between the creaminess and caramel hue of the simmering tea.

Karak Chai has gained popularity in Middle East as well as other countries across the globe.

Is Kadak Chai different from Karak Masala Chai

The word ‘Masala’ is missing in the former, simple isn’t it? Jokes apart!

Kadak Chai essentially is made of loose tea leaves, sugar and milk. May have subtle flavors of ginger or cardamom.

Karak Masala Chai is Kadak Chai that is flavored with more spices more masala such as cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds, pepper corn etc. Generally, a Chai masala premix powder- store bought or homemade- is used for making Karak Masala Chai.

Karak Chai with Whole milk

Whole milk is preferred for making Kadak Chai. Skimmed milk will not give the desired creaminess.  The ratio of water to milk could be 1.5:1 or 1:1 depending on individual preferences.

Karak Chai with Evaporated Chai.

Evaporated milk also gives good results. Use less amount of this as compared to whole milk since it is thicker.  

Desserts made with evaporated milk taste awesome such as Apple Pancake, Eggless Bread Pudding Dessert with Raisins

Nowadays some use a bit of condensed milk. Just the right amount of milk for the perfect creaminess is what I am talking about. Not a tea shake!!

Ingredients for Kadak Chai

For Measurements refer to RECIPE CARD further below

• Tea: Loose tea leaves are preferred instead of tea bags. 
• Water
• Sugar: Omit for people with sugar related issues. Sugar does affect the taste and color of tea.
• Spices for Karak Chai: Ginger – Not mandatory for Kadak Chai. Fresh ginger is preferred. Use in moderation for subtle flavors Cardamom: Not mandatory for Karak Chai. Use only for subtle flavors
• Milk: Traditionally whole milk is used. Skimmed milk or lot fat milk does not give the desired creaminess to Kadak Chai.  Evaporated milk too goes well since is thick and creamy. The proportion of water and milk changes if using whole milk or evaporated milk. I must add here, if using evaporated milk, then you must you use cardamom flavored variety or add cardamom to the tea.

Karak Chai is:

Soothing when you are sick

Warm to shield oneself in winters

Rejuvenating when tired

Revives spirit to keep away boredom

Gingery to fight back cold

Video Recipe on Karak Chai

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How to Make Karak Chai At Home

With step by step instructions

Firstly, heat up a pot or saucepan of water on medium-high heat.

Let the water just start to simmer.

Grate the ginger directly into the pot of water. You may add freshly ground ginger.

Reduce heat to medium. Bring the water to a boil.

Now add the tea leaves. Boil for 1-2 minutes till dark in color.

At this stage add sugar. For sugar-free, skip this step.

After a minute, add milk and let it simmer.

Pull the tea a few times to help mix all the ingredients.

Bring the tea to a boil, make sure the tea doesn’t overflow.

Add cardamom at this time.

Once the tea gets 2-3 boils and takes up a caramel-color hue,turn off the gas.

Strain the tea into a glass/mug/kulhad.

What to serve with Karak Chai

Serve Hot Karak Chai with rusks, cookies such as eggless Vanilla Choco Chunk Cookies or cakes like Eggless Mawa Cake or Dates Cake with Walnuts

For high tea parties here’s what else you can serve with Karak Chai

Noodles Samosa

Crispy Potato Pakora

Tips for Perfect Kadak Chai

Add the tea leaves once the water simmers.

Do not boil the tea leaves for long, else it will turn bitter.

Pull the tea as you bring it to a boil, this allows the flavors to combine and creates a frothy mixture.

Adding cardamom towards the end will enhance the flavor of the tea.

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Recipe Card 

Karak Chai | Indian Tea Recipe

Karak Chai is a traditional tea of the Indian subcontinent comprising of dried tea leaves that are brewed to a dark color. To this, sugar and milk is added and simmered further to give a caramel color. Ginger or cardamom maybe added for subtle flavors but not mandatory. The perfect Karak Chai has a balance between the creaminess and caramel hue of the simmering tea.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Course Beverages

Cuisine Indian

Servings 2 cups

Equipment

• 1 Saucepan
• 1 strainer
• 1 ladle

Ingredients

  

• 1.25 cups water
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1-2 pcs cardamoms crushed.
• 1.5 tsp loose tea leaves
• 2-3 tsp sugar
• ¾ cup whole milk

Instructions

 

• Firstly, heat up a pot or saucepan of water on medium-high heat.
• Let the water just start to simmer.
• Grate the ginger directly into the pot of water. You may add freshly ground ginger.
• Reduce heat to medium. Bring the water to a boil.
• Now add the tea leaves. Boil for 1-2 minutes till dark in color.
• At this stage add sugar. For sugar free, skip this step.
• After a minute, add milk and let it simmer.
• Pull the tea a few times to help mix all the ingredients.
• Bring the tea to a boil, make sure the tea doesn’t overflow.
• Add cardamom at this time.
• Once the tea gets 2-3 boils and takes up a caramel-color hue, turn off the gas.
• Strain the tea into a glass/mug.

What to serve with Karak Chai

• Serve Hot Karak Chai with rusks, cookies such as eggless Vanilla Choco Chunk Cookies or cakes like Eggless Mawa Cake or Dates Cake with Walnuts Cake
• For high tea parties here’s what else you can serve with Karak Chai -Noodles Samosa Crispy Potato Pakora

Notes

• Add the tea leaves once the water simmers.
• Do not boil the tea leaves for long, else it will turn bitter.
• Pull the tea as you bring it to a boil, this allows the flavors to combine and creates a frothy mixture.
• Adding cardamom towards the end will enhance the flavor of the tea.

Keyword Doodh Wali Chai recipe, How to make Kadak Chai, Indian Chai, Kadak Chai, Karak Chai

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FAQ

How do I know when the Chai is done

Watch out for a caramel color. The color of tea must neither be light nor dark intense.

Can I use teabags to make Karak Chai

Yes you can use tea bags as an alternative option. Take two teabags instead of one, else loosen the tea leaves from the tea bags.

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