What is Indian masala tea, ingredients of a fragrant drink. Useful properties and potential harm. Masala tea preparation methods.
Masala tea is an incredibly aromatic and delicious drink with Indian roots. If you translate the name literally from Hindi, it means "tea with spices." As such, there is no single recipe. However, there are certain rules for making masala tea. The drink is valued for its beneficial properties, but sometimes harm is possible from it. Therefore, before use, it is worth checking the list of contraindications.
What is Indian Masala Tea?
In the photo, Indian tea masala
Indian masala tea is capable of claiming the title of a wonder of the world, because it is readily drunk in almost all corners of the planet, although it must be admitted that this drink is not for everybody's taste. Sometimes the first acquaintance with him ends in failure - with the words that "such a drink is impossible." But if you taste it, you probably won't be able not to fall in love with both the aroma and the taste.
If we talk about the basic principles of making masala tea, they are quite simple at first glance. It is necessary to combine tea, milk, spices and sugar or other sweetener to taste. In fact, there are a lot of subtleties in the process. And the difficulty lies in the fact that there is no universal recipe. They say that in the homeland of the drink, almost every family uses its own method of preparation.
However, there is a list of spices that set off the flavor most often. This is cardamom and cinnamon, to which ginger root is added - both fresh and dried. By tradition, fennel seeds, black peppercorns and cloves are added to the composition.
The recipe for masala tea, in which cardamom prevails, can be considered a classic. It is followed by a clove in terms of the intensity of the severity of taste. And only further the bouquet is complemented by notes of ginger, black pepper, and other spices.
However, in India, they are willing to make mixes with a completely different composition. A drink containing nutmeg and rose petals will sound differently. An interesting shade will acquire masala tea with milk if you add licorice root to it. It is appetizing to even imagine what the drink will be like if you try the composition with the addition of saffron and almonds.
There are no unequivocal recommendations even regarding the choice of brewing. Although the classic is still black tea. But no one forbids experimenting with different types of leaves. I like the fruit mixture - you can brew it too.
The composition and calorie content of masala tea
If you want to feel for the first time what it is like to drink not the usual black tea with milk and lemon, you can and should use the classic recipe for masala tea, which is widespread in domestic latitudes. And then experiment.
The calorie content of masala tea with this composition is about 35, 4 kcal, of which:
- Proteins - 1.6 g;
- Fat - 1.4 g;
- Carbohydrates - 4.4 g.
The drink is appreciated for the fact that it contains many useful substances. What will be the specific ratio of components, will determine the set of spices for masala tea. If you use black tea as a base, then it contains the following amount of nutrients per 100 g:
- Vitamin A, RE - 50 mcg;
- Retinol - 05 mg;
- Vitamin B1, thiamine - 0.07 mg;
- Vitamin B2, riboflavin - 1 mg;
- Vitamin C, ascorbic acid - 10 mg;
- Vitamin PP, NE - 11.32 mg;
- Niacin - 8 mg;
- Potassium, K - 2480 mg;
- Calcium, Ca - 495 mg;
- Magnesium, Mg - 440 mg;
- Sodium, Na - 82 mg;
- Phosphorus, P - 824 mg;
- Iron, Fe - 82 mg.
Since whole cow's milk is used for the preparation of the drink, the most valuable elements are also added to these substances - more than 120 different components, including 20 amino acids, 64 fatty acids, 40 minerals, 15 vitamins. Protein is a key ingredient in milk. They occupy 3, 3% of the volume, including of this amount casein - 2, 7%, albumin - 0, 4%, globulin - 0, 12%.
Useful properties of masala tea
Getting acquainted with the taste of masala tea, it is impossible not to notice that after a cup of aromatic drink, cheerfulness appears. It gives a boost of energy, so it can replace coffee, and there is less harm from it. But this is far from the only valuable property. There are many other health benefits of masala.
Tea has a beneficial effect on various organs and systems:
- Gastrointestinal tract … Contributes to the normalization of digestion, enhancing motility and intestinal motility. Facilitates the digestion of heavy foods. Helps fight flatulence, quickly restores the activity of the gastrointestinal tract after vomiting or diarrhea. Thanks to the active ingredients, the absorption of nutrients from food in the small intestine is improved.
- The cardiovascular system … The work of the heart improves, thanks to the addition of spices and milk, the harm from caffeine is neutralized. Promotes the elasticity of the heart muscle and blood vessels. Helps thinning blood, saturating it with oxygen, prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques.
- Nervous system … Relieves stress, helps to get out of a depressive state. The benefits of masala tea are evident due to the strengthening of connections between neurons. Therefore, the perception of feelings and intelligence is activated, memory improves.
- Blood … The drink helps to cleanse it from a variety of toxins and poisons.
- Excretory system … Tea helps fight urinary infections. He improves its normal functioning. There is a decrease in puffiness due to the removal of stagnant fluid from the body.
In addition, drinking the drink helps to strengthen the immune system. It is worth drinking in the season of colds and SARS, and if the virus has already caught on, you can take a cup at night, wrap yourself up and sleep. In the morning, the general state of health will be easier, if there was a sore throat, it will disappear.
The beneficial properties of masala tea include the normalization of metabolism. After a cup of a fragrant drink, the mood rises. If you delve deeper into the topic of spices, you can adjust the composition to achieve a certain effect. For example, peppers, ginger, and star anise not only add zest to masala tea, but also enhance its ability to energize.
If you really liked the drink, but you want to drink it before bedtime, then it is better to add saffron, lemon balm and mint to it. They promote relaxation, relieve fatigue. If insomnia has overcome, you can safely introduce such ingredients and get ready for a sound and healthy sleep.
If you want to lose weight, then a drink can help in this case. You just need to know how to make masala tea in order to achieve a fat burning effect. True, its secret is as easy as shelling pears - you have to completely forget about the sweet. That is, you do not need to add sugar, honey, or other sweeteners.
Contraindications and harm of masala tea
In general, this drink is considered harmless. However, there is also harm from masala tea. The first thing to remember is the presence of caffeine. Therefore, stimulation of the cardiovascular and nervous system is inevitable. This can be dangerous for hypertensive patients. Do not abuse the drink with severe excitability. However, for the sake of fairness, we recall that the addition of milk and spices harmonizes the tea. Therefore, caffeine in it is not as harmful as in the usual brew-based drinks.
Care should be taken to consume masala tea for pregnant women. In general, there are a lot of spices in the drink, and the body of the future mother is able to react unpredictably to many of them. Gastritis with high acidity, stomach and duodenal ulcers are diagnoses with which masala tea is drunk with extreme caution.
It is best to taste the drink carefully, tracking the effect, with hormonal imbalance. Since spices are able to move it in any direction, aggravating the condition. Naturally, there is no need to compare the benefits and harms of masala tea if there is an intolerance to certain components. True, due to the fact that there is no fixed recipe, it will be easier to exclude from the composition a component to which an adverse reaction is possible.
In any case, this aromatic drink should not be overused. It is better to drink it no more than two cups.
How to brew masala tea?
The most interesting thing is the preparation of the drink. Each house can have its own approach to it. If there is no time, you may not really learn how to make masala tea, but simply perform just a few elementary steps.
Instructions for making masala tea:
- Boil water;
- Pour tea leaves into it;
- Add milk and spices;
- Boil the drink for 2-3 minutes;
- Add sweetener and leave to brew.
It is customary not to stir with a teaspoon before serving, but instead pour several times from container into container. And only after that, you can serve it in portions to everyone at home.
There is another way to make masala tea quickly at home. Although this option will take a little longer. First, the tea leaves are washed with cold water and left in it, but in a clean, new portion, to brew. Meanwhile, milk is boiled in a saucepan, spices are added to it.
Only then is the tea introduced. All ingredients must be boiled for 3-4 minutes. Readiness is determined by the color of the drink: you can turn off the heat when you get a pleasant beige shade.
But after that, it takes about 5 more minutes for the ingredients in the masala to open up. Let it infuse under the lid, and only then it is served to the table.
If there is a desire and time to organize a real tea ceremony, then a more complex recipe can and should be used, for which a lot of time will have to be allocated. Do not start an experiment in a hurry. It is important that already in the cooking process there is pleasure from each stage, from the aroma that will fill the kitchen.
What spices are needed for masala tea:
- 30 g fresh ginger root;
- 1 PC. nutmeg;
- 10-15 pcs. black peppercorns;
- 1 cinnamon stick;
- 2 pcs. star anise;
- 0.5 tsp fennel;
- 2-3 cloves;
- 0.5 tsp fenugreek;
- 4 things. cardamom.
From so many spices, you can make a large volume of drink. Take 1 and 1, 1 liter of milk and water, respectively.
Before brewing masala tea, you have to decide on the brewing. Traditional black leaves are classics of the genre. But you can experiment with the drink. For example, in China they take red tea. The tea leaves are enough in the amount of 20 g. Plus, sugar is used as a sweetener - for such a volume of about 75 g. But you can play with other options - with honey and even with condensed milk. Naturally, this will change the flavor shades.
At the first stage, it is necessary to put water and milk in separate containers on fire. Let them boil while you can peel and chop the ginger root. Nutmeg is also crushed - turned into thin plates. When the water and milk boil, ingredients are added to reduce the heat. Tea leaves are poured into ordinary boiling water, ginger, nutmeg and black pepper are sent to milk.
While both pots are simmering slowly, you need to grind a cinnamon stick into powder. Of course, you can buy it immediately in a ground form. But the aroma and taste will then be less pronounced.
After a couple of minutes from the moment the ingredients were introduced into the milk, we also send cinnamon and other spices there. Turn off the fire - let everything be well infused. After adding sugar, combine tea and milk. They do this by slowly pouring liquid from one saucepan to another.
Let the drink stand while the cups are being prepared for tea drinking. Namely, they must be heated with boiling water. And only now the masala tea is completely ready at home! Pour the drink into cups and you can enjoy the process!
By the way, as an option, you can make a mixture of spices in advance, so that you can then use it for brewing. Then you just need to get a jar of magic powder before preparing masala tea. For example, for 24 cups of drink you will need:
- 24 pcs. green cardamom in pods;
- 18 black peppercorns;
- 1 tsp anise;
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger;
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder.
All ingredients are ground. To preserve the taste, aroma and benefits for masala tea, the finished powder is stored in a vessel that is hermetically sealed. Later, at any time, you can make your favorite drink simply by adding such a mix. Only 1/2 tsp will be enough. per two cups of tea.
Interesting facts about masala tea
Before preparing masala tea, it is curious to know the history of its origin. Interestingly, in India, originally tea plantations were small, such a business developed slowly. This is explained by the fact that the drink was used as a medicine, that is, in moderation. But the Chinese at that time conquered the world - in 1870 they occupied 90% of the tea market.
The British helped establish this industry in India. They came up with an ingeniously simple solution - encouraging businesses to organize tea breaks. It was then that the tea makers raised their heads.
Initially, the drink was consumed in India, following the English tradition. That is, almost no sweetener and a little milk. It is not known exactly who came up with the recipe for making masala tea, but it is curious that almost everywhere the locals suddenly changed their approach. They began to pour more milk into the drink, actively add spices.
The tea leaf makers didn't like this very much. As a result, less tea leaves were used for cooking. The planters simply resigned themselves to the preferences of the people of India. And they didn’t lose!
It was the new recipe that began to spread throughout the planet, and with it the tea leaves from the plantations. He quickly got to East Africa and the United Arab Emirates, conquered the inhabitants of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Even in the USA, they soon learned how to make masala tea. Although here the drink was given its name Сhai Latte.
How to make masala tea - watch the video:
You can and should drink the most aromatic drink, enjoying every sip. By the way, in India it has remained primarily as homemade tea for breakfast. And this is justified, because masala gives a charge of energy and positiveness. Why not borrow this tradition by learning the benefits of masala tea.
