Masala Chai when literally translated means spice tea, which is a hugely popular beverage in the Indian subcontinent. Masala chai recipe may vary in various parts of the country; however, the basic recipe means that tea is brewed along with an assortment of spices. To prepare the perfect masala chai recipe, tea leaves are brewed in a mixture of water and milk and then an array of Indian spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, peppercorn and cloves are added to the tea and made to boil. Some other ingredients that can be added to the masala chai include nutmeg and rose flavoring. Once the tea is brewed the remaining residues of tea and spices are strained and the masala chai is served. The Kashmiri version of masala chai is brewed with green tea rather than the conventional black Assam tea and it has all the flavors of the usual spices, except for saffron. Kashmiris do tend to use saffron for flavoring their masala chai.
