Paper bags
Chai
Timer / Chai
Black tea,simmered in milk.
Stovetop chai is three short simmers in a row. The timer runs each one and tells you what goes in the pan next.
Chai tea timer
Style
Simmer the spices
3:00
Ready.
- Water
- Gentle simmer
- Leaf
- 2 tsp, 1 cup water, 1 cup milk
Spices, then tea, then milk. Watch the pan when the milk comes back up.
Keep it by the kettle: add this page to your home screen and it opens like an app, offline.
The schedule
Chai steep times, by style.
Stovetop
Gentle simmer · 2 tsp, 1 cup water, 1 cup milk
Spices, then tea, then milk. Watch the pan when the milk comes back up.
| Simmer the spices | 3 min |
| Add the tea | 2 min |
| Milk in, simmer | 3 min |
Worth timing
Chai we've reviewed.
Loose leaf
Chai
Vahdam India's Original Masala Chai Loose Leaf
Blended at the source. CTC Assam that punches through milk without flinching.
Paper bags
Chai
Traditional Medicinals Organic Chai Tea Bags
Chai from a paper bag. Less fire, more convenience. Still earns the name.
FAQ
Chai timing, answered.
How long do you simmer chai?+
About eight minutes on the stovetop: three minutes simmering the spices in water, two more after adding the black tea, then three on low heat once the milk is in.
What tea is used for chai?+
A strong black tea, usually loose-leaf Assam, about two teaspoons for one cup of water and one cup of milk. A premade masala chai blend already has the spices in it, so you can skip the first simmer.
Other leaves