Masala is tea or coffee: ingredients and aromatic recipes from India

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Prepared by: Galina.budanova

02/15/2020 Cooking time: 15 min

A few words about what Masala is - it is an Indian mixture of spices; there is no exact composition. Masala coffee is coffee prepared with spices that give the drink a special aroma and taste.

How to make Masala coffee

Methods for making lattemasala

There are several ways to prepare lattemasala, but they all have in common the addition of a spice mixture. Typically a set of spices consists of the following components:

• black peppercorns;
• cinnamon sticks;
• cardamom;
• caraway seeds;
• carnations;
• star anise.

You can add or remove certain ingredients according to your preferences. In India you can find Masala in the form of a paste. In order to prepare it, you need to add coconut milk or plain water to the spices. The seasoning paste must contain ginger, anise and cardamom.

Spices should be used wisely. You can adjust the composition of the mixture at your discretion - add those seasonings that you like best.

How to prepare the mixture

Making Masala mixture is very easy. All seasonings must be fried over high heat until a characteristic spicy aroma appears.

It should be noted that spices in their entirety need to be subjected to heat treatment - this will preserve and also enhance their taste and smell.

After the mixture has cooled, it must be crushed to a powder state, for this use a coffee grinder or blender. You can add whole spices to a latte, but then you have to strain it.

Rules for preparing the drink

In order to reveal the taste of an invigorating drink, you must adhere to the basic rules of its preparation. You need to brew a latte only from high-quality coffee beans, which must be taken whole and ground before cooking.

Compliance with this rule is the key to a thick and rich taste of the drink. Some recipes indicate that ground grains should be added to water that is already boiling and cooked for some time.

But you can use the standard cooking method. Masala coffee drink is served immediately after preparation is completed, so that it does not have time to cool down.

Homemade recipe

Making Masala coffee at home is quite easy and you don't have to be a barista to do it. In the classic version, for 2 cups of drink you will need 2 heaping teaspoons of freshly ground coffee beans, 1 teaspoon Masala spice mixture, 1 glass of milk, 300 grams of water, 2 teaspoons of brown cane sugar.

Masala coffee in Turkish

Pour ground grains with a mixture of spices into the cezve, add water. Combine milk with sugar, then heat separately until sugar is completely dissolved. Add sweetened milk to the coffee and bring the mixture to a boil. Leave for a few minutes, covering the Turk with a saucer. Then stir and you can serve Masala coffee to the table.

Other lattemasala options

There are other options for preparing the drink. For one serving you need to take 100 ml of water and milk, 10 grams of brown or white sugar, 2 cardamom grains, 1 star anise, 0.5 cinnamon sticks, a pinch of ground nutmeg. Mix milk with water, pour into a pot, bring to a boil. Add ground coffee, spices, and sugar to the liquid mixture. Reduce heat to low, simmer the drink for 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly. Turn off the heat, let stand for a couple of minutes, pour into a cup and you can enjoy the spicy taste of Masala latte.

For those who do not drink milk, there is a special recipe for a coffee drink with a mixture of spices and water.

For 2 servings you will need 0.5 liters of water, 3 heaped teaspoons of ground coffee beans, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 cloves, 2 allspice peas, whipped cream with sweetener to taste. Pour the spiced coffee into a pot, add water and cook over low heat. After boiling, leave for about 20 minutes. Pour into preheated cups and top with a cloud of whipped cream.

Masala tea preparation method No. 2

In this recipe, spices are added to milk.
Ingredients

• Water 2 glasses
• Milk 1 glass
• Green cardamom pods 5 pcs.
• Star anise 1 star
• Cloves 3-4 pcs.
• Lemon or allspice 2 pinches
• Ginger 0.5 tbsp. fresh or 2 pinches of powder
• Nutmeg pinch
• Cinnamon pinch
• Sugar 2-3 tsp.

Preparation

Pour a glass of milk into a ladle and boil. Add all the spices and sugar to the hot milk. Sugar is believed to help bring out the flavor of spices. Let the milk boil for a minute or two. Then set the milk ladle aside. Separately brew black tea. The result is a fairly strong brew.

Boil water in a hotel bowl, bring to a boil, add tea leaves and let sit for five minutes. Pour milk with spices into brewed tea. Strain through a strainer and serve.

How to prepare spice mixture for masala chai

You can prepare a mixture of spices for tea in advance. To do this, mix all the spices and add a pinch of the mixture to a cup of tea. All spices should be ground or purchased ready-ground in powder form.

Composition of masala tea

• Ground cinnamon 1 pinch
• Ground nutmeg 1 pinch
• Ground cardamom 2 pinches
• Black/lemon pepper 1 pinch
• Ground cloves 2 pinches
• Ground ginger 1 tsp.

Store the mixture for making masala tea in a glass jar in a dry place and use as needed. By choosing spices to your taste, you can create your own masala tea recipe.

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Brief historical background

The history of Masala coffee began even before the birth of Christ. Some historical sources indicate a date of 7000 BC, while others claim that this drink originated as early as 4000 BC.

The preparation of coffee and tea with the addition of various spices began at the courts of Asian rulers in the territory that is now occupied by modern India.

These drinks were loved by the kings of that time for their invigorating and refreshing qualities. At first, such a drink was inaccessible to mere mortals due to the high cost of coffee beans.

Over time, spiced coffee became a popular drink. Now, when visiting India, every traveler is simply obliged to enjoy real Masala coffee, prepared according to ancient Indian recipes!

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Coffee Masala

India is a country of herbs and spices. Here, not a single dish is complete without these fragrant seasonings, and coffee is no exception. One of the most common drinks in India is Masala coffee, which is prepared using milk and a set of various seasonings. The very word “Masala” in India means a mixture of various herbs and spices, i.e. Masala coffee is an invigorating drink with a sweet and spicy taste, to which several seasonings are added.

There are a large number of recipes for masala coffee, with a different set of spices, the choice of which depends only on taste. The ingredients can be very different, but four components remain unchanged: the natural coffee itself, milk, a sweetener (sugar, honey, syrup) and several spices. Let's look at a simple recipe with the most affordable ingredients.

Masala Coffee Recipe

To prepare 4 servings of this aromatic drink you will need the following:

• 6 tablespoons of freshly ground coffee;
• 6 tablespoons sugar;
• 3 glasses of milk;
• 3 glasses of water;
• 1 cinnamon stick;
• 5 cardamom seeds.

Making Masala Coffee

When preparing this drink, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with some recommendations, following which you will get truly tasty and aromatic coffee brewed according to Indian traditions.

1. Real masala should be brewed from Indian coffee beans.
2. The beans should be ground immediately before brewing coffee.
3. Making Masala coffee differs from the traditional method, namely: the ground coffee is actually brewed, i.e. it is added to already boiling water and remains in boiling water for some time.
4. If the taste and aroma of the finished drink seems too spicy and specific to you, then reduce the amount of seasonings indicated in the recipe. In any case, it is not forbidden to experiment with the quantity and name of spices and herbs in order to find your taste, because... There is simply no classic recipe for masala coffee, it all depends on your preferences. As mentioned above, only 4 ingredients remain unchanged: coffee, milk, sugar and a set of various seasonings.

Cooking method

• Pour water and milk into a saucepan, mix everything and bring to a boil.
• Pour ground coffee and sugar into boiling water. Mix everything and add cinnamon with peeled cardamom grains. Mix again.
• Reduce the heat to very low and leave the drink to simmer for 3-4 minutes with constant stirring.
• Pour the drink through a filter (gauze, strainer or paper filter) into another metal container, which we again put on medium heat until it boils.
• As soon as the masala coffee boils, remove from heat and immediately pour into cups. You need to drink coffee hot and in small sips.

A few spices are used here, and if you liked the aromatic and thick drink, then the next time you make Masala coffee, try adding cloves, ginger, nutmeg, pepper, star anise, etc. Don't be afraid to experiment to find your own recipe for this wonderful drink.

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Benefits of masala tea for the human body

And a little about the benefits of masala tea for the human body. Masala tea is a tasty and pleasant drink, but it is drunk in small portions, like strong coffee. Spices have a very beneficial effect on the body, but, as you know, everything is good in moderation.

Cardamom improves the functioning of the heart and cardiovascular system, has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, relieves stress, and stimulates brain function.

Ginger improves the functioning of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, thins the blood and increases blood flow, activates the functions of the senses of perception and intelligence, improves memory, and has a general relaxing and analgesic effect.

Cloves have antiseptic and tonic properties, cleanses the blood of toxins, poisons and heavy metals.

Cinnamon improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, enhances intestinal motility and peristalsis, suppresses a number of genitourinary tract infections and fungi.

Nutmeg improves the functioning of the genitourinary system and is a natural aphrodisiac, strengthening the functioning of the small intestine.

Allspice improves the functioning of the pancreas, helps the stomach digest food, as it promotes the release of hydrochloric acid, improves intestinal function, and helps get rid of toxins and intestinal gases.

Due to the multifaceted effect of spices on the body and their wide composition in masala tea, this hot drink helps a person to normalize and harmonize the functioning of internal organs and the entire body as a whole.

Masala tea is equally good in the morning before breakfast to invigorate, after lunch to refresh your perception, and in the evening to relieve stress.

Try this exotic Indian drink, surprise your friends and family, and perhaps it will become a pleasant addition to every working day or a decoration for weekends and holidays!

Masala chai in Bengali style

Masala – Indian coffee with spices

Masala coffee is memorable for its rich, creamy coffee taste with spicy notes and a persistent, difficult to convey aroma. From the Hindi language, the word “masala” is translated as “with spices”; in addition to coffee, there is also tea with the same name. Due to the low quality of local beans, Indians rarely drink pure black coffee, preferring to mix it with milk and spices.

Masala differs from other coffee drinks in two ways:

• cooked with milk;
• Only spices grown in India are added to the composition.

Traditionally, masala is brewed in a saucepan, but modern baristas prefer to use a French press because it reduces the loss of flavor. We will look at both cooking methods.

Any medium quality bean coffee will do - a blend of Arabica and Robusta or just Robusta (it will be stronger). There is no point in using expensive varieties or blends, since the spices will overwhelm their delicate aroma.

Attention! The coffee grind should be as coarse as sugar or even larger. If the grind is too fine, the plunger of the French press may become clogged, and if cooked in a saucepan, the finished masala will be very bitter.

Ingredients:

• coffee beans – 40 grams;
• milk – 300 ml;
• cream 15-20% fat or water – 100 ml;
• cloves – 3-4 buds;
• star anise (anise) – 2 pieces;
• cinnamon – 1 stick;
• cane sugar - 1 heaped tablespoon (or to taste).

In the classic recipe, masala coffee is brewed with milk and cream mixed in a 3:1 ratio, but cream can be replaced with water or condensed milk, it’s a matter of taste. A prerequisite is that 2/3 of the liquid base must be milk.

Select the composition and quantity of spices at your discretion, for example, you can take ground cinnamon instead of sticks, add cardamom (a third of a teaspoon), nutmeg (1 pinch), ground red and black pepper, or a mixture of them.

It should be borne in mind that the more spices, the less the taste of coffee is felt, so 2-4 spices are usually mixed in one drink.

Beet sugar makes the drink too sugary; it is better to use cane sugar or add 10-15 ml of sugar syrup.

Basic structure of a French press

French press device

1. Glass tank in the form of a flask. Almost all models have the same diameter. The volume of French presses often varies - from small 0.35 ml to the largest 1 liter. The difference in volumes is achieved by changing the height of the flasks. Everything is clear here - the higher it is, the more spacious it is.
2. A metal or plastic body equipped with a handle. A glass flask is inserted directly into it.
3. The steel piston (plunger) is connected to the top cover and can be moved vertically quite easily. It is he who performs the functions of the press. The base of the plunger consists of a steel part, a round strainer (mesh filter) with a diameter corresponding to the flask, and a spring. All this is attached to each other with a bolt.

Masala Coffee Recipe

1. Grind star anise and anise in a mortar so that they release the aroma better.

French Press Instructions

3. Pour coffee into a French press, add crushed and loose spices, cane sugar and a cinnamon stick.

4. Mix milk with cream (water) in a saucepan or pitcher, heat the mixture to 85-90 °C, but do not boil.

5. Pour half of the milk mixture into the coffee in a thin stream, stir, then add the remaining milk and stir again.

6. Cover the drink with the plunger of the French press, leave for 3-4 minutes, then lower the plunger to the bottom and pour the masala into the cups.

Attention! Due to the ground spices, the piston will move quite tightly; from time to time it will need to be carefully moved up and down. The main thing is not to destroy the “tablet” formed from coffee and spices.

Instructions for cooking in a saucepan

7. Mix milk with cream (water) in a saucepan. Heat to 85-90 °C, but do not boil.

8. Add coffee, sugar (syrup) and spices. Mix. Boil for 2 minutes over low heat, do not bring to a boil.

9. Remove the pan from the heat, cover with a lid, and leave to brew for 2-3 minutes. Strain the masala through a kitchen strainer or coffee filter and pour into cups.

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Design features and method of preparation

The French press consists of several parts that fit tightly together:

• cylindrical flasks for drinks;
• piston;
• mesh filter;
• covers.

The French press coffee recipe is very simple. The flask is rinsed with hot water, then coarsely ground coffee is poured into it at the rate of 1.5 tablespoons per serving (200 ml of water). Fill with hot water (92-95 °C). The water has this temperature 1 minute after boiling.

First, pour about 30 ml of water, stir, let it brew for 30 seconds, and then add the rest of the water. Close the French press with a lid, while the piston must be raised. After 3.5 minutes, lower the piston all the way and immediately pour the drink. If you leave coffee in the kettle, it will overbrew and become bitter.

This is interesting: Which coffee is better, in a Turk or in a coffee machine?

Manufacturing Features

To ensure that butter coffee does not disappoint, before making it, it is not superfluous to get acquainted with the advice of coffee lovers.

• Each type of coffee has its own inimitable colors, and the place where it was grown also matters. If you want to experience the taste and smell of real masala coffee, purchase Indian coffee beans.
• It is advisable to store coffee as beans, grinding them before brewing. In this case it will be more fragrant.
• When making masala coffee, ground coffee is added to already boiling water and boiled for some time. In this respect, the development of Indian coffee brewing differs significantly from the classical one.
• The main highlight of the masala drink is the presence of a bouquet of Indian spices in its composition. If you are not yet familiar with the taste of Indian coffee, then for the first time it is better to reduce the amount of spices included in its composition relative to what is indicated in the recipe. Otherwise, the taste of the drink may seem very specific to you and may not give you the expected pleasure.

It remains to add that masala coffee should be served very hot.

Which bean grinding should you prefer?

Before brewing coffee in a French press, you need to decide what grind of coffee for a French press will be optimal.

Undoubtedly, when brewing a drink, it is important to take into account only high-quality grains. To obtain the ideal taste parameters of the drink, grinding the beans plays an important role. The most important thing is that the coffee should be ground evenly, its grains should be the same size. In this case, it is better to put a cheap coffee grinder away, since such a machine will not give the desired result; you will end up with a mixture of small and large coffee particles

The grinding can be either coarse or fine, the most important thing is that it is uniform. The effect of grinding beans with equal particles can only be achieved with the help of a burr coffee grinder. The most important components of a quality drink are quality cafe beans, a burr grinder and a good French press for coffee. The ideal taste of the drink can only be achieved if the grinding is ensured before brewing. When purchasing ground coffee in a store, it is important to examine its packaging. Only sealed packaging, from which air has been removed as much as possible, can deliver the perfect fresh aroma to the consumer. The biggest enemy of coffee is air, and therefore, when purchasing it already ground, it is important to remember the initial tightness of the packaging. The ideal coffee grinder is a burr grinder. A device with blades cannot provide ideal grinding, since the grains are ground into powder, which is undesirable for a French press.

The most important thing is that the coffee should be ground evenly, its grains should be the same size. In this case, it is better to put a cheap coffee grinder away, since such a machine will not give the desired result; you will end up with a mixture of small and large coffee particles. The grinding can be either coarse or fine, the most important thing is that it is uniform. The effect of grinding beans with equal particles can only be achieved with the help of a burr coffee grinder. The most important components of a quality drink are quality cafe beans, a burr grinder and a good French press for coffee. The ideal taste of the drink can only be achieved if the grinding is ensured before brewing.

When purchasing ground coffee in a store, it is important to examine its packaging. Only sealed packaging, from which air has been removed as much as possible, can deliver the perfect fresh aroma to the consumer.

The biggest enemy of coffee is air, and therefore, when purchasing it already ground, it is important to remember the initial tightness of the packaging. The ideal coffee grinder is a burr grinder. A machine with blades cannot provide ideal grinding, since the grains are ground into powder, which is undesirable for a French press.

Masala Coffee Recipe

• ground coffee – 18 g,
• sugar – 20 g,
• milk – 100 ml,
• water – 100 ml,
• greenish cardamom – 1 pc.,
• cinnamon – 1/6 part of a stick.

1. Mix water with milk and put on fire, bring to a boil.
2. While the milk and water are heating, grind the coffee beans, peel the cardamom seed, and break off a suitable piece of cinnamon.
3. Place coffee, sugar and spices into boiling liquid.
4. Cook, stirring vigorously, for 3 minutes over low heat.
5. Let sit for a few minutes, carefully pour into cups and serve immediately.

There are only a few spices in this recipe, so the taste of the drink is not very unusual. For this reason, it appeals to almost everyone who loves coffee. Next, you can add a pinch of ground dried ginger and nutmeg to the drink, as well as one clove.

Recipes for masala coffee - a drink with a special taste and smell.

Masala is the Indian name for the consistency of spices. But there is no single correct standard recipe for making it. The list of components included in its composition depends on their purpose and personal wishes.

Masala coffee is a drink with the addition of a certain set of spices that give it incredible depth and piquancy and enhance the flavor.

Composition and production of consistency

It is believed that masala (emphasis on the 2nd syllable) maintains a balance of all available tastes. There are sets for spicy dishes, drinks, state Indian dishes cooked in the oven.

• dark pepper,
• cinnamon (sticks or ground),
• cardamom seeds,
• carnation,
• caraway.

In total, the mixture may include several 10 ingredients. Apart from the dried version, there is also a masala paste. To make it, all ingredients are diluted with liquid (for example, water or coconut milk) to a creamy mixture. Essential additives for this species include cardamom and ginger.

The choice of spices can be anything, there are no incorrect options. To make masala, for example, such a small set will be sufficient:

• 2 cinnamon sticks,
• 2 tsp. cardamom,
• 2 tsp. carnations (buds),
• 1 tsp. nutmeg (grated).

The standard manufacturing process is that the selected ingredients first need to be fried in a dried frying pan until the appropriate smell appears for almost a few seconds. Then cool and grind to flour using a coffee grinder, blender or using a mortar.

It is recommended to keep in mind that whole spices should be fried and crushed at the end of cooking. This will allow it to open up and retain the scent.

The finished product should be stored in a hermetically sealed container, preferably away from high temperatures and sunlight. The shelf life is limited to 3-4 months, which is how long the initial catchy smell lasts.

For masala coffee, it is permissible to use unground spices, then the drink will need to be strained before serving.

You can purchase a ready-made mixture and use it. Or add other seasonings.

How to make it taste better

To make this invigorating drink enjoyable with its unique taste, it is better to adhere to the following tips when making it:

• Use only high-quality bean coffee, the taste of which you like more than others.
• Grind the grains specifically before cooking. This will result in a very fragrant drink.
• There are recipes in which the Indian development differs from the classical one. The ground grains are poured into already boiling water, and then boiled for some time.
• It is recommended to use spices carefully. It may be worth reducing the amount indicated in the recipe, or completely eliminating some of the spices. Here you should rely only on your wishes, so that, while trying to get a unique product, you don’t lose the pleasure of the drink because of, for example, one hateful spice.
• Masala coffee is served very hot.

Methods for brewing a spicy coffee drink can vary. But any recipe certainly contains three constant ingredients. This is milk or cream, a sweetener (sugar or honey) and actually spices.

Traditional with milk

To make 2 cups you will need:

• 2 tsp. freshly ground coffee,
• 1 tsp. spices,
• 200 ml milk,
• 300 ml water,
• 2 tsp. coffee sugar.

1. Pour coffee and spices into the Turk. To fill with water.
2. Heat milk and sugar separately. You can use a microwave oven.
3. Add warmed sweet milk to the coffee drink.
4. Wait until the mixture boils, turn off the stove.
5. Leave for one or two minutes. Stir and pour into cups.

With milk and water

Ingredients needed (for one cup):

• 1 tsp. ground coffee,
• 100 ml milk,
• 100 ml water,
• 1 PC. greenish cardamom,
• 20 g sweet sand,
• 1/6 part cinnamon stick.

1. Pour milk and water into one container and heat until it boils.
2. At this time, peel the cardamom.
3. Add coffee, spices and sugar to boiled milk and water.
4. Stirring vigorously, cook everything over low heat for 3 minutes.
5. Turn off the stove and leave the drink for a few minutes. Pour into cups and serve immediately.

Differences from other coffee drinks

Classic coffee is:

• espresso is the basis of most coffee drinks;
• Americano - espresso with a shot of water;
• cappuccino - espresso with milk;
• latte - cappuccino with a double portion of milk.

Raf is made using espresso with low-fat cream instead of frothed milk. To make the taste and texture of the drink resemble ice cream or creme brulee, the ingredients are whipped together and laid out not in layers, but as a whole.

The article “What is the difference between raff and latte and cappuccino” contains other recipes for coffee, coffee cocktails and their differences.

Raf is a full-fledged dessert with syrup or fruit, so baristas serve it without cookies, cake or halva. Often they don't even give extra sugar.

Manufacturing:

This recipe was created for pleasant communication in the company of like-minded people and good friends. The displayed proportions are designed for at least 3 servings of the drink. Easy to prepare:

• Mix milk with water
• Heat slowly until almost boiling
• Add dry ingredients, sweeten with sugar, stirring, heat
• Boil for 3 minutes
• Pour into cups using a strainer.

The drink warms up perfectly and has an immediately tender and spicy taste.

India is a country of herbs and spices. Here, not a single dish is complete without these aromatic seasonings, and coffee is no exception. One of the most common drinks in India is Masala coffee, which is made using milk and a set of different seasonings. The very word “Masala” in India means a mixture of various herbs and spices, i.e. Masala coffee is an invigorating drink with a sweet and spicy taste, to which several seasonings are added.

There are a huge number of recipes for masala coffee, with a different set of spices, the choice of which depends only on taste. The ingredients can be very different, but 4 components remain constant: in fact, natural coffee itself, milk, a sweetener (sugar, honey, syrup) and several spices. Let's look at the usual recipe, with the most affordable ingredients.