Different ways to enjoy masala chai
On International Tea Day (May 21), how about a bite of it too? Indians are not made for faint teas. Kadak chai, with the aroma of ginger floating in the air as the wake-up call, is our style. On festive days, our chai is festive too. A wave of special masalas for tea fights to overpower the delicate fragrance from those exorbitant candles.
Masala chai, especially, is a game changer, the mention of which has the power to change the mood from dull to energetic. When Indians have experimented and managed to give momo and sushi an Indian avatar, will chai be left behind?
Fuelled by TasteAtlas's ranking of masala chai as the world's second most popular non-alcoholic beverage (in 2024), chefs got into a tizzy to create tea-based desserts. For instance, chai and masala phirni, masala chai cheesecake, masala chai tiramisu, xandoh guri and saah (roasted rice powder with tea).
Chef Francis Fernandez with Sodexo shares a quick tip, 'When you have the ganache with real tea decoction ready, you can make anything from chocolates to mousse. Our team prepared a masala chai chocolate as a finale to an Indian dining experience for a French team leader. We infused masala chai flavour with dark chocolate.'
Does real chai go into making these desserts, or can one get the desired flavours from a spice mix of ginger, elaichi and cinnamon? 'Absolutely, the actual masala chai is important in preparing any chai-flavoured dessert. I also love the masala chai macaron that we make. I have also witnessed continental chefs smoke the meat with tea leaves.' Masala chai chocolate was also a limited edition creation by craft chocolate brand Paul and Mike.
When chai is served, why leave the accompaniment? Rusk and chai combo is the Indian quick fix to the kuchisabishii (Japanese term to eat or snack, not out of hunger, but because your mouth feels bored). Thus, the Masala Chai Rusk Tiramisu was created by London-based Rishi Nanavati. This MasterChef London participant recreated the classic Italian dessert using a classic Indian pairing — tiramisu with masala chai and rusk. In this dessert, he replaced the savoivardi with rusk, coffee with tea and introduced flavours of masala chai.
He also apologises to the Italians for adding the Indian tweak to their classic dessert.
Another example of pairing chai with a traditional dish is Assamese chef Farha Naaz's dessert named Handoh Guri with Saah and Mascarpone. She paired the state's (Assam) most common cereal pairing — roasted rice powder (handoh) with tea. Reimagined it in a modern avatar served it with a dust of flavoured roasted tea powder and mascarpone and candied ginger.
In Hilton, Tokyo, executive pastry chef Ratheesh Unni Nair used his masala chai creme brulee technique to create Jasmine tea creme for a mango pastry. Ratheesh said, 'I was inspired to create Masala Chai Creme Brulee to show Indian and Western fusion. I infused masala tea into the cream and milk to make the creme brulee. Infusing actual masala chai is the key to making the chai flavour stand out.'
Still prefer drinking your masala chai? Program director at Sago House Singapore Ronan Keilthy said when they imagined a masala chai cocktail they had a lot of fun infusing the flavours of masala chai. He said, 'It was a clean and simple cocktail where the spices and the tea played muse with alcohol.'
The trending ones are masala chai martini and masala chai toddy. These have nothing to do to LIT (Long Island Tea). Non alcoholic tea drinks, some with the masala chai and some without the masala too are the ones to look forward to.
Chennai-based chef Vignesh Ramachandran has created a Masala Chai Lemon Iced Tea (no milk) and an Irani Chai Bubble Tea — Hyderabadi answer to the classic Thai Milk Tea Boba. These are available at Coffee Sangam, his newest venture in Hyderabad. Explaining how it is done, he said, 'For Masala Lemon Iced tea, cardamom and ginger are infused with black tea and served chilled with lemon and mint. Irani Chai Bubble Tea is an intense Irani chai flavoured with cardamom. It is served cold with tapioca boba.' Both teas were moderately sweet. Masala Lemon Iced tea definitely owes a hat tip to masala chai.
How about popping a bottle of tea for your next party? Copenhagen Sparkling Tea, now available in India, is a blend of Nordic innovation with Asian tea traditions. Think floral fusion of Jasmine, chamomile, and Darjeeling First Flush.
Nadia Sood, co-founder of Bebida Hospitality, says, 'Copenhagen Sparkling Tea is a gamechanger at parties because it can be served for anyone, from 10-year-olds to the 80-year-old. It is non alcoholic and low on sugar content of alcoholic drinks. It comes in three variants in India (LYSERØD, LYSEGRØN and BLÅ), each combining organic white, Oolong, green, and black teas. We like to position ourself as a healthy option that is not fizzy and alcoholic.' It is vegan.
In a classic twist of having your cake and eating it too, masala chai confirms you can drink it and eat it too.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Death Stranding 2 release date, gameplay, system requirements for Covid inspired video game
" Death Stranding 2 : On the Beach" release date on PlayStation has been released. Japanese video game legend Hideo Kojima is releasing the Covid inspired sequel of 2019 game. The series is the brainchild of legendary 'Metal Gear Solid' mastermind Hideo Kojima, and fans know they can expect a complex story, flamboyant graphics and some off-the-wall gameplay ideas. "Death Stranding 2" follows post-apocalyptic deliveryman Sam Porter Bridges' adventures in Mexico and Australia in a story that 61-year-old Kojima -- creator of the equally fantastical "Metal Gear" stealth action saga -- said was completely rewritten in light of Covid-19. "Walking Dead" star Norman Reedus plays the role of Sam Porter Bridges. French actor Lea Seydoux -- a star of films like James Bond adventure "No Time to Die" or Quentin Tarantino's World War II romp "Inglourious Basterds" -- returns in 3D form alongside Reedus. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Simple Morning Habit for a Flatter Belly After 50! Lulutox Undo But new big-name talent is also along for the ride, including American actor Elle Fanning and the likeness of "Mad Max" director George Miller. French singer Woodkid composed the score for the new episode. Death Stranding 2 will be released on June 26 on PlayStation 5. Live Events FAQs Q1. When will Death Stranding 2 release? A1. Death Stranding 2 will be released on June 26. Q2. Where can we play Death Stranding 2? A2. Death Stranding 2 will be released on PlayStation 5.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Chetan Bhagat praises 'Kesari Chapter 2', credits film for reigniting call for British apology on Jallianwala Bagh incident
Kesari Chapter 2, starring Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, continues to be in public discourse even months after its April release. The Karan Singh Tyagi directorial is a courtroom drama based on the life of C Sankaran Nair (Akshay), a lawyer who challenged the British Raj after the horrific Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. The film has garnered effusive praise from author Chetan Bhagat, even as it faces serious accusations of plagiarism and historical inaccuracies. Saying he 'walked out shaken' from the film, Chetan wrote that the film 'drags history out of textbooks and makes you feel it in your bones." According to the makers, the film is based on Raghu and Pushpa Palat's book 'The Case That Shook The Empire'. An excerpt from Cinema Express' review notes that this 'text details C Sankaran Nair's defence against a defamation case' in London, filed by Michael O'Dwyer, Lieutenant Governor of Punjab during the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. The review further points out that while Sankaran Nair resigned from the Viceroy's council, contesting the massacre, and condemned the Raj, the film portrays him as a powerful figure, 'who filed a genocide case against the British in the Amritsar district court'—a claim unsupported by historical records.' Despite such historical discrepancies, Chetan continued his commendation, acknowledging the cinematic liberties taken. "Sure, the film takes cinematic liberties. There are imagined confrontations, dramatized moments, and even some revenge fantasy. Think Inglourious Basterds in Amritsar. But the core truth remains: over a thousand Indians were trapped and massacred in cold blood by British troops in 1919. That horror is real. That pain is generational. And that silence from Britain? Also very real," he said.
Pink Villa
an hour ago
- Pink Villa
THROWBACK: When Lionel Messi sent a signed gift for MS Dhoni's daughter Ziva
In December 2022, Lionel Messi sent a souvenir with a personal message to Ziva Dhoni, immediately captivating fans everywhere. At seven years old, Ziva posed proudly with the memento, pointing at Messi's inscription and signature. The gesture truly brought into focus MS Dhoni's well-known love for football and introduced Ziva as a budding fan of the sport. Now, in June 2025, that moment feels even more significant after Messi and Dhoni recently appeared together in a popular advertisement. Here's what happened back then. What did Ziva Dhoni receive from Lionel Messi? Messi had celebrated Argentina's World Cup win by extending his joy beyond the field in late December 2022. He sent a signed Argentina jersey with a personal note saying 'Para Ziva,' meaning 'For Ziva.' The gift was shared on Ziva's official Instagram (managed by her parents) with the caption 'Like father, like daughter.' The jersey had arrived just days after Argentina's victory over France. For Ziva, it was more than a jersey. It was an introduction to football fandom inherited from her father. At the time, First Post had noted that the photo quickly gathered over two hundred thousand likes. Today, the post sits at over a million. Ziva's fandom and Dhoni's football roots Ziva's zest for the sport did not blossom overnight. It likely sprang from Dhoni's own passion for football, which runs quite deep. He once aspired to be a goalkeeper, and now co-owns Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League. According to the cited source, Dhoni has trained with the squad and supports clubs like Manchester United. Ziva has clearly inherited this interest. Seeing her point at Messi's signature made it clear she follows in Dhoni's footsteps. Jay Shah also received Messi's autograph Ziva wasn't the only Indian recipient of Messi's generosity. Around the same time, the six-time Golden Boot winner also sent a signed jersey to BCCI secretary Jay Shah. As reported by the mentioned publication, former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha posted a picture of Shah holding the autographed shirt, with 'GOAT sends his best wishes and signed match jersey for jay bhai!' written on it. Ojha even joked about hoping to get one for himself soon. From a viral 2022 post to an on-screen collaboration in 2025 Though the jersey made waves in late 2022, Dhoni and Messi's association didn't end there. In April 2025, Dhoni and Messi appeared together in an advertisement for a popular chips brand. This video had amassed nearly a million likes within 24 hours. Fans watched the two legends share playful football moments as they passed the ball through screens across the world.
