Vegan Masala Chai (IndianTea)

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Who knew masala chai can be this invigorating, that too a vegan version of masala chai! One sip of this beverage and it could be your family's new favorite! I know that it is for my family.

Two cups of vegan chai is on the table along with crackers. — Two cups of vegan chai

Vegan masala chai is the one drink that suits any weather and any time of the day. A few cups of chai change the mood and increase our taste buds.

I prepared this masala chai with Oat milk, fresh ginger, and ground spices. So, now you can have a fabulous Indian chai using non-dairy milk with no compromise in taste.

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Why this recipe
Ingredients notes
Vegan milk for tea
Instructions to make chai
Recipe FAQ’s
Expert tips
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📖 Recipe
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Why this recipe

Hailing from an Indian household, making chai has never seemed like a chore to me.

Ever since I sipped it for the first time this day, Indian masala chai has been my favorite beverage. But preparing it in a vegan way takes a little trial and error.

There are several alternatives for milk, and getting the right one that hits the right note can be a challenge.

If that sounds like a problem you have experienced, you will be excited about this recipe today because I have made that easy for you.

If you like this chai recipe, be sure to also try my herbal tea recipe like the lemongrass tea.

Ingredients notes

Masala chai ingredients are on the table. — Ingredients to make vegan masala chai

Non-dairy milk: There are plenty of plant-based milk options to prepare chai tea. After trying several options, I find Oat milk to come out as a winner to make a fabulous and creamy masala vegan chai.
Loose tea leaves: To make any Indian chai tea leaves are key ingredients. Just go with your favorite Indian tea powder brand. I used the Red label brand and you can find them in any Indian grocery store.
Fresh ginger: Using freshly crushed or grated ginger as opposed to bottled ginger paste, in the masala chai will enhance the tea flavor.
Spice blend: For this recipe, I have used whole cloves spice and green cardamom pods. Alternatively, you could also go with store-bought masala tea powder or homemade masala chai spices.
Sugar: Using raw sugar in chai is optional. I make them both ways with and without sugar to suit my family's preference. Feel free to skip it if you prefer it that way.

Vegan milk for tea

In my 6 years of being a vegan, I was very excited to try every non-dairy milk. I had used almost all the plant-based milk options to make Indian chai tea recipes.

After several trials and error rounds, I concluded that Oat milk delivers the masala flavors in a creamy base. It comes closest to the traditional Indian chai.

If you are interested in learning more, check out this article: best vegan milk for tea that I found helpful about vegan milk options for chai recipe.

Instructions to make chai

a small saucepan is with oatmilk and water over the stove top.

Place a small saucepan over a medium flame and add water, oat milk.

a small pan with oatmilkand ground spice and fresh ginger over the heat.

Add crushed clove, cardamoms, and ginger. (using a mortar and pestle)

a small pot with oat milk and tea leaves over the heat to make chai.

Add tea powder and mix well. Let it come to a boil over medium heat.

A pan is with boiling vegan chai over the heat.

As the tea comes to a boil, the color of the vegan chai will change and all the spice flavors are released.

After a minute, remove the pan from heat and strain the vegan chai into a cup using a fine mesh strainer.

Now, add sugar to suit your taste preference. Stir well and serve hot!

Enjoy the vegan cups of chai with Indian snacks like broccoli samosa, chakli, etc.

Recipe FAQ’s

Which non-dairy milk goes best with chai?

Oat milk seems to be the best choice that delivers the masala flavors without compromising on the creaminess, in my opinion. This version comes closest to the traditional masala chai.

Can chai tea be made without milk?

Yes, Chai can be made without milk. Just boil the water with loose-leaf black tea with a blend of spices. Then strain the tea and serve with or without sugar. This is a great way to avoid milk products and another version of the vegan chai recipe.

What is masala chai made of?

Traditionally masala chai is prepared with milk, whole spices, fresh ginger, and sugar.

Can we make chai without sugar?

Yes, vegan chai can be done with your own preferences. Personally, I make vegan chai without sugar.

What is the difference between chai and masala chai?

'Chai' is made only with milk, loose tea leaves, and sugar with no additional spice blends whereas Masala chai is loaded with flavors from fresh ginger and other supporting spices.

What is the difference between a vegan chai latte and vegan masala chai?

Vegan Chai latte has a milder taste of spice and tea compared to Vegan Chai. That's because lattes are prepared with more milk (steamed) that lightens the flavor and Vegan Chai is prepared with less milk to retain flavors from tea leaves and spices.

Expert tips

Add any whole spices that you like for example use fennel, cinnamon sticks, black peppercorns.
You can always modify the quantity for spices. If you dont like to add more cardamom, reduce it to just one. Likewise, the quantity of ginger can be adjusted to suit your taste.
Indian chai is a beverage that should be enjoyed hot. Reheated chai do not taste good as the fresh ones do.
For the best vegan chai use plain oat milk from Costco or the Silk brand original oat milk. f you like to venture out further, feel free to use other plant-based milk like almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, and cashew milk.
For the cup size, you could use any size of your choice, but be sure to use the same cup to measure the water.
I mixed half a cup of water for every cup of oat milk to get the right consistency. You could skip the water altogether or add more water as per your taste.
Vegan Masala Chai with almond milk is also a good choice and this will be thinner compared to oat milk. Be sure to add less water, if you use almond milk.