🍵 Masala Chai Cooler

Chilled masala chai, cardamom, ginger, lemon & sparkling water

20 min + chill
Serves 1
Spiced & Warming
Tall glass over ice
0% ABV
  • 2 tsp loose-leaf Assam tea
  • 250ml water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 4 green cardamom pods, crushed
  • 1cm fresh ginger, sliced
  • 3 cloves
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 60ml fresh lemon juice
  • 150ml sparkling water, chilled
  • Ice & a cinnamon stick to garnish

  1. 1
    Brew spicesCombine water, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and pepper in a saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
  2. 2
    Add teaAdd tea leaves and sugar. Brew for 3 minutes — stronger than you would normally.
  3. 3
    CoolStrain and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  4. 4
    BuildIn a tall glass, combine 100ml chilled chai concentrate with lemon juice over ice.
  5. 5
    TopTop with sparkling water. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

About This Drink

Dishoom queues on Carnaby Street are famous — and the restaurant sometimes hands out paper cups of chai to those waiting in the London cold. In summer, they offer something closer to this: strong chai concentrate poured over ice with lemon. It is a revelation.

Brew the chai VERY strong — the ice and sparkling water dilute it. For Dishoom's profile, add a star anise and fennel seeds to the brew. This concentrate keeps refrigerated for 3 days.

Restaurant / Source
Inspired by Dishoom's chai culture & Ariya restaurant
Origin
India — chai culture modernized
Difficulty
Medium · 20 min + chill