A Cup of Tea - Milk Powder

I've learned that a great milk powder is the secret to an uninterrupted tea ritual on those 'out of milk' mornings. Fresh milk always expires faster than expected, and if you're anything like me, black tea just doesn't hit the spot like a morning chai. That's where milk powder saves my day. If you've ever wondered how to make tea with milk powder that tastes like proper chai, I have the solution!

Why Milk Powder Chai

I grew up with chai made with fresh milk, always. Milk powder felt like an NRI aunt's kitchen shortcut. I genuinely believed it would never give the same body, colour, or comfort. Cut to life in the 30s as an expat when online delivery was still in future… I, too, turned to milk powder.

What I didn't expect was how hard consistency would be. One cup would be fine, the next watery, the third flat. Making milk tea is already more temperamental than black tea, and using milk powder made it feel unpredictable! Agree?

It took me longer than I'd like to admit to realise the issue wasn't the milk powder...it was my method. This was one of the first recipes I ever shared, and after all these years, I can tell you it's still just as popular as ever.

Tip

Different brands of milk powder behave differently, and I still don't love that unpredictability. So, if you find the one that works for you, keep stock! I love Almarai or Anchor milk powder, but I stay clear of whitener or creamer powders.

Lastly, this is not perfect, but it's reliable enough to trust when fresh milk fails you.

Serving Suggestions

This milk powder tea pairs best with familiar tea-time snacks.

• You cannot say no to some deep-fried fritters! I have the best crispy onion pakoda recipe that you should try!
• Some days we crave a sweet snack, then make a batch of my Banana Bread Chocolate Chip Cookies for quiet afternoon breaks.
• When tea overlaps with evening hunger, my Kerala-style Chicken Cutlets are a classic choice, the kind many of us grew up eating alongside chai at home.

You can check out all my savoury snack recipes for inspiration!

More Related Recipes

If you grew up drinking milk tea, was it always made with fresh milk, or did your home ever use milk powder too? I'd love to know what your cup of chai looked like before life took you elsewhere.

📖 Recipe Card

A Cup of Tea - Milk Powder

How to make a cup of tea with milk powder. A reliable way to make a comforting cup of chai using milk powder instead of fresh milk.

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Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 cup

Calories: 28kcal

By: Famidha Ashraf

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Ingredients

 

½x1x2x3x

• ▢ 1½ teaspoon full-fat milk powder
• ▢ ¾ cup water
• ▢ 2 teaspoon sugar, of choice (adjust)
• ▢ 2 teaspoons black tea leaves, (adjust)
• ▢ 1 pinch cardamom powder, optional
• ▢ 1 pinch ground ginger, optional

Instructions

• Add the milk powder to a cup with a little water to make a smooth paste without lumps. Then, stir in the remaining water.
  1½ teaspoon full-fat milk powder

  ¾ cup water
• Pour this into a deep pot and heat it on the stove at a medium-high flame. Bring this to a full boil. Here you may add a pinch of grated ginger or a pinch of cardamom powder or both.
  1 pinch cardamom powder optional

  1 pinch ground ginger optional
• Meanwhile, prepare your mug - Take your favourite cup and add sugar to your taste.
  2 teaspoon sugar of choice (adjust)
• Once the milk starts to boil, reduce the flame to a low and add the tea leaves and wait for the magic. Do not get tempted to increase the flame to make tea quicker, patience pays.
  2 teaspoons black tea leaves (adjust)
• Once the tea seeps, you will see the milk colour changing. Stir the pan to ensure even distribution of the tea flavour. I like my tea to be rich in tea flavour and so I boil it for a bit longer.
• Use a strainer to strain the tea directly into the mug and stir to dissolve the sugar. Use the same spoon to press down the residue in the strainer to extract the maximum out of it.
• Take it along with you to your favourite spot at home. Switch off your wifi/phone/gadgets etc. Make a slurrrrrrrrp sound each time you sip!

Notes

• Always dissolve milk powder fully before heating to avoid grainy tea.
• Full-fat milk powder gives better body and flavour than low-fat versions.
• Different milk powder brands vary slightly, so adjust the quantity if needed.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 28kcal | Carbohydrates: 6.86g | Protein: 0.37g | Fat: 0.01g

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Indian

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