If you've ever wondered how to make loose leaf tea taste like Indian Chai, I’ve got the perfect solution! As a chai lover, I rarely stray from my go-to tea brands—it's my comfort zone. But sometimes, whether out of boredom or sheer necessity (read: no stock left!), I take the plunge and try something new. That’s exactly how I ended up with a pack of loose-leaf tea.
If you’ve been in the same boat, you know the struggle—that’s probably why you’re here! It took me half a pack of trial and error before I realized that brewing this kind of tea leaves isn’t the same as my regular chai recipe.
Brewing Indian chai with loose leaves can sometimes turn out bitter, but with my recipe, you’ll get a strong, flavorful chai without any of that bitterness. Fancy tea leaves aren’t just for plain tea—I’ll show you how to make a chai with deep flavour and strong taste, just like the one you’d brew with regular black dust tea.
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❤️Why You should try this recipe
- No fancy tea-making equipment - my limited space kitchen is the reason I don't buy the latest and trending appliances or tools. You don't need an infuser to make this.
- Stovetop: made in stovetop in a saucepan.
- Small portion: This recipe makes one large mug or two tea cups of chai.
📖What’s the difference between dust tea and loose-leaf tea?
Dust tea is made with very fine particles of tea leaves and is the most affordable option. The texture makes it quick and easy to make a cup of chai. Example brands: Lipton, Wagh Bakri, 3 Roses, etc.
Loose Leaf Tea consists of whole or broken tea leaves. The leaves have more room to expand, allowing for better flavour extraction. Example brands: Ahmad tea blends, Halmari Tea, TeaCupsFull, Organic India, etc. Don't use green tea for this recipe!
So, ready to make some Indian chai?
🥘Ingredients
- Loose-leaf tea: Any brand blend made for black tea. I have used the Ahmad brand.
- Water
- Milk: To get that perfect chai, you need full-fat milk. You may use milk powder milk.
- Sweetener of choice: I tend to use stevia powder—not for health reasons, just for ease and for a guilt-free first meal.
Refer to the Recipe Card at the bottom of this page for a complete list of ingredients and quantities.
🥣Equipment
My recipe shows how to make loose-leaf tea without an infuser. You will need these:
- A big mug to infuse the leaves.
- You will need a mesh strainer to strain the tea leaves.
- A teapot or saucepan for making the chai.
🔪Steps to make loose leaf tea
I have a short video included in the Recipe card.
Add 6 to 7 teaspoons of loose-leaf tea to an infuser or directly into a large mug. You may also add a few whole spices like cardamom for flavour.
Pour the hot water over the tea leaves.
Cover and steep for 6 minutes.
Strain the tea into a teapot or saucepan. This step of discarding the leaves before proceeding prevents the bitter taste.
Add cold or warm milk, bring to a boil and continue to boil for 5 to 7 minutes or until it reaches your desired "strong" chai.
Add sweetener and serve warm.
💡Serving Ideas
Pair your freshly made loose-leaf tea Indian style with cookies or fried snacks or sandwiches for a tea-time experience. My personal favourite is to always have green chilli spiced pakoras, sundal or parathas. It makes the chai taste 100 times better!
📝Variations
- You may add fresh mint, ginger, or cardamom for extra flavour.
- You may also infuse it with cinnamon, cloves, or nutmeg for a warm, spiced aroma.
🍲More Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
- Red Seeds Milk Drink (Aliv seeds)
- Masala Chai with Whole Spices
- Aval Milk | Rice Flakes Milk | Poha Milk
- Chai for Two
🥗Pairing
These are my favourite dishes to serve with this Indian tea:
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📖 Recipe Card
How to make Loose Leaf Tea (Indian)
Ingredients
- 6 teaspoon loose leaf tea
- 1½ cups water
- ⅓ cup full-fat milk
- sweetener of choice
Instructions
- Bring the water to a full boil. You may use a stovetop or kettle.1½ cups water
- Meanwhile, add 6 to 7 teaspoons of loose-leaf tea in a large mug.6 teaspoon loose leaf tea
- Now, pour the boiled water over the tea leaves and immediately cover the mug. Let it steep for 6 minutes.
- Strain the tea into a teapot or saucepan, then add cold milk directly.⅓ cup full-fat milk
- Boil this for 6 to 7 minutes or until the tea reaches a deep colour. Stir in your preferred sweetener and then pour into serving cups. Enjoy!sweetener of choice
Video
Notes
A great article to read on types of tea.
Famidha Ashraf says
For those chai lovers who won't settle for watery, pale, milky chai. A strong chai with fancy tea leaves. 😛