How to Make Chai (Kenyan Tea)

Co-authored by Sashee Chandran

Last Updated: April 23, 2025 References

Oftentimes when we go to local eateries, ordering tea means getting served with a tray that includes a mug of hot water, some milk on the side, and a tea bag. It’s much easier for cafés to do it this way, instead of pouring out real tea that’s stored in a thermos. However, instant tea is not as satisfying as chai made from scratch at home. There’s no better tea than that made at home. The recipe is similar to the Indian way of making chai, except that Kenyans don’t use spices in their tea. Much of the East African culture like language (Kiswahili) and cuisine (chapati, pilau, biryani, chai) was influenced by West Asia and India, due to the lucrative and centuries-long East slave trade that begun in the 7th Century.

Ingredients

Water
Whole milk
For extra flavour, take spice/seasoning such as Tropical Heat‘s Tea Masala (ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamon, black pepper and nutmeg)^{[1]
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Sashee Chandran
Tea Expert

Expert Interview}

Steps

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Mix the water and milk into the pot. For each cup of milk, match it with a cup of water i.e. one cup of milk, one cup of water.^{[2]
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Sashee Chandran
Tea Expert

Expert Interview} Should you prefer to have a thinner percentage of milk, you can simply adjust the ratio to 1 part milk and 2 parts water.^{[3]
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- If you want that “kick” in your tea, you will add a small serving of tea masala to infuse with the mixture at this first stage.^{[4]
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Set it up on the stove and bring the mixture to a boil. Some folks add sugar/sweetener to the boiling mix before serving. However, if you have a guest who does not take sugar, you may want to hold off on adding it.^{[5]
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- Also, this is the point where “nylon” is created – nylon is the boiled mixture of water and milk that can be used to make hot chocolate or instant coffee/tea.
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Expert Source

Sashee Chandran
Tea Expert

Expert Interview}
At my house, we would rather do this rather than let the tea leaves boil together with the nylon because it can make the tea too strong.^{[7]
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Sashee Chandran
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Community Q&A

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Question

How many does this serve?

Community Answer

It really depends on the amount of liquid you serve and how big/small your glasses/cups are.

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Question

How do I make the best chai?

Community Answer

I have found simple chai to be the best chai. I use milk and a bit of water. Add some crushed cardamom and some crushed ginger, and boil all of them. Serve with a bit of sugar.

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