Ingredients for two cups
Use about 300 ml water, 160–200 ml milk, 4–5 g CTC tea and sugar to taste. Adjust for your glass size; ginger or cardamom is optional.
Extract tea first
Boil fresh water, add CTC and lower the heat for 60–90 seconds. Add milk and sugar, raise the heat and watch as the tea comes to one rise.
Finish cleanly
Lower the flame at the rise and strain promptly. For more strength, add 0.5 g next time or lengthen water extraction slightly. If bitter, shorten the brew before adding sugar.
Questions readers also ask
Which tea suits Kerala chaya?
A fresh, brisk CTC blend develops colour and body quickly.
How is tea-shop chaya strong?
A suitable base and controlled extraction work better than simply boiling longer.
Sources and further reading
- Tea Board India — Tea Board India, accessed 2026-09-04
- Manual of Methods of Analysis: Tea, Coffee and Chicory — Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, accessed 2026-09-04