Making Masala Chai by ChatGPT

I asked ChatGPT if it can develop a unique recipe of Masala Chai fit for a Sultan.

ChatGPT: Ah, Masala Chai fit for a Sultan! Let's elevate the recipe by incorporating luxurious flavors and enhancing the depth and complexity. This version will have a rich, regal touch, with carefully balanced spices and hints of indulgence. This chai is rich, aromatic, and indulgent—perfect for royalty or anyone seeking an elevated tea experience.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups water
• 4 green cardamom pods (lightly crushed)
• 5-6 whole black peppercorns (lightly crushed)
• 1 small cinnamon stick (about 2 inches)
• 1 tsp fennel seeds (crushed for enhanced sweetness)
• 3-4 thin slices of fresh ginger (peeled)
• 2 cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground turmeric (for warmth and golden hue)

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• 2 tsp loose black tea leaves or 2 strong tea bags (Assam preferred)

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• 0.5 cup whole milk (or use half-and-half for extra creaminess)
• A pinch of saffron strands (soaked in 1 tbsp warm milk)
• 1-2 tsp sugar or sweetener of choice (adjust to taste)

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• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (or seeds from 1/4 vanilla)
• 1 tsp rose water (optional, for a floral touch)

Instruction:

1. Infuse Spices - In a saucepan, bring 1.5 cups of water to a boil. Add cardamom, peppercorns, cinnamon, fennel seeds, ginger, cloves, and turmeric. Simmer over medium-low heat for 4-5 minutes to extract maximum flavor.
2. Brew the Tea - Add 2 tsp loose tea leaves or tea bags and simmer for another 2 minutes. This ensures a robust and aromatic tea base.
3. Add Milk and Sweetener - Stir in 0.5 cup whole milk, the saffron-infused milk, and 1-2 tsp sugar. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes while stirring occasionally.
4. Finish with Luxurious Touches - Stir in 1/4 tsp vanilla extract and 1 tsp rose water (if using). Simmer for an additional 30 seconds.
5. Strain and Serve - Strain the chai into cups using a fine mesh strainer. Garnish with a few saffron strands for an extra regal presentation.

Why this recipe is fit for a Sultan

1. Saffron - A luxurious ingredient prized for its vibrant color and subtle aroma.
2. Rose Water - Adds an exotic, floral elegance reminiscent of royal Persian and Mughal cuisines.
3. Fennel Seeds and Turmeric - Enhance the depth and balance while offering subtle health benefits.
4. Vanilla - A sophisticated sweetness that harmonizes with the spices.

Ending Thoughts
Surprisingly, this recipe does not include my usual - nutmeg, star anise and bay leaf. I strictly followed the recipe but without the saffron and rose water. Verdict? It was bland. I guess despite what ChatGPT is putting out, it still falls short of actually tasting the final product - computers have no taste buds.

NOTE: After trying this recipe, I had to tweak it according to my taste. Below is my recipe basing it from ChatGPT.

Ingredients:

1st Boil (Spices)

• 2 cups water (boil this first)
• 10 green cardamom pods, crushed
• 4-5 whole cloves
• 4-5 black peppercorns
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 whole star anise
• 1 small bay leaf
• fresh ginger (two 1-inch, thinly sliced)
• fresh turmeric (one 1-inch, thinly sliced), used sparingly otherwise it will drown out the ginger flavor

2nd Boil

• 1.5 tablespoons Pu-Erh Tea from Yunnan (Chinese tea, which is what I have) OR 2 tablespoons black tea leaves (Assam tea recommended by ChatGPT)
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp salt

3rd Boil

• 3/4 cup coconut cream + 1/4 cup water OR 1 cup coconut milk (1 cup whole milk or diluted all-purpose cream for richer texture)
• 4 tablespoons sugar or honey
• vanilla, 1 tsp

Before Serving

• rum, 2 tbsp

preparing all ingredients ahead of time

Preparation:

• Prepare the Spices: lightly crush the cardamom pods, cloves, peppercorns, and fennel seeds. You can use a mortar and pestle or the flat side of a knife. Grate the nutmeg (if whole seed)
• Boil Water and Spices: in a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the crushed spices, star anise, bay leaf, and sliced ginger and turmeric. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes to allow the spices to infuse the water
• Add Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Salt and Tea Leaves: add the ground cinnamon, nutmeg and black tea leaves to the boiling water. Let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure the cinnamon powder is well incorporated
• Add Milk, Sweetener and Vanilla: pour in the milk, vanilla and add the sugar. Stir well to combine. Bring the mixture back to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent it from boiling over. Tip - if you use cream instead of milk, dilute it or the mixture tastes more like milk and drowns out the layered exotic flavors
• Strain: strain the tea through a fine mesh strainer into cups to remove the tea leaves and spices
• Add 1 tbsp Rum and Serve: adding rum always enhances the flavor. Tip - make the mixture a little sweeter if adding rum. The rum neutralizes the extra sweetness and imparts that rum taste
• Garam Masala Chai: Garam Masala Chai is a mix of cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, coriander, nutmeg, bayleaves, mace and black pepper. So if using this mixture, simply use all the above and add vanilla, fennel leaves, & star anise

Ending Thoughts
Verdict? It's not bad. It's fairly decent, but nothing out of the ordinary. I would say that Starbuck's Chai Tea Latte tastes better (but I'm not taking out a loan just to afford their tea). I'm not sure how ChatGPT's algorithm works. Does it simply average-out all the Masala Chai recipes in its database to come up with an average Masala Chai? Or can it discern the best recipe and present that instead? From hereon, I'll keep improving my own recipe. When perfected, I'll post it.