WHAT IS CHAI TEA?
The term chai tea is a misnomer as “chai” itself means tea in India, therefore the term chai tea in actual fact simply means “tea tea”. Chai tea is the name given to the masala chai or Indian spiced tea by the Western people. Masala chai or chai tea is a century old beverage with Oriental roots. Black tea leaves are boiled and then simmered over a low flame along with milk, sugar and warm traditional spices which gives rise to an amazing drink with an overwhelming intensity. Chai tea recipes are diverse and there is one for every situation. Chai tea is a creamy, comforting drink with touch of milk to envelop the strong flavours of tea leaves while the warm spices give a fragrant, zesty twist to the beverage, overall making it a rich drink with magnificent aroma. Green cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, fennel seeds and ginger are the most widely used spices and their flavours are greatly enhanced by the generous spell of sweetness in the blend, often provided by the addition of honey. Chai tea has a myriad editions which vary according to regions, customs and culture.
Chai tea is the most popular drink of Indian subcontinent and other South-Asian countries. It forms an integral part of Indian culture and is the most preferred drink of every Indian household. There is no greater pleasure than enjoying a gossip or spending time with your family with a cup of warm silky chai tea in your hand. This truly diverse drink has made its place in a road-side tea stall as well as in the menu of the plush bistros. Tea vendors or “chaiwallahs” prepare their chai over an open fire in tea carts and serve it in small clay teacups or “kullarhs” which is shattered on ground after use.. If you visit India, make sure you ask for masala chai and not chai tea (which as you’ll remember translates to “tea tea”) or a cup of black tea is what you’ll get otherwise.
Chai tea gives you company during your leisurely moments as well as calm your nerves and vivify you after a frantic day at work. It has curative aspects associated with it which does wonders to your health. Chai tea is collecting a lot of admiration in recent times as it experiences a phenomenal growth in popularity across the world, particularly in the West. Coffee, the most favoured drink in the West, is facing a tough competition from the oriental chai tea. It has become a healthy substitute for coffee because of its low caffeine level as compared to the latter. Though brewing a cup of chai tea in a traditional Indian way might take quite a lot of time it is hardly a fuss for the western folks these days due to the availability of instant mix, teabags with spices already infused in it and liquid chai concentrate. If you don’t have the right ingredients or time to concoct a cup for you, the eminent coffee rooms like Starbucks are ready for you with their fairly wide range of chai tea. However here at Chai Tea Recipes we firmly believe that using traditional recipes and methods is more than worth the effort as the flavours produced are nothing short of incredible.
Enjoy your chai tea hot or cold, with whipped cream to add extra froth or with caramelized condensed milk. Shuffle the ingredients, add your personal touch to the recipe and imbibe in the comfort with every sip you take.
This website takes a look at an array of traditional chai tea recipes, explaining a little of their history, their health benefits and of course; how to make them.