What is Chai Tea......it is traditional Indian Tea infused with fragrant spices!

So, what is Chai Tea and have you tried it? What I am referring to here is the traditional Indian tea made with fresh fragrant spices. The tea bag version of this has its own fan club and I have friends who love it and rave about it but I have to say, there is nothing like the real thing.

“Chai” in Hindi means tea but here in the western world, we add the word "tea" at the end, so we are actually repeating the same word in a couple of different languages.

Chai is still somewhat exotic although it is becoming increasingly fashionable today as more people are savouring this spicy, fragrant brew. It doesn´t just taste good but the Health Benefits of Chai are many as well.

I live in Canada and when I go to an Indian restaurant, I have to differentiate between regular tea and chai by asking for “masala tea”. In this case, masala refers to the spice mix that goes into the tea.

Chai is as old as the ages and is made with brewed black tea and a unique combination of spices that vary based on the recipe. A new version that is now picking up in popularity is Chai Latte

The recipe for a chai tea mix which is all the spices that go into this heavenly brew that gives it the very fragrant aroma and wonderful taste is usually referred to as Chai Masala.



Chai Masala is a must for all Chai Recipes.

If you don´t have the time and want something that is fairly quick and easy, you can always use the tea bag version. All these teas come with instructions on how to brew. They are usually a quick 5 minute job of boiling water and adding the tea bag or tea powder and milk. You can add sugar or honey as required.


Milk Tea

Another favourite variation of this tea is Milk Tea.

I was recently introduced to “Milk Tea” by a cousin from India. I find it’s the perfect brew on a cold winter’s day. I have also tried it on some of our camping trips in the fall, making the tea outside on a burner, in the early hours of the morning while the campground is still enveloped in a misty fog.

There is nothing like a cup of hot milk tea on a cool day and especially if you're out in the woods! Moreover, it’s a really easy tea to make.

As much as I love Milk Tea, I have to admit I can only have it once in a while. It’s a milky tea and so it can be a little heavy but just having it occasionally at the right time, makes it all the more special.


Tazo Chai Tea

This is another brew that is becoming quite popular. Made with carefully selected ingredients of high quality teas and spices that have been blended together, TAZO Chai Tea is a delicious blend of full flavoured black tea accented with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and vanilla.

Check out these Interesting Books on Chai.





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