What is Chai Tea?

Have you tried Chai Tea? 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 Tea is still somewhat exotic although it is becoming increasingly fashionable today as more people are savouring this spicy, fragrant brew.

“Chai” in Hindi means tea but in the western world, it is more commonly known as “Chai Tea”.

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.


What Ingredients go into the Tea Mix

There are different variations to the tea mix but here are some of the key ingredients

* Cloves
* Cardamoms
* Fennel seeds
* Cinnamon stick

To bring out the flavor, it is preferable to crush the cloves and cardamoms.


Chai is good for you!

Here are some of the ingredients that make up the tea mix which explains why this brew is good for health.


Cloves

Used in Ayurvedic medicine as an analgesic, cloves are most often used to soothe toothaches and remedy halitosis. It also has antiseptic qualities, and can be used to kill intestinal parasites, fungi, and bacteria. These latter qualities have also led cloves to be used for treating diarrhea and similar digestive ailments.


Cardamoms

Relieves flatulence, harmonises digestion and eases nausea. Useful for combating colds & chills.


Fennel

Fennel has aromatic and carminative properties. Tea made from the fennel seeds is used to ease flatulence of infants and is used by women to ease menopause symptoms.


Cinnamon

Several studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory effect on blood sugar, making it especially beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes. It has also shown an amazing ability to stop medication-resistant yeast infections. It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.



Here are some of my favourite Recipes

Chai Tea Recipes



Quick and Easy Chai Tea

If you don’t want to make it from scratch, you can always try the powdered version or instant tea bag.

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 power 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.


Milk Tea Recipe



Tazo Chai Tea

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

Return to Black Tea Page from Chai Tea