Chai / Spiced Tea

↑About Chai / Spiced Tea

Chai, properly called masala chai, is Hindi for "spiced tea". The word "chai" just means tea, so terms like chai tea, although in widespread use, are redundant. A more accurate term is spiced chai.

Masala chai is a drink made by brewing tea, usually black tea, together with spices. Often, but not always, milk and sweetener, such as honey or sugar, are added. Sometimes condensed milk is used. If the milk is steamed, as with an espresso machine, the result is called a "chai tea latte".

Typically, masala chai is mixed up at the time of brewing, adding spices to taste, although, especially in the U.S., it is also sold pre-blended in teabags. A few companies sell green or herbal teas in a similar style to masala chai.

RateTea lists all pre-blended masala chai mixtures in this category. However, you can make your own spiced chai by blending spices with tea. For a classic flavor, try starting with an Indian black tea such as Assam.

Spices used in masala chai

Traditional Indian masala chai is diverse and varies regionally and based on personal taste. Spices most commonly used include cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, star anise, peppercorn, and cloves. Other spices, herbs, and flavorings, such as nutmeg, rose, liquorice, vanilla, or mint are occasionally used.

When only one spice is used, the resulting blend is usually named with the spice itself, such as cinnamon black tea or tea with cardamom: the term "chai" is usually reserved for blends including multiple spices. Black tea blended with cardamom, or "cardamom tea" is widely consumed in the Middle east.

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