There are many variations of chai tea. It is always aromatic and very tasty. But how is it properly prepared? Learn more here.
Chai Tea – Indian specialty
Chai tea has been a classic drink in India for centuries. The aromatic tea with milk is served here for all occasions. Meanwhile, the rest of the world enjoys this tasty hot drink. There are always new variations, and chai tea is an integral part of any beverage list. But what makes Indian Chai tea so special?
Masala Chai – what’s in it?
In its pure form, chai tea is black tea that is refined with a blend of spices. It is therefore a spice tea. The term Chai Tea is a Western interpretation of the name. The term Cha originally comes from North Chinese and means tea. At that time it was spread along the most important trade route, the Silk Road. In this way, the original term cha became the word chai (pronounced chai) or cay.
Chai also stands for tea in India. The tea is therefore also correctly called Masala Chai. Because masala means “mixture” in the Hindu language. The spice mixture is not clearly defined. Cloves, cumin and other spices find their way into the mix. The following flavor carriers are used particularly frequently:
cardamom
blackberry leaves
Cinammon
star anise
cloves
Ginger
The tea mixture should be stored in an airtight container. Otherwise, some of the spices will quickly lose their fine aroma and the tea will then no longer have the typical spicy taste.
Enjoy modern interpretations of chai tea
In India, chai tea is almost always made from black tea. However, the constantly growing tea culture outside the country is happy to experiment with taste. So today there are a variety of interesting tea blends. Green tea, black tea, rooibos tea and tea blends from different varieties add variety to the teacups. Since the black tea blends are often very tart in the base note, these variants are very well suited to switching from a strong spiciness to a slightly milder taste.
Chai tea with rooibos is a good alternative for people who want to enjoy tea in the evening or are sensitive to caffeine. For those who like it really exotic, there are seasoning mixes with fruit or aromatic vanilla. A dash of milk is a must if you want to enjoy Chai tea in the traditional way. There are a number of variations of this today. With the help of fluffy milk foam, the classic drink becomes the popular Chai Tea Latte.
Observe the correct brewing time
The brewing time of the chai tea is determined by the base mixture. Green tea has a different brewing time than black tea. Especially with these two types of tea you should keep an eye on the brewing time. If this is too long, the tea can taste bitter very quickly. Rooibos tea tastes perfect after about five minutes, but can steep longer if necessary without an unpleasant taste developing. When buying chai teas, be sure to pay attention to the information on the brewing time. Just try a little with your own mixtures.
The tea can also be refined with various flavors in the form of syrup or special milk. Almond milk and coconut milk are popular additions among vegans. A dash of vanilla flavor turns the tea into a whole new drink. A good balance between sweet and tart is the best basis.
Enjoy chai tea at any time of the day
A black tea-based chai tea is a great morning pick-me-up. A chai tea with a herbal tea base helps to relax and switch off after a long day. If you want to recharge your batteries, you can use a green chai tea with lemon extract. The varied chai tea or latte is therefore always a good choice.
