Almost Instant Chai Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Is spiced chai the same as chai? ›

Another term you may sometimes see here is "spiced chai." Again, this term is redundant. Because all chai is "spiced chai"... if it weren't, it wouldn't be chai!

In a small saucepan, bring the tea, water, milk ginger, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon stick and peppercorns (if using) to a boil. Quickly reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, until flavor is your desired intensity. Add sweetener to taste. Strain the mixture into a cup and serve hot.

You must use black tea which has the strength to hold its own with the spices--green tea won't do. Also, interestingly, chai must be sweetened to bring out the flavor of the spices - chai is not very good unless it is sweetened.

For a traditional chai, recipes typically call for around 1.5-2 teaspoons of chai blend per mug and then steeped in one-part milk to 2-4 parts water. Some prefer to steep the tea in water and add the milk after. For a stronger chai taste, you can skip the milk entirely.

Chai can include a number of different spices. Cardamom is the most common ingredient, followed by some mixture of cinnamon, ginger, star anise and cloves. Pepper, coriander, nutmeg and fennel are also used, but they are slightly less common. Every family has a blend to suit its tastes.

Tazo Chai Concentrate (Starbucks brand)

This is the tea that Starbucks uses for its tea lattes and other beverages. Starbucks uses a special (and more concentrated) version of the Tazo Chai Concentrate that is not sold commercially.

Tea contains caffeine, which is a diuretic and can cause increased urination. This can lead to dehydration if you don't compensate by drinking enough water. Dehydration can make your skin appear dry, flaky, and less radiant. Excessive chai consumption can sometimes lead to digestive discomfort for certain individuals.

The problem is that tea contains caffeine which normally makes you feel alert, active, and buoyant. The problem though is that tea drinkers often become addicted to the substance without even realizing that they are addicted to tea.

Tannins In Tea

Another reason that tea could be liable for making your mouth try is due to its tannin content. Tannins are naturally occurring compounds found in tea leaves. They are responsible for the bitter taste and astringency that can be found in tea.

Is Chai a Tea? Yes! That's why its a bit of a bug bear of ours when people call it "chai tea" because Chai actually just means tea in Hindi - so calling it chai tea is literally just saying "tea tea".

What can I add to chai tea to make it taste better? ›

We also love using nut milks to create interesting flavor profiles, like chai tea lattes with almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk. Lastly, sweeten up your cuppa with honey or sugar, and sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg on top for a finishing touch.

While whole milk is traditional for chai, you can really use any milk you like. Switch it up with non-dairy milk like almond, oat, or soy, or make your chai a little lighter with skim.

Yes, the type of milk used in chai makes a difference (chai is tea” in Hindi; “chai tea" is superfluous). The best type of milk for most black teas is regular cow's milk. A full fat milk essential for making a traditional chai. Creamy yet with a good flavour of tea, the bitterness negligible.

Additionally, it's important to note that chai tea contains caffeine, which some people can be sensitive to (32, 33 ). When consumed in excess, caffeine may cause a variety of unpleasant effects, including anxiety, migraines, high blood pressure and poor sleep.

The name “chai” is actually the Hindi word for “tea”, which was derived from “cha”, the Chinese word for “tea”. In this case, the Hindi term chai means a mix of spices steeped into a tea-like beverage. Recipes for chai vary across continents, cultures, towns and families.

Masala chai (or Spiced Chai) is a traditional Indian tea made with spices, ginger, and milk.

There are several different types of Indian chai that you can get depending on the region where it is made or sold: South Indian chai - fresh basil is added to the tea and spices. Assam chai - only grated ginger may be added to tea, milk and sugar.

Chai is made by brewing black tea (usually CTC tea) in milk and water and then sweetening with sugar. Adding aromatic herbs and spices creates chai, although chai is often prepared unspiced.