What is Chai Tea?

What is Chai Tea?

Chai, pronounced with a long "i" as in the word tie, is the actual word for tea in many countries. Chai tea is quickly becoming extremely popular in the West as people are becoming exposed to it as lattes in coffee and tea houses.

Chai tea is a rich and complex beverage that has been savored for centuries in many parts of the world, especially India.

In its most basic form, chai is black tea that is brewed strong with a combination of spices and is diluted with milk and sugar.

The spices vary from recipe to recipe, but usually consist of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, pepper and ginger. Chai tea is traditionally consumed hot and sweet. The sweetness is needed to bring out the full flavors of the spices.
How to Make Chai

Here is a simple recipe to make chai yourself at home. This is what you will need:

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1 1/2 cups of water
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1 1/2 inch stick of cinnamon
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8 cardamom pods
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1/4 inch fresh ginger root (sliced thin)
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2/3 cup of milk
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6 teaspoons sugar
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3 teaspoons of Darjeeling Tea leaves

Place water, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and ginger in a pot and bring to a boil.