No matter the season, when the weather turns chilly, there’s nothing better than a warm, comforting beverage to heat you up from the inside out. And what could be better than a delicious cup of chai? If you're already a fan, you know exactly what we're talking about. If not, it's the perfect time to give chai a try!
What Is Chai Tea?
What is “chai,” you ask? Well, the origins of it go back either thousands of years ago to a king in either India or Thailand. The king mixed together what are now known as chai spices as a healing Ayurvedic medicine. At the time, black tea was not part of the mixture.
Jump ahead to the mid-19th century when the British East India Company had begun smuggling tea plants out of China and creating tea plantations in their colony, India. While black tea began to be more available in India – even though India did have a native Assamica tea plant available for production – it was still quite expensive for the average citizen. To lessen the amount of tea needed per cup, they began adding chai spices and milk to it, making it a more affordable beverage. Also, the India Tea Company began promoting tea breaks for workers as a vehicle for selling more tea. Adding to tea’s rise in popularity was the fact that in the 1930s, there was an oversupply of Indian tea that the British tea companies began selling to the Indians.
The true game-changer for making chai wildly popular was the introduction of CTC teas, a much more efficient method of processing the black tea that results in a far more affordable tea. It became the perfect storm for making chai India’s national drink.
What Does Chai Mean?
The word “chai” is the Hindi word for “tea.” It was derived from “cha,” the Chinese word for “tea”. “Masala chai,” another phrase you’ll hear, means “spiced tea,” which is what “chai” has become synonymous with.
Chai recipes vary by region and personal preference. Traditionally, chai is a black tea mixed with strong spices like cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, and black peppercorns. When folks around these parts say “chai,” they are generally referring to what is known as “masala chai.” As you’ll have seen in our Tea Etymology post, to say “chai tea” literally translates to “tea tea.” It’s okay to say that here, but in other parts of the world, they might look at you a little funny.
Speaking of other parts of the world, in India, most citizens consume three to four cups of chai daily. Chaiwalas, or chaiwallahs, either spelling meaning “tea person,” are ubiquitous in India. They prepare, sell, and serve chai from corner stands and small shops. Chaiwalas and others generally prepare chai from scratch with fresh ingredients. In the U.S., we’re more likely to prepare chai with a premade blend of black tea and spices.
Harney offers several chai tea options:
- Chai, our own sweet and spicy blend of black tea with cardamom flavor, cardamom, nutmeg, and vanilla flavor
- Chocolate Chai Supreme, a customer creation and winner of our 2018 Tea Blendings contest
- Organic Rooibos Chai, an herbal version of a classic chai
How to Make Chai Tea
Whether you prepare it using loose leaf, sachets, or teabags, brewing chai is no different than brewing other teas unless you choose to make it with all fresh ingredients instead of using a tea with the spices already blended in (like we offer). You can use milk if you wish (your favorite kind will work just fine) and add the sweetener of your choice (or don’t!). Or you can use a combination of milk and water to steep your chai leaves. If you prefer an iced chai, steep your tea in hot water, but don’t heat the milk and pour it all over ice.
Chai Tea Recipes
In addition to simply enjoying wonderful chai on its own, with all its wonderful spices, chai is a natural for using in recipes. Here is our latest chai recipe for you to try.
Ingredients
- 60 ml (¼ C) water
- 180 ml (¾ C) milk of choice
- 2 Chai teabags or sachets, or 2 tsp. loose
- 1 tsp caramel syrup
- Whipped cream and additional caramel syrup for topping, if desired
Instructions
- In a saucepan, bring water and milk to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add tea. Remove from heat and let steep for 5 minutes.
- Discard tea and stir in caramel syrup. Pour into mug and top with whipped cream and caramel drizzle, if desired.
