Have you ever really wondered what is chai?

You hear people ordering “chai tea” at the local coffee shops. What exactly is chai and how does it relate to tea? The word “chai” is actually the Hindi word for “tea”. So they are the same thing. The word chai is derived from the Chinese word for tea, “cha”. The Hindi word chai is a specific mix of spices or combination of spices and tea steeped into a tea like beverage. The traditional chai and mix of ingredients include a black tea, cinnamon, cardamom, clovers, ginger and black peppercorns. It’s usually brewed with milk and then sweetened with sugar or honey. So it is a very specific tea blend. [1]

The origins of chai are mixed. One legend goes back more than 5000 years. This legend tells us that there was a king in what is now Indian who ordered that a spiced beverage for healing purposes be created to be used in Ayurveda. Ayurveda being a traditional medical practice where herbs and spices were used for healing. It is still practiced in many places today. [2] A beverage was created the following properties:

ginger and black pepper were used to stimulate digestion
cloves contained antiseptic properties to relieve pain
cardamom was used as a mood elevator
respiratory function and circulation were supported by cinnamon
and star anise was used to freshen breath.

This healing beverage spread across the country. Various spiced were added and omitted to prepare this healing beverage depending the region of the country. The actual addition of the tea leaves from the camellia sinensis plant and milk and sugar came later, thousands of years later, when the Camellia sinensis assamica plant variety was discovered in India by the British. The British were the ones who enjoyed the strong black tea with milk and sugar and slowly this came to be added to the original version of chai ordered by the King. Now we have “masala chai” or “spiced tea”. [1]

You can make your own chair by getting all the spices and ingredients and steeping everything over a boiling post of water or milk. Or, there are many tea blenders out there who have a prepared blend or mix of chai that you can just add the hot water or milk to and steep this way.

If you want to make chai from scratch there are a few unofficial rules to go by. Do not just throw all the ingredients into a pot with water and then bring the water to a boil. That’s not going to work. Patience is the first ingredient to making chai. First bring the water to a boil and then start adding in the ingredients. First add in the spices. Wait a few minutes. Then add the tea, usually a black tea of some kind. Then after a few minutes add the milk and then the sweetener. Whole milk is usually used so try not to skimp out and use things like soy milk or other milk substitutes. Regarding the sweetener, white sugar is most common. Jaggery or unrefined can sugar is also used but may be harder to find depending on where you are. [3,4] Very easy and well worth the wait, especially on those chilly days after work.

Below is one recipe for chai curtesy of The Kitchen. There is a great note regarding overnight chai which I haven’t tried yet, but will. Because I’m thinking this winter that would be great to have the next morning before heading off to work in the lovely -40C temperatures we have over here. [5]

Masala Chai Tea

Makes one 8 ounce serving

3/4 cup water
2 to 4 whole green cardamom pods, smashed
1 to 2 thin slices fresh ginger
1 1-inch cinnamon stick
1 piece star anise
3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons loose black tea leaves
Sweetener, to taste (I prefer honey or maple syrup)

In a small saucepan, combine the water, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon stick and star anise. Bring the mixture to a boil then lower the heat and simmer for a few minutes until the mixture is fragrant. Add the milk and tea leaves, and simmer for another minute then turn off the heat and let steep for 2 minutes. Pour into a cup through a fine mesh sieve. Discard the leaves and spices. Add sweetener, to taste.

Recipe Notes

Overnight chai:

If you want deeply flavorful tea in the morning, start it the night before. In a small saucepan, combine the water, cardamom, cinnamon stick and star anise. Do not add the ginger yet. Bring to a boil then turn it off and cover the pan. In the morning, add the sliced ginger and bring to a boil then lower the heat and simmer for a few minutes until the mixture is fragrant. Add the milk and tea leaves, and simmer for another minute then turn off the heat and let steep for 2 minutes. Pour into a cup through a fine mesh sieve. Discard the tea and spices. Add sweetener, to taste. [5]

References:

“What is Chai?”, Teatulia, URL: https://www.teatulia.com/tea-varieties/what-is-chai.htm
“What Is Ayurveda?” , WebMD, Url: https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/ayurvedic-treatments#1
“What Is Chai and How to Make It”, Food and Wine, URL: http://www.foodandwine.com/tea/what-is-chai-how-to-make-chai
“What is Jaggery and What Benefits Does it Have?”, HealthLine, URL: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/jaggery
“Recipe: Masala Chai Tea”, Kitchen, URL : https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-masala-chai-tea-165369

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Lani and Norm

I enjoy learning and sharing that knowledge.Sharing has been in many forms over the years, as a teaching assistant, university lecturer, Pilates instructor, math tutor and just sharing with friends and family.Throughout, summarizing what I have learnt in words has always been there and continues to through blog posts, articles, video and the ever growing forms of content out there!