According to the US Tea Association, tea is the world’s second most popular drink, next to water. As a commonly consumed beverage, many delicious methods of preparing and drinking it have evolved around the world. Spiced chai originally comes from India, where spices were originally mixed into the hot beverage for their medicinal properties. Today, it is made mostly for its unique flavor.
Equipment for Making Chai
While there is an endless inventory of tea paraphernalia that you could use to make your chai, all you really need to get started is a pot and a strainer.
Essential Chai Ingredients
Water – While some people swear that boiling the water just right makes a huge difference in the taste, most can’t tell the difference.
Tea – The favorite amongst tea experts is Darjeeling, with a little Assam for color. However, any unscented black tea will work just fine. Red teas, green teas, and even herbal teas are sometimes used, so feel free to experiment.
Milk – In choosing what to put in your chai, there is one simple rule: the thicker the milk, the richer the chai. Whole milk, cream, even butter will go into the most delicious chais. But of course, these options come with a high caloric cost.
Sugar – The big sweeteners are sugar (brown, white, or cane) and honey. Each one lends a different twist to the finished tea.
Spices – The selection and proportion of spices used in chai tea varies from recipe to recipe. Try a few sample recipes to get a feel for some of the more popular balances, and then experiment to suit your tastes. The most common spices used in spiced chais are
- Green Cardamom
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
- Cloves
- Black Peppercorns
- Almond
- Nutmeg
- Bay Leaves
- Black Cardamom
- Anise/Fennel
- All Spice
Making the Chai
- Bring water to a boil and add solid spices. Cover, reduce heat, and allow to simmer. Ten minutes is sufficient, but soaking the spices longer will continue to add to the flavor.
- Bring the water back up to a rolling boil, then turn down the heat. Add tea, and allow to infuse according to the directions on the package (usually 3-5 minutes, covered). Remove the tea and spices.
- Add milk, and bring back to a boil. Reduce heat, and add vanilla, other extracts, flavorings, and sugar or honey. Stir for thirty seconds, and then turn heat to low to keep tea warm while serving.
- For presentation, top with whipped cream and/or powdered nutmeg and cinnamon.
Other Things to Try in Your Chai
Many of the things that make a delicious gourmet coffee translate well into a chai tea. Add a little chocolate sauce or cocoa powder to make a “chai mocha.” Experiment with shots of flavor syrup to give the beverage a unique taste.
Steamed milk makes a cup of chai especially delicious. These “chai lattes” have gained a place of prominence in the hot beverages menu, and today are featured in coffee shops around the country.
