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Become a Chai Expert with These Six Facts about Chai
Michele LillieChai tea is full of delicious and warming aromas and flavors. It is a tea that is full of history and beloved around the entire world. What exactly is Chai tea, where did it come from, and how can you make it at home? Let's explore six facts that will make you a Chai expert!
1. What is Chai tea?
Chai is one of the most recognizable teas. The word "Chai" simply means "tea" in many parts of the world. So, to say Chai Tea, you are saying “tea tea.” This is why Chai is often referred to as “Masala Chai.” Masala is a blend of spices used in Indian & South Asian cuisine. Thus, Masala Chai is tea blended with these spices.
In the Western context, "Chai" typically refers to this specific type of spiced tea. This traditional Indian tea is a fragrant blend of black tea, milk, sugar, and a variety of spices.
2. What spices are present in Chai?
The name given to the spice mix used in India to make Masala Chai is Karha. There is no one list of spices found in karha. Rather, there is a range of recipes depending on region and culture, although common spices are typically found in these mixes.
Examples of common ingredients for karha:
- Green cardamom pods
- Black cardamom pods
- Cinnamon stick
- Cloves
- Ginger powder
- Ginger root
- Black peppercorn
- Star anise
- Fennel seeds
- Nutmeg
- Mace
- Coriander seeds
3. What kind of tea is used to make Chai?
The tea used in making Masala is often a black Assam tea, especially one where the tea leaves have been cut into pieces using the CTC method . Today, the tea used to make Chai might be from either the Assam or Darjeeling region of India or even Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka. Quality tea shops will use orthodox tea rather than CTC tea.
Even though the classic Chai still has a black tea base, many people use green or herbal tea.
4. How did Chai originate?
The history of Chai tea is not entirely clear. It is thought to have originated over 5000 years ago as a beverage drank for holistic purposes. At first, it did not always include spices, sweeteners, and milk. This “tea” was used to stimulate digestion, relieve pain and improve circulation.
In the 1800s, the British arrived in India and began establishing tea plantations. The British East India Company aimed to reduce the Chinese monopoly on tea by cultivating vast swaths of land in India. They focused on cultivating the Assam varieties of black tea.
They also tried to increase tea consumption in India and started a campaign with The Indian Tea Association to encourage companies to provide tea breaks to their workers. This made tea an important part of society. The association also directly supported tea producers, called ”Chai wallahs.” In Hindi, Chai means tea, and wallah means seller or maker. Chaiwallah is the masculine term for a tea seller, and Chaiwalli for the feminine tea seller.
The companies mixed the tea with milk and spices. Some say this was a cost-saving measure as they could use less tea. Others claim it was to make the bitter black tea more palatable. Whatever the reason, this was the beginning of the Masala Chai we know today.
5. How do you make Chai?
Making Masala Chai is easy if you start with an excellent blend of tea and spices from a reputable tea shop such as English Tealeaves. There are different ways of brewing Chai. You may brew the tea normally and then add dairy and sweetener to your liking. Another option is to brew the tea in warm milk rather than water. One advantage of this method is that the dairy allows the tea to be brewed longer without developing a tannic and bitter taste.
You might ask how this Masala Chai is different than a Chai Latte. The latter may be made with steamed and frothed milk or commercial latte powder. This makes lattes sweeter than a traditional cup of Chai. The lattes are also typically topped off with whipped cream.
Because there is no specific recipe for Chai, you can have fun adapting it to your individual tastes, depending on what tea blend you use and whether you wish to add any additional spices.
6. What special day celebrates Chai?
Chai is so popular that there is a National Chai Day celebrated every September 21st. It is said to have been started in 2018 by Somrus, a company specializing in Indian liquors. Since then, various organizations, social media influencers, and tea companies have popularized the day. The day is promoted as a time to enjoy a delicious cup of Chai and engage in cultural exchange and exploration.
Here are some ideas to help you celebrate National Chai Day.
- Make a cup of Chai and cozy up with a good book. It might be a book about tea or a cozy mystery in which sipping a wonderful cup of tea is part of the action.
- Purchase different varieties of Chai and have an in-home tasting. At English Tealeaves, we offer five varieties.
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Masala Indian Chai – our classic black tea base Chai with ginger, cinnamon, green cardamom, and vanilla.
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Nepali Chai – a black tea grown at high elevation in Nepal with ginger, black cardamom, cinnamon leaf, and black pepper.
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Chai Espresso – a twist on classic Chai using black tea, lemon peel, cloves, and espresso coffee.
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Chai Green – a mild green tea with cardamom, ginger, cloves, black pepper, cinnamon pieces and spearmint.
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Coconut Chai – a caffeine-free herbal tisane with a rooibos base and ginger, cinnamon, shredded coconut, and vanilla.
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Chai Sampler – can’t decide? Try our Chai sampler, which includes a Try It sized bag of each of these teas.
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Masala Indian Chai – our classic black tea base Chai with ginger, cinnamon, green cardamom, and vanilla.
- Incorporate chai flavors into your cooking to enliven some culinary delights. Chai-infused desserts, such as chocolate Chai truffles, are amazing.
If you are a lover of Chai tea, we hope you will try all of these varieties that are sure to dance upon your palate. If you are new to Chai, there is so much to explore in this beloved tea. So, why not brew a cup today and savor Chai's rich, aromatic experience? Enjoy your Chai journey!