Organic Chai Tea
Traditional chai is made with fresh spices from an Asian or Indian market. Cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, a cardamom pod, and whole black or white pepper corns are ground into a powder. This powder is added to two parts half-and-half to three parts water and add a pinch of fresh, chopped ginger root. Use a strong black tea and brew over a low, simmering heat for up to an hour. Chai made this way typically has a caffeine level similar to coffee. Strain the spices and stir in a teaspoon of sugar. Add milk to desired taste. Chai tea is traditionally served hot and sweet because the sugar is needed to enhance the full flavors of the spices.
|
Organic Chai Decaf TeaRegular Retail Price: Your Online Price: $14.95 (Save $2 or 12%) Size: Tea Tin Weight: 4.23 oz. ( 120 g.) Quantity in Basket: none |
| Add a little spice in your day without worrying about caffeine. Delicious and warming, this blend of exotic spices and dark Indian black tea is delectable served hot or cold. This means you get to savor all the rich and healthy spiciness without the caffeine. more |
|
Organic Chai Herbal TeaRegular Retail Price: Your Online Price: $14.95 (Save $3 or 17%) Size: Tea Tin Weight: 6.53 oz. ( 185 g.) Quantity in Basket: none |
| This Chai uses an organic South African Rooibos base blended with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and bits of vanilla. Enjoy the spicy indulgence and jump start your day with this exceptional tea. more |
|
Organic Chai Spiced Darjeeling TeaRegular Retail Price: Your Online Price: $14.95 (Save $3 or 17%) Size: Tea Tin Weight: 5.29 oz. ( 150 g.) Quantity in Basket: none |
| This tea has a high quality Darjeeling base freshly blended with the warming spices of a traditional Chai. Enjoy with or without milk and sugar, or, ice it up for a refreshing treat. more |
The word chai literally means "tea" in Hindi, and the more commonly used word outside of the U.S. is masala tea. But even though the term chai tea is a little redundant, this hasn't stopped the consumer demand for more. Chai is so popular in South Asia that street vendors selling the drink are a common sight. Black tea, milk, sugar, and select spices make up the key ingredients of Chai tea.
Traditionally, the making of chai tea is relatively time consuming, but with the growing popularity in the Western markets, convenience driven pre-brewed and pre-packaged chai mixes are now being sold regularly. Chai can be enjoyed hot or cold, with a variety of added flavors. As chai becomes more prevalent in coffee shops and cafes, people are experimenting with new additions such as vanilla, chocolate, or nutmeg. Chai tea has long been savored all over the world, especially India, and is now a favorite in the U.S.
A lot of variations to this basic recipe are available online and in print. Substitutions on the basic ingredients are almost endless, too. Sugar can be substituted with honey, brown sugar, rice syrup or maple syrup. Whole milk can be substituted with soy milk or skim milk. Although nutmeg is a common favorite, give licorice or saffron a chance for a completely different flavor.
Like many teas, there are innumerable ways to enjoy this drink and finding the right balance for personal taste often takes a little experimenting with various spices and amounts.
Chai tea is made using black tea, so the health benefits of black tea remain in the drink. Black tea has antioxidants that help the body to eliminate free radicals from the body, thus fighting colds and the flu, heart disease, and even cancer. Other helpful ingredients such as fluoride and caffeine help to strengthen bones and teeth, and improve mental cognition.
Still, chai does contain milk and sugar making it a little less healthy of an option. This is perhaps the reason why some people are starting to drink chai with the spices, but without the milk and sugar, veering from the traditional form. That is just another one of the amazing things about tea: its versatility makes it a drink for all people at any time.