Traditional chai tea recipe to enjoy in the morning or afternoon!
pointing to a pot on the stove.
“Sure,” I replied, not knowing exactly what was coming, perhaps tea?
Elise Bauer
What Is Chai Tea?
Boy was I surprised, and in the best possible way.
That was over 30 years ago.
Elise Bauer
Since then, chai has become much more popular here.
If you really want the authentic experience, drink it from a tin cup.
Here is the way that Suzanne makes her chai.
Elise Bauer
History of Masala Chai
Masala chai has a history that goes back thousands of years in India.
It’s a staple healthy beverage in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine.
Since its beginnings, it has always been made with a variety of spices.
It has been served hot and cold, with and without tea leaves, but always with spices.
But tea leaves were still too expensive for regular Indians.
When tea became more affordable in the 1960s, masala chai became more popular.
In America, masala chai has just morphed into just “chai,” which is a misnomer.
Masala chai means “spiced tea” in Hindi, and chai just means tea.
So, saying “chai tea” is like saying “tea tea.”
The usual staple ingredients aregreen cardamom,cloves,cinnamon, black peppercorn, andfresh ginger.
Spice purveyors online also have a wide selection of options.
Skip the milk, but steep the tea to your liking.
you could add sweetener at this point or just before serving.
Cool and refrigerate for up to a week.
Simply add your choice of milk before serving heated or chilled.
More Chai Recipes to Try!
Bring to a boil.
Add 4 to 6 cups of whole milk to the spiced water.
If you don’t have whole milk, you’re able to also use non-fat or low-fat milk.
Just add some cream to it, a few tablespoons to your liking.
Bring the milk and spice mixture just to a boil and remove from heat.
Add tea and let steep for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how strong your like your tea.
(Option at this point - reheat to a simmer and remove from heat.)
Traditionally, sugar is added before serving.
Strain into a pot, and serve.
Add more sugar, to taste if desired.
