Authentic Homemade Indian Chai Tea Recipe - Foodess (2024)

FAQs

What is authentic chai made of? ›

Chai can include a number of different spices. Cardamom is the most common ingredient, followed by some mixture of cinnamon, ginger, star anise and cloves. Pepper, coriander, nutmeg and fennel are also used, but they are slightly less common. Every family has a blend to suit its tastes.

While I am obviously biased I really do believe our masala is what makes our chai so special. The chai masala is a delicious blend of cloves, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and black pepper. All of the spices add a delicious warmth to the chai, and the black pepper and ginger add a subtle heat as well.

Black tea varieties, like chai tea, are considered safe for drinking daily. But black tea has a range of caffeine, from 30 to 50 milligrams, so it's best to limit daily tea drinking.

Chai tea is a fragrant, spicy tea that may help boost heart health, aid digestion, and help with weight loss. You'll get the most health benefits from your tea by opting for a minimally sweetened version. In many parts of the world, “chai” is simply the word for tea.

With different blends of black tea with ginger, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, and cloves, chai tea is a delicious, naturally sweet, nuanced tea, originating from India. Chai offers its drinkers a multitude of health and wellness benefits and may increase mental alertness.

The proper tea-to-water ratio is crucial for a well-balanced flavor without excessive bitterness. According to general guidelines, 3 grams of loose-leaf tea should be used per 8 ounces of water. Using too much tea can result in an imbalanced taste with excessive bitterness due to the over-extraction of tannins.

Chai is a complex blend of flavors characterized by a balance of bold black tea leaves and different spices. Without a doubt, the most powerful notes in a cup of chai are cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves.

You must use black tea which has the strength to hold its own with the spices--green tea won't do. Also, interestingly, chai must be sweetened to bring out the flavor of the spices - chai is not very good unless it is sweetened.

Most cafes that offer chai lattes don't actually brew the tea themselves, they make them by adding powdered tea to steamed milk. There's nothing wrong with this method.

For chai blends with a black tea base, you want the water temperature to reach 200-212° and the steep time to be 3-5 minutes long. The steep times and temperatures will vary depending on the other types of tea leaves used.

How much tea leaves to put in chai? ›

Add 2 tsp of tea directly into the pot. Add 1 cup of hot water and simmer gently for 20 minutes. This allows the flavors to steep and mingle. As chai is a mixture of spices as well as tea, the longer infusion time helps the herbs to properly steep.

Enjoy Drinking Chai on a Diet

There are ingredients that boost your metabolism, break down fat and keep you full for longer. As mentioned, chai is a relatively low-calorie option, especially without the milk and added sugars, meaning you can enjoy it guilt-free.

It's recommended to drink chai tea at least a few hours before bedtime to allow your body to process the caffeine. Overall, drinking chai tea in the evening is great to unwind and relax after a long day, as long as you keep in mind the caffeine content and timing of consumption.

Chai blends contain a welter of spices and herbs, many of which boost health. This is one reason we adore chai, although our love of the tea mainly revolves around its superb flavor. Of our many chais — we carry 10 — Sunrise Chai may stand as the most liver-beneficial.

A Dirty Chai is a mix of coffee and chai tea, named “dirty” chai because of the addition of coffee muddying up the color of the tea. It is usually made with a concentrated chai tea, a shot of espresso, and steamed milk or cream (this is, therefore, a latte).

Starbucks Chai Tea Latte: A Simplified Version

To ensure consistency and streamline the production process, Starbucks uses a pre-made chai concentrate for their Chai Tea Latte. This concentrate contains a combination of spices, sweeteners, and flavorings, offering a quick and convenient solution for mass production.

A dirty chai latte contains more caffeine than a regular chai latte due to the addition of espresso. This makes it a great choice for those who need an extra energy boost. The caffeine content in a dirty chai latte can range from 85-150 mg per serving, depending on how strong the espresso is.

This is the traditional Indian preparation known properly as "masala chai." It is first brewed as a strong tea, then mixed with equal parts milk. Some commercial chai brands will call their chai "authentic," which is just another claim that it is the "real deal," and not overly adulterated, or Americanized.