Chai Tea

Chai tea became a hit in the coffee and tea crowd a few years back when the coffee houses began promoting it on their menus. Chai tea, however, has a long and rich history. In fact, in many countries, chai is the word for tea. Chai tea is a spiced tea—giving it a warm aroma and flavor. It is commonly served with milk and honey, and the texture is a bit thicker than most teas.

Chai tea is prepared a bit differently than regular tea. Usually, water is boiled and then the tea leaves steep for about three to five minutes, depending on preference. With chai tea, a mixture of water and milk is boiled along with the leaves. Sweetener is added as well.

Chai tea is popular in India, and is prepared in several different ways. Chai tea became popular in the west, and now chai tea lattes are a common offering. Adding sweet and syrup and whipped cream makes it as rich as a milkshake. You can also buy chai tea bags—although chai tea leaves were usually boiled with the milk and water. Similar to the tea sellers in India, coffee houses have come up with their own variations of chai tea drinks.

The aroma is chai tea is quite wonderful. It is thick and heavy with mulled spices. The thickness of the tea also makes it wonderful for cold weather. It’s a nice alternative to a hot chocolate or a mocha. You can pick up the ingredients in a coffee shop or a local grocery store.