Chai Tea

What is Chai Tea?

It is common knowledge that chai tea, often referred to as “chai,” is a popular beverage made by blending black tea and sweeteners with spices and milk. In Hindi, the word "chai" simply means "tea," although in the Western countries, it most commonly refers to this spiced variety of the drink. It is known for its rich, comforting flavors and calming character.

Chai’s Origins

Chai tea originated in India, where it has been enjoyed for thousands of years. Although initial chai was more like a herbal spiced drink because tea plants were not indigenous to India but they came later after British arrival. Eventually, Chai began to include black tea and became a daily ritual in Indian households, street-side stalls, and teashops operated by “chaiwallahs.”

Difference Between Chai and Masala Chai

In its traditional form, chai consists of only black tea along with milk and sugar; masala chai conversely encompasses several types of spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, black pepper etc. The key difference lies in the spice blend used in masala chai which gives it more complexity as compared to classic chai that has a simpler flavor profile.

Health Benefits of Chai Tea

There exist a lot of health benefits associated with the consumption of chai tea. Some of them are:

1. Antioxidant Properties: Black tea contains a lot of antioxidants that help in fighting free radicals and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
2. Digestion: The spices in chai, such as ginger and cardamom, digest food well or relieve nausea.
3. Anti-inflammatory Effects: Some spices in chai have anti-inflammatory properties that bring down inflammation in the body.
4. Energizing properties: Black tea contains caffeine, which gets one moving, but not to the point of shaking due to excess energy from coffee. 

Caffeine in Chai Tea? 

Now that we've confirmed that chai tea does contain caffeine, the next logical question would be, "How much caffeine is in chai tea?" On average, an 60-120ml cup of chai tea holds around 40-60mg of caffeine.  

However, this figure can fluctuate based on the specific brand and brewing process. When compared to coffee, chai tea caffeine content is less, but it may be more than in other teas. 

How Much Chai Is Safe to Drink? 

Knowing that chai tea has caffeine naturally brings us to the question, "How much chai is safe to drink?" As a guideline, up to 400mg of caffeine per day is generally safe for most healthy adults.  

This means you could comfortably enjoy around 6-10 cups of chai tea per day, staying within the safe caffeine intake limit. 

How to Make Chai Tea

Here is a simple recipe for making classic chai tea:

1. Boil Water:

• In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil.

2. Add Tea:

• Add 2 teaspoons of black tea leaves to the boiling water.
• Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.

3. Add Milk and Sweetener:

• Add 1 cup of milk to the saucepan.
• Add 2-3 teaspoons of sugar or adjust to your taste.
• Stir well and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.

4. Simmer and Strain:

• Allow the chai to simmer for another 2-3 minutes, ensuring it doesn’t boil over.
• Strain the chai into cups and serve hot.

Our Chai Tea Flavours

• Masala Chai
• Rose Vanilla Chai
• Saffron Cardamom Chai
• Orange Ginger Chai

Best Snacks Pairings with Chai

Chai goes really well with various snack items. Some of these include:

1. Samosas: These savory pastries, filled with spiced potatoes or meat, will complement really well with the flavors of the chai.
2. Biscuit/cookies: Simple tea biscuits or even cookies make for a decent pairing with chai.
3. Pakoras: Another very popular pairing is the deep-fried fritters made from vegetables or paneer with chai.
4. Bread and Butter: A simple, age-old snack, bread with butter or jam is a timeless pairing with chai.

Storing Chai

Now, the best way to store chai would be brewed tea, alien to milk. This puts the brewed tea in an airtight container and keeps it refrigerated for a maximum of 3 days. Heat the tea when you're ready to serve with fresh milk and sweetener added. This will ensure optimum flavor and freshness of your chai tea.

Chai is a go-to drink for the Indian audience; most of us begin our mornings and end our nights with it. Let’s go to our chai adda is something that almost every college student says, and How much sugar would you like in your chai is a frequent question asked by hosts. The ‘n’ number of bakeries on highways and the chaiwalas on every street  are a testament to the love our people have for chai. So, go on, brew that chai, bring those biscuits in and bite into that samosa! Wah, chai!