Have you ever been to Starbucks and seen people order chai tea? That is just a very awful way of asking for chai. Chai is a Chinese and Indian drink that is known for being a comfort drink as well as a drink that one has everywhere and all the time. A Chai is a sort of tea, but with milk and spices, it is known to have a lot of benefits, the recent ones being increased immunity, fighting off cold, etc. China and India are its biggest producers and consumers in the world but the trend of Chai-Tea has arrived here too.
In India and a lot of south Asian countries, there are tea stalls everywhere on every corner. It is a delicacy there and also a lifestyle.
Have you ever wondered about a chai-tea? Then this is the ideal article for you.
We are gonna talk about what chai is, how to make it, what are the different flavors, what is inside a chai, and most importantly what does it taste like.
Ready? Strap on.
What is Chai?
Chai is a type of tea that you can drink at any point of the day. Unlike an Earl grey or most English teas, it is not bland and light in its taste. It is quite heavy since it has milk and other spices. In case you were to try the recipe at home make sure you have some digestive tablets ready.
Another piece of information that I’m obligated to share with you is that when someone orders a chai-tea they are just saying tea-tea since chai quite literally means tea. If you find some lost soul doing that, please implore them to not.
Moving on, chai is an amazing evening/morning drink that you should try once.
What Does Chai Taste Like?
If we were speaking metaphorically then I would say that chai tastes like a warm hug on a cold winter day. In reality, chai tastes like a spiced-up milk tea that is comfortable beyond imagination. There are ways to make it but remember when you do it’s a trial and error process.
You will not start as an expert, you might also not like it in the beginning because of how bad you are at making it. Stay patient and steady, every recipe takes time.
You are bound to know someone who knows how to make it then you can see it for yourself. Not a lot of people can resist the craving they have for chai once they’ve tasted it.
Chai Flavour or Types?
There are many types of chai’s, there is masala chai, there is elachi (cardamom) chai, adrak (ginger) chai, tulsi chai among many other variants.
Every chai needs different ingredients so it all depends on what you’re going for.
Basic chai would have easily available and very basic ingredients, you can always mix and match with different ingredients once you know how to make a basic chai.
Naturally, you’d be wondering what is in a chai?
Read on.
What’s Inside the Chai?
Basic ingredients that you need for a chai are-
- Tea powder
- Milk
- Water
- Cardamom
- Ginger
- Indian tea masala
- Sugar
All these ingredients are easily available in your nearest store or you can get them online. If you go for an online store then make sure you buy it from India, it is sure to not disappoint.
Every other ingredient is to be used as per your liking, so like I previously advised you please try a couple of authentic chai places before you decide to try your hand at it.
For example, some people don’t like too much cardamom in their chai, some people do, some don’t like ginger and others do.
So beware of what your taste buds want before you commit to trying out this drink.
How to Make Chai?
- You start by boiling some water, it is completely up to you to try it with milk as well. There is no one way.
- Add the tea powder to the boiling water and let it simmer for a while, make sure you have a good tea masala from an authentic Indian place. You can do the same with milk also.
- Once that’s done and you can add cardamom and ginger, cut them properly, and let that boil for a while.
- After you can smell all the ingredients swirling you can add milk followed by some sugar. (as per taste)
- The key to making good chai is to let it swirl in the ingredients after everything is on the stove for a while.
- Keep simmering it and making it high without letting it come out of the stove.
- Like I said it needs a lot of patience and once it’s done you can strain everything in a cup and you’re ready to drink it.
For other kinds of chai types, you can make use of your taste buds. At the risk of being repetitive, I again proclaim that you must try all types of chai from an authentic chai place before you make one chai for yourself. You also have to be kind and patient to yourself since it will take a little while before you excel at your chai. You can have chai with plain biscuits and it makes for a great winter drink too. Good chai with all its spices intact is also very good for your cold.
Conclusion
Hope this clears out all the doubts you have for chai, remember the key is to know your taste buds and the ingredients before you set your heart to it. Chai is a simple beverage to make and you can make it for your friends for almost any occasion at any time. It is also quite delicious if you learn to get it right. There is an Indian proverb that proclaims
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