What is Chai?!
What is Chai?
I love Chai tea, but don't understand what Chai really is. Is it a spice? Is it man-made? Does it grow on a tree?
Answers:
Chai is a type of tea that is blended with spices to make it richer in flavor. Usually, chai is found in tea-making recipes from Russia to Thailand. It is also sometimes served with either milk or coconut milk to add body to the tea.
I thought chai was just tea made with milk. People commonly buy chai tea mix, which you just have to stir into hot water, and forget about the milk.
Chai is usually made with a black tea base. And then, spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, etc.) and milk are added. The kinds of spices added to the tea would depend on who makes the tea.
Cha'i and Te'e were the words for the brewed beverage of Camellia sinensis (tea to you!).
I have no idea how Chai got attached to the myriad cups of steaming glop that spews forth from countless overpriced coffee bars, but don't be confused.
If you're drinking something flavored with soy spoo and crushed ice... it's not Cha'i. It's a "cha'i-like beverage".
Best wishes!
Green Onin Blades
Chai (pronounced as a single syllable and rhymes with 'pie') is the word for tea in many parts of the world. It is a centuries-old beverage which has played an important role in many cultures.
Chai from India is a spiced milk tea that has become increasingly popular throught the world. It is generally made up of:
? rich black tea
? heavy milk
? a combination of various spices
? a sweetner
The spices used vary from region to region and among households in India. The most common are cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and pepper. Indian chai produces a warming, soothing effect, acts as a natural digestive aid and gives one a wonderful sense of well being. It's difficult to resist a second cup.
Drinking chai is part of life in India and most Indian's are amazed at all the current fuss in the West. Many who have travelled in India come away with fond chai drinking experiences. We have included many of these in our Chai Experiences section.
In the past three years we've seen a phenomenal growth in the popularity and interest in chai. Chai has become very common at over-the-counter speciality beverage shops and there is a growing line of prepackaged consumer products. Many industry analysts are predicting that chai will eventually become as popular and common as coffee lattes and cappucinos.
Great chai can often be found in Indian restaurants along with great food, but making your own chai provides immense satisfaction (and makes the house smell yummie!). Recipes and tastes for chai vary widely and a multitude of chai recipes are used around the world.
Indian grocers carry various chai masala mixes which you can use to make your own chai. Commercially produced concentrates can be found at many health food grocers and coffee shops. Ingredients for making your own chai are available just about everywhere. See our Recipes Section for a wide variety of chai recipes.
Of course the modern world has elevated chai to new planes of experience--chai ices, milkshakes, chocolate chai, non-fat, low-cal sweeteners, decaf, and so on. We have included a section on New Chai Serving Ideas.
We prefer traditional freshly made chai: hot, creamy, fragrant with black tea, fresh cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, peppercorns and enough sugar to bring out the spice flavor. While we personally drink regular tea without sugar, chai must have sweetness or the spices seem to lose their full robustness.
Look around our Chai! web site to learn more wonderful things about chai. Enjoy!
Chai means Tea. It grows on a certain type of tea trees (tea leaves). It is then either dried or used fresh for the drink. Different flavors can be added to it.
Chai is a tea that grows in moutains as a wild flower. Although 'chai' means 'tea', it is just a forein word that is used to describe mountain tea, or any sort of exotic tea.
Chai actually means tea. Its the English form of the south asian word for tea ''Chai''. So it's just a transliteration of the word for tea.
The word comes from the Madarin Chinese for tea ''Cha'' (pronounced ''char'' with a rising tone like you are asking a question)
heres the Chinese symbol for it 茶
isnt that pretty.
well im Indian and in India, they call the tea chai because it is mixed with cream or milk. A lot of people in India dont just put tea powder in hot water and drink it. They add milk and a couple of spices that makes it taste extra delicous.mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm im gonna go drink some now.