Chai is steeped in a rich history. The name “chai” is actually the Hindi word for “tea”, which was derived from “cha”, the Chinese word for “tea”. In this case, the Hindi term chai means a mix of spices steeped into a tea-like beverage. Recipes for chai vary across continents, cultures, towns and families. The traditional ingredients of a spiced tea blend usually include black tea mixed with strong spices. The spiced tea mixture is typically brewed strong with milk and sweetened with sugar or honey. However, the milky sweet tea treat we order in coffee and tea shops today has very little in common with the origins of Indian chai.
Pair our Assam Chai Base black tea with our hand blended Authentic Chai Masala and you will experience the truly incredible flavors of real Indian street chai.
Directions Per 8 oz. cup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1 to 2 tsp. sugar, or your favorite sweetener
1 to 1 1/2 tsp. Assam Chai Base black tea.
1/4 tsp. Salty-Savory-Sweet Authentic Chai Masala or more depending on your spice preference.
Pour all ingredients into a (preferably spouted) saucepan. Place over medium heat. Allow to heat until small bubbles appear around the perimeter of the milk. Stir the chai, scraping the bottom to avoid scalding the milk.
When the milk comes to a boil, turn off the heat and stir well and add tea leaves. Bring to a boil once again, turn off the heat and stir well. Allow to steep for a few minutes. Strain carefully into a cup, and serve. Often, we will make large batches and store in the refrigerator in a glass jar. We write the expiration date of the milk on the container to remind us of when we need to use by.
