Health Benefits for Chai Drinkers
What is chai?Chai is the word for tea in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the other countries in the region. It is a derivative of the Cantonese word "Cha" for tea. Over the years, chai has come to imply a tea made in a special style. A typical cup of chai is prepared with:
Tea
The tea is usually a strong black tea, like Assam tea or English breakfast tea. These teas have a strong flavor and combine well with the sweetener and the spices.
Water
Tea leaves are boiled in water to prepare a strong brew before other ingredients are added.
Milk
Usually, whole milk is used for its richness, but other types may be also be used. Soymilk may be used as an alternative for Vegans.
Sweetener
Usually plain white sugar is used. Honey, agave nectar, or no-calorie sweetener may also be used.
Spices
Chai is traditionally spiced with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, fennel, peppercorn, and cloves. These could be used individually or together. Prepared spice mix for Chai is available at most Indian grocery stores. Other spices and flavors in vogue are nutmeg, vanilla, licorice, etc.
There is no fixed recipe for chai. Simple chai is prepared by boiling loose-leaf tea with water and milk. Ratio of milk and water may vary according to taste. Spices may also be added to enhance the flavor. The spices may be used by themselves or in combination with other spices. Chai with one or more spices is called Masala chai. In United States, chai is synonymous to masala chai.
Coffee shops sell chai under the name of Chai Latte. They usually add chai concentrate to steamed milk. They have based this on café latte, which is prepared by adding espresso to steamed milk.
About the Author: Anu Agarwal, Author of All About Chai
