Tea, one of life’s great pleasures. And we’ve got a chai tea recipe to soothe your soul and lift your spirits.
Masala Chai (or Chai Tea), with its roots in India, is a bold and comforting cup of warming spices, tea leaves, milk, and sweetener.
Traditionally, ginger, cardamom, cloves, peppercorns, and cinnamon are married to create a well rounded spiced infusion, but the chai tea recipe is ever changing.
In this article we will delve into:
- The difference between the varying names for the tea
- How Masala Chai recipes vary across the globe
- An easy Chai Tea recipe
- And the 3 best Masala Chai brands you can buy online
what is the difference between chai tea, masala chai, and yogi tea?
Confused? I don’t blame you. Let’s break it down.
Masala Chai
Etymologically speaking, the word ‘Chai’ is the Hindi-Urdu word for ‘Tea’. And ‘Chai’ was derived from ‘Chá’, the Mandarin Chinese word for ‘Tea’.
‘Masala’ is the Hindi word for ‘Spices’. So Masala Chai translates to Spiced Tea in English.
Traditional Masala Chai is spiced, sweetened, and served with lashings of milk.
Chai Tea
As the spiced tea recipe crossed borders, it got anglicized, morphing into Chai Tea, or simply Chai. So, amusingly, the English name for the tea, Chai Tea literally translates Tea Tea.
Yogi Tea
Yogi Tea is another Western name for the same genre of spiced teas.
When the Sikh religion made its way from Punjab to America in the late 1960s with Yogi Bhajan, the tea was brought along with it, and the traditional spiced tea became known as Yogi Tea by many western yoga practitioners.
However, with roots in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Yogi Tea can be served with or without sugar and milk, and a greater emphasis is placed on the medicinal properties of the tea’s spices.
The bottom line: Chai Tea, Chai, Masala Chai, and Yogi Tea are all different terms for the same delicious cup.
What does masala chai taste like?
One thing’s for sure, Masala Chai is delicious.
Simultaneously sweet from the sugar, spiced with the warming aromatics, and full flavored and robust from the black tea.
Indulgent and uplifting, the perfect cup of Masala Chai can be compared to a big, loving hug.
In your traditional Masala Chai, ginger and cardamom tend to be the dominant flavours. But cloves, star anise, black peppercorns, and cinnamon are also commonly found in the spiced tea.
how many kinds of masala chai are there
As expected from a tea with so many names, there are also countless ways to prepare a chai tea recipe.
Indian Masala Chai recipes vary as you travel from region to region. In fact, there are almost infinite ways to prepare Masala Chai, and each tea vendor and family will have their own unique blend and balance of tea, spices, sugar, and milk.
Some are sweeter, spicier, lighter, or richer and more indulgent.
In India
In Western India, for example, black pepper and cloves are omitted from the brew, and lemongrass is often added in.
In Kashmere, instead of opting for black tea leaves, green tea leaves are used instead. Almonds, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and precious saffron are often added.
And in Bhopal, you will find that your Masala Chai is served with a pinch of salt in it.
In The West
In the West, you can find a chai tea recipe that is adapted for convenience. The traditional whole ingredient recipe has been transformed by westerners into pre-mixed and portioned instant powders, tea bags, and syrups.
Specialty coffee shops in larger Western cities often serve spinoff drinks inspired by the traditional Masala Chai; chai lattes, chai hot chocolates, and iced chai drinks, to name a few.
Yogi Tea benefits
Aside from tasting good, many health claims have been made about the balanced blend of tea and spices.
Of the primary spices used in a cup of yogi tea, ginger and cardamom are considered sattvic. According to Ayurveda, this means that they fall into a category of foods that is believed to stimulate spiritual purity.
Cinnamon is thought to be good for blood circulation and heart health.
And the combination of spices is said to relieve gas, settle the stomach, and reduce mucus.
Regardless of whether you buy into these claims, yogi tea is tasty enough not to need the backing of health benefits.
Easy Chai Tea recipe
As complex as the flavors are in a Masala Chai, it is surprisingly simple to make! All you require for this easy chai tea recipe are the right ingredients, a pot, a stove, a sieve, and some patience.
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Total Time: 20 Minutes
Equiptment Needed:
- 1. A mortar and pestle or a blender
- 2. A small pot
- 3. A stove
- 4. A fine sieve
Ingredients:
- 12 green cardamom pods
- 7 whole cloves
- 2 cups of water
- 12 black peppercorns
- 6 large slices of ginger
- 1 cinnamon stick– split lengthwise
- 3 star anise
- 4 tablespoons of loose leaf black tea (or 4 tea bags)
- 1 cup of milk of your choice
- Sugar, honey, or other sweetener to taste. Use 5 teaspoons of sugar as a rough guide, but adapt to personal preferences.
Method:
1. In a mortar and pestle, lightly crush the cardamom pods, whole cloves, peppercorns, and star anise. If using a blender, lightly pulse the spices, no need to blend to a powder.
2. Place the spices in a pot on the stove along with the water, ginger, cinnamon, and tea.
3. Bring to the boil and when it starts to boil, turn the heat off.
4. Let the infusion steep for at least 10 minutes. Even better if you can let it steep for several hours. The longer you leave it for, the more intense the flavor will be.
5. Add the milk into the pot, bring the tea up to a simmer, and turn off the heat.
6. Add your sweetener of choice into the pot to taste.
7. Strain your tea into a mug or glass.
8. And most importantly, enjoy!
Tips And Tricks:
- You can refrigerate your Masala Chai for up to 4 days. Just heat it up to enjoy.
- Any black tea will work well in this recipe; Assam, Darjeeling, Ceylon, English Breakfast Tea…
- You can modify this recipe to suit your personal taste. Maybe you prefer a lighter tea with less milk, or a more fiery tea with extra ginger. As you make and re-make this recipe, you’ll be able to refine it to perfection.
How to enjoy your masala chai
Now, this is up to you!
Across India, you can buy your Masala Chai from a chaiwala, the name for a person who prepares and sells the tea. You can find chaiwallahs in small shops or serving tea on the move in streets all over the country. They’re an integral part of Indian culture.
You can enjoy a cup of Masala Chai around the clock, but it does taste particularly good after your yoga practice.
Just be conscious that Masala Chai isn’t caffeine-free! If you’re caffeine sensitive, you may want to limit your tea intake to the morning so as not to disturb your sleep routine.
3 best Chai tea brands to buy online
If making your own chai tea isn’t for you, look no further!
We have compiled a list of our 3 favourite chai tea brands for you to buy online.
#1: Vadham India Chai Tea
Vadham India has made deliciously authentic chai tea pyramid teabags packed full of loose leaf black tea and natural warming spices.
Not only is it a great cup of tea, but the brand has committed itself to do good for the world. The conscientious brand is both carbon neutral and plastic neutral, and they invest in environmental projects across India.
On top of that, the brand also commits to spend at least $100,000 on combatting pandemics, including AIDS and COVID, by investing in healthcare systems in communities that need them.
#2: Blue Lotus Traditional Masala Chai
This 100% Organic Blue Lotus Traditional Masala Chai manages to pack a lot of traditional flavor into an easy peasy brew. This gorgeous tin of Masala Chai contains 100 cups of instant highly flavored tea.
The tea is flash dried, retaining all of the flavors of its original ingredients in powder form.
Just mix one teaspoon of the chai powder into hot milk or water, and sweeten to taste.
And as a bonus, they include a handy little bamboo spoon so that you get the perfect ratio every time.
#3: The Tea Heaven Whole Leaf Masala Chai
The Tea Heaven has created a punchy loose-leaf Masala Chai for you to enjoy.
Fairtrade and Organic, The Indian company has been passed down four generations of tea makers and all their teas are procured directly from the source where the tea is handpicked.
As this tea comes in its most unprocessed form, it is up to you what you concoct with it. Be that a warming hot cup of Masala Chai, or a refreshing iced tea on a hot day.
how About A Playlist to enjoy your masala chai to?
Check out this article for some music inspiration:
