How to Make Chai Tea

So what is chai tea, you may ask.  Well, it’s very special and more than a bit exotic. It comes from India where the word ‘chai’ means tea in Hindi as well as several other Asian languages. There are lots of varieties so be prepared to have some fun discovering different blends and recipes.

If you want to serve something special to your friends and family, then look no further. Chai is definitely worth a try. It’s tea with milk and spices and the variety known in the U.S. as chai is called masala chai in India. Naturally, there are many recipes and ways to brew this tea.  A common way to make it is to use black tea, blended with cardamom, cloves, coriander, cumin seed, sweet cumin seeds, curry leaves and lemon grass. It is best enjoyed with milk, and sugar to taste. It is usually ‘cooked’ together on the stove until everything is well blended. You can also use different spices, or just one or two and you can also substitute cow’s milk with soy or coconut milk. Chai is delicious iced and makes great smoothies and shakes. It is so popular in India and Sri Lanka that it could be called the national drink! You can find lots more information on the internet and there are even websites that specialize in chai and you can find lots of recipes there too.

So if you’re looking for something unusual and exotic to serve to your friends and family, give chai a chance. It is great served as an after-dinner drink so you can surprise your guests next time they come.