Masala Chai, another way of enjoying tea

Chai means "tea" in much of South Asia and elsewhere. In the West the word Chai is used to refer to the "Masala Chai", a famous drink of the Indian subcontinent.

Masala, as it is called in India, is the mixture of black tea with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, black pepper, cayenne and nutmeg. Although the ingredients can vary widely, the taste is always intense, fresh and slightly spicy. This tea is considered purifying and invigorating the nervous system, liver besides rebuilder.

A Different Version

The Kashmiri version of Chai is brewed with green tea instead of black tea and has a more subtle effect. In Bhopal, a pinch of salt is added. Other possible ingredients include saffron, anise, pepper, almonds, rose petals or licorice root.

Tea has grown wild in the Assam region since ancient times and has historically been used for healing purposes. Its mass cultivation was promoted by England in the nineteenth century, but tea consumption in India was low into the twentieth century.

It began serving the English way with milk and sugar, but it was the Masala Chai in its present form which has established itself as a popular beverage extending beyond South Asia to the world.

Street vendors carrying pots of Chai served in small clay pots that are discarded after each use. It is also a family tradition in India to welcome their guests with cups of Chai. Each family has its own recipe and method of preparation.

Preparation Methods

The simplest traditional method of preparation involves boiling a mixture of milk and water with tea leaves, sugar or other sweetener and whole spices. It is traditionally served from a certain height in a cup from a distance, so you can capture the essence and flavor of this drink.

In the West you can find different blends of Chai tea specialty stores. There are also liquid "concentrates Chai" that should only be diluted with milk or water, also marketed dry powder or granulated to prepare a similar way to instant coffee and packaged in tea bags. In all cases it is a rich and unique drink, but not as intense and delicate as traditional homemade preparations.

Some cafes have begun to serve a version of Chai latte with steamed milk as preparation in espresso and a new trend includes a mixture like spices for coffee.