What Exactly is Chai Tea

Now Tea who doesn’t love a hot cup of tea?. I for one absolutely love Tea. But did you know that there is a whole lot of different varieties of tea?

To name a few you’ve got Masala Tea, Ginger Tea and Earl Grey. Chai is a combination of spices, strong black tea milk, and sugar. As a huge subcontinent with many cultural differences between regions, India has many different ways to prepare Chai.

The drink almost always includes milk with higher fat content, such as the traditional buffalo milk or whole cow’s milk. If dairy’s not for you, try creamy plant-based milk, like oat milk, which will also bring out the spices.

Speaking of spices: The blend typically includes cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and black peppercorns but can also contain star anise and nutmeg. And while jaggery, or unrefined sugar, is used in many parts of India, plain white sugar, honey, or your favourite tea sweeteners also work to meld the flavours in an irresistible combination.

If you see “chai tea” or “chai tea latte” on your local coffee shop menu and are confused about which one to order, you’re not alone. They sound similar, but there’s a distinct difference. Chai uses milk that’s simply heated, whereas chai lattes use milk that’s steamed and frothed.

So at least now when you go to your local cafe you’ll be able to tell the difference between a chai tea latte and chai tea.