Chai is a particular variety of spiced tea that is made from black tea, spices such as cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and cloves, an Indian cooking ingredient known as garam masala powder, salt and sweetener. Often used in Indian cuisine to make chai lattes or chai smoothies.
There are many variations on the basic recipe for chai teas such as lassis or iced ones. The word “chai” can mean “tea” in many languages with the same pronunciation. Its origin is unclear but it is known that chai has been produced in a variety of regions. However, the most popular style of preparation is found in the northern Indian states of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan.
History of Chai
The name “chai” was probably coined by Mughal historical references to this beverage as “chach”, or “chash”. The word “chash” comes from Persian and means bitter or astringent (“chash”,’stinging’), referring to tea made by boiling water with tea leaves, which cause the tea’s juices to become bitter. It is believed that the name “chai” came from “chai-ye chāi)” which literally means black tea in Persian. It was consumed mostly in Northern India and has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries.
The history of tea in India can be traced back to the first half of the 1st millennium. The ancient Indian epic poem Ramayana, written by Valmiki around 1000 AD, mentions that the forest-dwelling ascetic, sage Valmiki was given a plant called “kaa’cha” by Sage Bharadwaja which transformed into a tree with magical powers.
The current form of the tea—using loose black tea—rose to prominence during the time of British colonial rule. At the time, China maintained a monopoly on the production of tea. Great Britain looked to other nations for supplies. India was one of the major sources for this black tea, which is how chai became a part of British culture in the first place.
The East India Company began to produce and ship the tea from India to England. It became enormously popular, so much so that the drink became ubiquitous in Great Britain. Today, the East India Company is gone and popular British chai tea brands are a large corporation.
The popularity of this drink has grown around the world. It is increasingly being used as an alternative to coffee among those who do not like caffeine. The trend caught on quickly in developed nations, but it began to spread in many undeveloped countries during the last few decades.
The Legend Of Chai
A soldier, who served in Mughal emperor Ibn Saud’s army, fought against the Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah. On the battlefield, he made a desperate plea to his deity: “Please Guru Chaai, bless me with a cup of your tea.” The god responded by giving him an enigmatic reply: “When will I find my rightful place among men?”
In time it became known that “Chaai” was actually an expression for black tea – and now we have every reason to be content with our creation as the most famous Indian drink of all time.
Basic Chai Tea Recipe
Here is a basic recipe for making an easy chai latte.
Ingredients
- Sugar
- Milk
- 1 tsp of tea leaves of your choice (black tea is especially popular for chai)
- Half teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 clove finely chopped garlic
- 2.5 cups water
How to prepare
Boil the water and add the sugar, chopped ginger and garlic. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes until it reduces in volume by a quarter. Add your preferred tea leaves, cover, and simmer on low for another 5 minutes before removing from heat. Allow mixture to cool with lid still on before pouring into cups over ice cubes or refrigerate it to enjoy cold later on.
What Makes Tea ‘A Chai Tea’?
Chai tea typically consists of four different parts – tea, milk, spices, and sweetener. Many tea shops offer a range of chai teas, but only some of these will have milk added. The sweetener can be a wide variety of options, but typically includes sugar and/or honey.
So how does milk make chai tea different from other black teas?
Milk is one of the three main ingredients for making a proper chai tea. Black iced tea recipes call for simply adding black tea to cold water without milk or sugar, so it could be said that Chai is just an Indian-style iced black tea.
The milk adds the sweetness, so it is more of a chai tea with milk than an iced black tea. Chai tea is considered to be an Indian spice mix since the spicy flavors are added before boiling and cooling the tea. Most of these spices are traditionally part of chai tea, but can also be used as spices found in other traditional Indian dishes.
Different Types of Chai Tea
If you’re not sure what blend to try, we offer a curated guide to different types of chai teas to help make your decision easier.
We offer a collection of specialty chai blends that are perfect for enjoying at home or during special holidays and get-togethers. We encourage you to explore our tea types section.
Lal Cha of Assam, India
This blend is known for its warming qualities and bold, spicy flavors. Assam is a type of tea plantation grown in the Indian state of Assam, and it is best known for its robust flavor. For this reason, it is often blended with other types of tea. One of the most popular chai blends is Indian Masala Chai (also called masala chai or chai masala).
Fudina Chai of Nathdwara, India
Nathdwara is a town in the southern Indian state of Rajasthan, and this chai blend has a distinguished history. Typically, it is served to guests visiting the Hindu holy site of Nathdwara Temple. Its base tea is made from Fudina, a strain of tea bush that was first discovered in the 16th century. This strain gives this chai a smooth taste and fruity flavor.
Butter Tea of Ladakh, India
Another variety of Fudina, Ladakh is a Northern Indian town in the Jammu region, and this tea is one of the most famous types of chai seen throughout India. It is also referred to as “butter tea” because it incorporates clarified butter, which gives this chai its unique flavor and texture.
Oolong Chai of Sri Lanka
This tea comes from Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon), a country in South Asia that has an exceptionally unique history when it comes to teas. Because of this country’s location, teas produced here have been a big part of the European market for centuries. Oolong chai, in particular, has a strong hugelike flavor and smooth texture. It is also very healthful, as it contains antioxidants that help keep the body healthy.
Masala Chai of India
Masala chai is a staple in the Indian community and one of the most popular types of chai. In fact, it’s so popular that this tea blend has its own day — Masala Chai Day! This holiday falls on February 12th each year and celebrates this tea’s spicy yet comforting flavor; it is also a big day for raising awareness about chai tea in general due to its popularity all over the world.
Kahwah of Kashmir, India
This tea is typically made using a milder version of masala chai, which makes it one of the most popular types of Indian chai. In addition to its better-tasting base tea, Kashmir has the distinction of being one of the first teas grown in India. We also offer a variety that is made with traditional black tea and spices like cardamom. These types are both perfect for experimenting with different tastes and flavors!
Black Chai Tea from Nepal
This type of chai is often referred to as black chai or Nepali Chai, but it’s actually made from black tea and spices like cloves, ginger and cinnamon. It is grown in the northern Indian state of Uttaranchal and is unique due to its unique spice blend.
Black Tea Chai from Sri Lanka
This tea also brings together black tea with spices like cloves, ginger and cinnamon, but it makes use of a different variety of black tea (made on the estate) than that used in the other chai patterns shown on this page. This type of chai is typically considered to be very healthy for both body and mind; the spices have a strong effect on the flavor, soothing some of its effects while enhancing others.
Irani Chai in Hyderabad, India
Perched on the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad is an industrial hub full of tea gardens and factories. This chai variant can be found in stalls that spread throughout the city because of its distinctive taste. Also, this tea tends to be sweeter than others due to the fact that it is prepared using honey instead of sugar.
Mango Chai Tea from Banaue, Philippines
Mango chai tea is a popular blend from the famous Philippine village of Banaue, which is known for its scenic beauty and local food products that are renowned worldwide. This tea is also served during the annual rice harvest, and it’s made using zesty local hot tea and seasonings like ginger and cinnamon.
Mango Chai Tea of India
This type of chai is designed to pair well with all sorts of Filipino coffees or teas, such as coffee made from the Keemil (wet) method; however, we also have a blend that is perfect for those who enjoy it with tea alone. Cinnamon, cardamom and ginger are all included in this recipe; however, they can be adjusted to suit your taste buds.
Kesar Chai in Hyderabad, India
Kesar chai is a popular tea blend in the Indian city of Hyderabad. This tea has a distinctive flavor and appearance and is characterized by its bright red color. The recipe for this type of chai includes both black and green teas, which makes it perfect for those who enjoy both types of tea. Many people serve this type of chai with milk or sugar to create an extra-warm beverage!
Meter Chai in Tamil Nadu, India
Meter chai is a flavor of tea that came about out of necessity. Due to their affordability, meter teas (a type of tea with the herbs, spices and barks already ground up) became the tea of choice for poor workers in South India during the early 20th century. Meter chai was also a popular part of the Indian breakfast, as it included milk and sugar, which made it easier to drink in the morning. This type of chai has since evolved into a popular spice blend that can be made with all sorts of teas.
Amrutulya Chai in Pune, India
Amrutulya chai is a special variety of chai that was created by the Indian government to celebrate the 50th anniversary of India’s Independence Day. It has a very bold flavor and includes ingredients such as clove, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom. This type of tea is made with black tea (Ceylon) and allows every ingredient to shine in its own way.
Ice Tea Chai from Bengaluru, India
Ice tea chai is a blend of green tea and ice that is often served as an alternative to traditional black tea. It originated in India and was created by a South Indian tea merchant who wanted to provide a cold beverage that would be both refreshing and easy to drink. This type of chai is popular among those suffering from a cold but also makes for a great way for anyone to start their day!
Chilli Chai Tea of Bihar, India
This type of chai has been around since at least the 19th century and is one of the most popular types in the region. Not only is it made primarily with black tea, it is also very spicy and can be served with or without sugar. This blend includes dried hot red chillies, but you can use any type of spice you prefer; however, be careful not to overdo the heat or your taste buds may be pushed too far.
Masala Chai in Karnataka, India
During the British rule of India, this type of tea was invented to help maintain good relations with the indigenous culture. It is traditionally used during religious ceremonies and is a favorite of pilgrims who make the trek to visit local temples.
Tandoori Chai in Mumbai, India
This popular chai is a part of the city’s culture, and it is typically served hot in a clay pot known as a tandoor (a type of traditional oven). It is often made by local tea vendors who often serve it to passersby. Tandoori chai is actually made with more spices than the average black tea. In addition to cloves, ginger, cinnamon and cardamom, this type of chai may also have finely ground almonds and cashew nuts added.
Nu Cha in Hong Kong
Nu cha is a type of chai that originated in Hong Kong. It can be made with or without milk and sugar, and it’s very easy to make and prepare. This tea has a distinctive taste and color due to the addition of pandan leaves, which are also used in other Asian dishes like congee, rice noodle soup, ketchup and puddings.
Tiger Chai Tea from Assam India
Tiger chai is one of those teas that everyone seems to have their own version of. This brand of chai is made using black tea and is known for its distinct flavor. Tiger chai is also known as “chai paani,” which means “tea water.”
Chah in Persia
This Persian-style chai may be a bit different from the others on this list, as it has two main varieties. The first is served black and includes sugar and spices; the second variety is served with milk. While this tea originated in Persia, it quickly became popular all over the world!
Teh Tarik in Malaysia and Indonesia
Teh Tarik is a tea that is popular in both Malaysia and Indonesia. It includes black tea, brown sugar, ginger and condensed milk. While the names may be the same, there are actually some slight differences between the two; teh tarik from Malaysia includes evaporated milk instead of condensed milk while teh tarik from Indonesia uses coconut cream instead of condensed milk.
Matcha Green Tea in Singapore
Matcha green tea is a popular variety of green tea that is used in several different cultures. This type of chai includes natural dried corn silk and rice hulls, which is why it often looks very different from the average green tea. If you’re looking for something a bit different, this may be exactly what you’re looking for!
Masala Chai in the UK
Masala chai has become popular all over the world; however, it isn’t always easy to find one that’s just right for your tastes. There are some great teas available on Amazon, including this one that has been expertly blended to provide a taste unlike any other. If you’re looking for a great way to spice up your afternoon tea, this is a great chai to try.
Lemongrass Chai
With a very sweet taste, this chai is made with three kinds of lemongrass and has a powerful aroma.This blend of spiced chai has made quite a name for itself. In fact, when it’s out of stock, people often ask why. It’s one of those blends that you just can’t find anywhere else.
Hojicha Chai
This chai is made with a Japanese tea called Hijiki, which adds a thick flavor to the tea. It has a sweeter taste than most chais and it’s often added to desserts or blended with fruits and other flavors for delicious drinks.
Lapsang Souchong Chai Tea Blend
This tea has a woodsy and smoky taste. It’s the perfect blend for those who want a more “coffee-like” flavor. This chai can also be mixed with honey, milk or yogurt to provide an interesting twist to your afternoon tea.
Chai Coconut Milk Chai Tea Blend
This blend is made especially for those who are looking for a creamy and spicy tea; it’s perfect if you’re entertaining guests or just want to add something special to your afternoon tea.
Bombay chai
Similar to the masala chai, this blend is made with a mix of spices and contains powerful cinnamon flavors. It has a complex taste, which is why it’s often blended with other flavors as well.
Sulaimani chai
This is the best place to start for those who have never tried chai before; it’s made with a combination of spices and black tea, which give it a unique flavor.
We hope you enjoyed our selection of various types of chai blends from various countries of the world so far. Please suggest if we have missed any chai type that you are aware of, we would be thankful and more than happy to add it in this list.
