How To Make The Best Chai Tea

What Is The Difference Between Chai Tea And Chai Tea Latte

To make things extra confusing, we also have another beverage called chai tea latte.

You already know that saying chai tea creates a redundancy, so the right term should be something along the lines of masala chai latte, masala tea latte, chai latte, or spiced tea latte.

So is there a difference between chai tea and chai tea latte? Both chai tea and chai tea latte are very similar, but they are not the same thing. Chai tea is prepared by adding spices and tea to water and milk while chai tea latte is prepared through adding concentrated tea and spices to steamed milk.

Because of that, chai tea latte may end up being more concentrated and with a lot foamier and frothier texture.

It is worth mentioning that not all chai tea lattes are created equal. Some coffee shops prepare it by using pre-brewing ingredients, which are of inferior quality, while other places may add too many sweeteners or sugar to it.

One of the questions that may pop up is how much caffeine is there in the chai tea latte?

Chai tea latte is prepared with black tea, which contains caffeine, so yes, it does have caffeine. The amount of caffeine in your chai tea latte will depend on how much black tea has been used, and it can vary between

between 50 to 170 mg per standard 8 oz cup.

Chai tea latte, due to its higher sugar content can be very high in calories. It can contain between 40 and 120 kcal per standard 8 oz cup.

What Tea Do You Use For Chai

• The base of the Masala Chai is typically black tea. Most strong, rich, dark black teas will work well in Masala Chai- something robust enough to hold up to all the flavorful spices. The tea need not be expensive.
• Assam, Darjeeling is often used in India because they are grown there. Typical brands used are Lipton Yellow Label, and Taj Mahal, and PG Tips. Some households will custom blend their own teas to create their own signature flavor. This can be a very personal thing.
• You can also use 1-2 black tea bags.
• Feel free to use decaf black tea.

What makes Masala Chai authentic, is the use of spices. One thing is for certain, every single person in India probably has their own unique combination of spices they prefer in their masala chai and there is no one right way. It is very subjective.

How To Make Homemade Chai Tea

While traditional Chai is incredibly rich and flavorful, it is surprisingly easy to make at home. I love making a large batch, and reheating a single cup at a time for a few days.

Heres how to make a perfectly creamy and spicy chai tea latte:

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How To Make Masala Chai

Heres how to make the perfect cup:

• Step 1: Place a saucepan over high heat and add water. If youre using a larger pan, add an extra 1/4 cup water to account for the extra evaporation. Add the whole spices & ginger while the water is coming to a boil.
• Step 2: Throw in the tea bags and reduce the heat to a simmer so the tea and spices have time to infuse the water. Stop and smell the aroma of the spices here.

• Step 3: Add the milk and sugar. Once it comes to a boil, lower the heat and allow it to simmer for another 5 minutes or so.
• Step 4: Raise the heat to high and allow it to come to a rolling boil for a minute or so, depending on how cooked you like the milk. There is no right or wrong, it simply boils down to preference.

• Step 5: Pour into cups through a strainer and discard tea bags & spices.

What Is The Difference Between Masala Chai Tea And Chai Tea

Things get really interesting when we get down to the nitty-gritty stuff. Often I see people that use these terms interchangeably, which is not necessarily correct.

Technically speaking in India, the word chai means tea. In fact, even in Chinese and Arabic, the word for tea sounds very similar. So by saying chai tea, this means we are saying tea tea, which creates a little redundancy.

However, with time the word chaias it got introduced to the Western cultureevolved and is now used for referring to the tea which has been prepared the same way it is commonly consumed in South Asia.

Today chai tea usually refers to black tea with milk or masala chai tea.

And masala chai tea, on the other hand, is a little bit different. It can be considered the original, which started it all. It is tea, usually black, with milk and spices.

In fact, the word masala means spices or more to the point a mixtureor pasteof spices. If you are wondering what kind of spices, worry no, I will talk a good bit about that below.

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Homemade Chai Concentrate Recipe

Cook Time: Total Time:

Homemade chai tea concentrate is easy to make with this recipe using black tea and chai spices like cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. This chai concentrate is perfect for making at-home chai lattes.

• 3-4 tablespoons Assam black tea
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks
• 1/3 cup chopped ginger root
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup

How To Sweeten Masala Chai:

• The fourth component of Masala Chai is the sweetener. In India, jaggery or cane sugar is typically used.
• I prefer sweetening Masala Chia with maple syrup or honey instead of sugar. But any sugar, or sugar alternative will work here.
• Sweeten to your own taste. For a large 8 ounce serving, I use about 2-3 teaspoons of maple syrup to balance the spices and black tea. Perhaps this seems a bit much, but to me it tastes perfect.
• Find your own balance If it tastes overly bitter, it needs more sweetener.

7. Strain and serve.

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Is Chai Tea Good For You

Like all things we talk about here on Wholefully, chai can be as nourishing as you want it to be! I recommend sticking with grass-fed organic milk or plant-based milks and unrefined sweeteners if youre looking for a healthy chai tea latte. But remember: just the simple act of taking the time to make yourself a cup of tea and enjoying it is nourishing in and of itself! Regardless of what ingredients you use.

Common Questions About Making A Chai Tea Latte

What is a chai latte made of?

Chai lattes are usually made with water, milk, and black tea with chai spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, ginger, cloves, and star anise. Most chai tea bags will some variation of those spices in it so as long as you get that type of tea, you should be good. Sometimes chai tea bags will have additional flavors in it such as vanilla listed.

Do chai lattes have caffeine in them?

Yes, chai lattes have caffeine in them since they are made with black tea leaves.

How much sugar is in a chai tea latte?

Usually chai tea lattes from places like Starbucks are pretty sweet but if you make it home, you can adjust the amount of sugar in the drink. If you want just a lightly sweetened tea then only use about 1-2 teaspoons honey, adding more to taste. Alternatively, you can use a different sweetener that fits into your diet better than honey but fair warning, that may effect the taste.

Are chai lattes dairy-free?

This chai tea latte recipe can be made dairy-free by using a dairy-free milk such as

• Soy
• Coconut
• Cashew

These will each impact the taste a bit so I usually try to use the most neutral tasting non-dairy milk. Depending on which milk you choose, it may or may not froth well. So far, I have only tested frothing soy milk and it worked great using an immersion blender.

Are chai lattes vegan?

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The Difference Between A Good And Great Chai Tea Latte Recipe

What you put into your chai tea latte will make or break your glorious bevvie, so be selective when you pick your chai latte ingredients. First things firsttea! Use a spicy and bold chai tea blend that will stand up to your milk or milk substitute. The good news is you can use any of our chai teas for your latte. If you are the more-is-more type, try our Double Spice Chai, Ginger Fire Chai, or our seasonal Holiday Chai tea for that extra kick of flavor. But no matter which tea flavor you go with, you’ll start by steeping it double-strength .

The next ingredient you need for your drink is milk. We recommend whole milk for a creamy tea drink, but if you prefer a skinny chai tea latte go with skim milk. We also love using nut milks to create interesting flavor profiles, like chai tea lattes with almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk. Lastly, sweeten up your cuppa with honey or sugar, and sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg on top for a finishing touch.

How To Make Traditional Chai Tea From Scratch

With such a long history, what you will find out is that chai tea can be prepared in many different ways.

You can add milk depending on your preferences. This can be whole or skimmed milk, a sweetener, or nut milk.

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The Best Way To Make Chai Tea: A Step

Do you love the taste of chai tea? If so, youre in for a treat! In this blog post, we will teach you how to make the best chai tea possible. Its actually very easy to make and only takes a few minutes. Well provide a full list of ingredients needed, as well as the instructions you need to get started. So what are you waiting for? Lets get started!

But first, what is chai tea?

Easy Chai Tea Recipe Ingredients

• Water The base of the recipe. Use plenty of water, then let it simmer down into strong condensed tea.
• Star anise For bold licorice flavor that packs a punch.
• Cinnamon Use whole sticks, so they can be easily removed.
• Cardamom pods The VIP nut. *wink*
• Black tea bags Or you can use loose black tea leaves.
• Half & half Or whole milk.
• Sugar To make it sweet, of course!

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Brewing Chai Tea Bags

Whole Spices Vs Ground Spices

I usually use the whole spices as-is for ease and because I find the long brew time is enough to extract their flavor. But I have tried grinding them and it does slightly increase their pungency.

• For a slightly stronger flavor of the whole spices, roughly crush the spices using a mortar & pestle.
• For even sharper, more pronounced flavor, grind them in a spice grinder to make a chai masala powder. It wont change the flavor profile or throw off the balance of the spices, itll just increase their intensity. The drawback of this method is that remnants of chai masala powder may rest at the bottom of your cup.

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Diy Starbucks Chai Tea Latte

Learn how to make Starbucks style Chai tea latte which tastes very similar to traditional Indian masala chai in less than 15 minutes using this recipe. It is made with a mixture of black tea, milk, fresh ginger, and a few dry mulling spices.

Soothing herbal tea

Warm spiced tea works great to soothe sore throat. You often see everyone drinking it to fight common ailments like coughs, cold and chills. Many people use it to combat common headaches.

The warm spice mixture along with fresh ginger has been used in Indian kitchens for centuries. Golden Turmeric Milk also is my favorite herbal drink especially during winter months. I love these herbal remedies from Grandmas Kitchen!

Making Chai Tea Instructions

Start by boiling water and adding the black tea. Allow the tea to steep for about three minutes.

While the tea is steeping, warm milk on the stove .

Once the milk is warmed, add sugar and spices. You can adjust the amount of sugar and spices to suit your taste.

Some people like to put their spices in a cloth bag, so they dont have to worry about filtering the tea once its done brewing. You can find our favorite bags for filtering chai tea here!

Do you like stronger tea? Find our tips for brewing stronger tea here!

After adding the desired amount of sugar and spices, add the milk to the tea. Stir well and enjoy!

There you have it! A simple recipe for delicious chai tea.

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History Of Masala Chai

Masala chai has a history that goes back thousands of years in India. It’s a staple healthy beverage in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine. Since its beginnings, it has always been made with a variety of spices. It has been served hot and cold, with and without tea leaves, but always with spices.

The version that became the caffeinated beverage that we know and love today was introduced in India when the British set up tea farms in Assam in the 1900s. But tea leaves were still too expensive for regular Indians. So, the vendors added spices, milk, and sugar to maintain a flavorful beverage while keeping down costs.

When tea became more affordable in the 1960s, masala chai became more popular. Its now enjoyed all over the world, in part because South Asian migrant workers introducing it to places they moved to for work.

In America, masala chai has just morphed into just “chai,” which is a misnomer. Masala chai means “spiced tea” in Hindi, and chai just means tea. So, saying “chai tea” is like saying “tea tea.”

The Best Chai You Can Brew

Chai spice tea is delicious and offers potent health benefits to improve your daily life. You can sip a hot chai beverage or cool down with an iced masala chai blend. The traditional method of grinding the spices by hand and brewing fresh offers the most authentic and powerful flavor. If you prefer milder teas, whip up a chai latte that delivers sweet flavor and rich texture for an indulgent tea drinking experience.

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What Type Of Milk To Use In Masala Chai

• In India, whole milk is typically used in Masala Chai.
• For a plant-based chai, try almond milk or oat milk both work great.
• If you like a rich masala chai- add one full cup of milk. If you like a thinner chai, you can cut the milk with water for example, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup water.
• So in a nutshell, if you like a richer, thicker tea, use more milk simmering the spices and tea, right in the milk. Or if you like a lighter masala chai, cut the milk with water. Up to you- a personal preference.

6. Heat and sweeten

Bring the milk and tea just to a boil again, then add sweetener.

Homemade Chai Tea Mix

Give yourself an instant boost with a cup of delicious chai tea mix on a chilly morning or a gray day.

Homemade chai tea mix is an easy recipe you can prepare within a short time at home. It works best with vanilla sugar instead of regular sugar.

Here is how to make it:

Ingredients

Instructions

• Combine the milk powder, non-dairy creamer, vanilla sugar, and instant tea in a large bowl.
• Add ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and cardamom into the mixture. Then stir to combine the ingredients.
• Blend the mixture in a blender until you achieve a consistently fine powder. For best results, blend one cup at a time.
• To serve, add 2 heaping tablespoons of the chai tea mix into a cup of hot water and stir to combine.
• Store the remaining chai tea mixture in an airtight container and store it in the pantry.

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