Chai tea is a wildly popular drink, and deservedly so. Chai is typically made by combining black tea with selected spices and milk. This mix of tea, spices, milk and sweetener, makes a delectable drink during and after meals. Although the word “chai” refers simply to “tea” in many different languages and cultures, in North America, chai tends to be thought of as what is known in India as Masala chai. No matter what is called, chai tea is well known for its wonderfully unique taste and you’ll be glad to know it’s easy to make with a simple chai tea recipe.

Chai tea recipes vary, but if you like spiced chai tea you will likely enjoy them all. The easiest chai tea recipes consist of heating water and milk together with the tea. Adding sweetener, which could be stevia, honey, or sugar while the liquid is hot ensures that it melts and combines thoroughly in the liquid. Simply strain out the Chai tea leaves, pour into a warm cup, and you have a wonderful comforting drink beloved around the world.

Spiced chai tea can be made from black and green teas, or even using yerba mate and rooibos. Starwest Botanicals has delicious blends of mate chai, green chai and rooibos chai ready for brewing. Chai teas can vary quite a bit in terms of the spices used. Combining cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and other spices in unique ways make for delicious variations.

Here is an easy recipe for how to make chai tea:

Masala Chai
1-1/2 cups water
1 inch stick of cinnamon
8 cardamom pods
8 whole cloves
2/3 cup milk
6 tsp. sugar (to taste) – can be substituted for stevia or other sweetener
3 teaspoons any unperfumed loose black tea

Put 1-1/2 cups water in saucepan. Add the cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves and bring to a boil. Cover, turn heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the milk and sugar and bring to a simmer again. Throw in the tea leaves, cover, and turn off the heat. After 2 minutes, strain the tea into two cups and serve immediately.

From Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cooking, Barron’s, New York, p. 196 (1983).

Enjoy!