Chai is spiced black tea, traditionally simmered with milk and warming spices. Masala chai is one of the most beloved tea drinks in the world.
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base | Black tea |
| Caffeine | Medium to high |
| Spices | Cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, clove, pepper |
| Preparation | Simmered with milk |
| Flavor | Spiced, warming, sweet |
| Origin | India |
Brewing masala chai
Authentic masala chai is simmered, not just steeped: black tea, milk, sweetener, and crushed spices are brought together on the stove so the spices fully infuse. It can also be made quickly from a concentrate.
Simmer to release the spices. Steeping alone will not extract the whole spices. Simmer the tea and spices in milk and water for several minutes for a full-bodied chai.
FAQ
What makes chai different from just adding spices to black tea? Traditional chai simmers the tea leaves and spices together in milk and water rather than steeping spices separately, which extracts more flavor from both and produces a rounder, creamier result than steeping and adding spice afterward.
See the Black Tea Guide and the Tea Brewing Guide.