Intro
Chai tea is a delicacy whose history dates back to over 5000 years in the Indian subcontinent. The recipes vary and are passed down through family heritage. The basic ingredients of Chai tea are black tea, spices, sweeteners and a blend of water and milk. Chai tea usually coats spices like cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, star anise, peppercorns and cloves over a strong black tea predominantly Assum. The tea is boiled with a combination whole milk with water which produces a strong flavor. Plain sugar can be supplemented for a sweetener; some recipes also add honey, brown sugar, and coconut. Traditional chai tea is served warm, but modern versions include not only hot but also iced teas.
Creation and benefits
Concerning the creation of chai tea, historical legends indicate that a king of ancient India produced a recipe in a quest to create a healing beverage. Afterwards genuine chai tea was used in the healing tradition of Ayurveda, which is alternative medicine. Chai tea was typically consumed in order to naturally heal the body beginning in the Vedic period of India. The main ingredient of Chai tea, which is black tea has antioxidants that aid in decreasing blood pressure and cholesterol. Antioxidants also stimulate the overall health of the heart, and researchers propose that they might assist in preventing various types of cancers. The tea plants grew wild and were primarily found in the Assam region which is a northeastern state of India. During the British rule of India in 1835 tea plantations were set up in Assam. The Black teas that were created there made their way into local masala chai recipes, this is the first appearance of masala chai as we know it. During the 1900s, the Indian Tea Association which was owned by the British initiated a promotion for Indian tea consumption within India. Black tea was the most expensive ingredient, so instead merchants used milk, sugar and spices to keep their beverages appetizing while keeping costs down. Consequently masala chai gained public adoration in the Indian subcontinent, while also gaining popularity around the world including the United States.
Role in Culture
Today chai tea plays an essential role in Indian culture, vendors stand on every other street corner serving savory cups of tea to both tourists, and citizens on their way home exhausted after a long day at work. Furthermore it is also a special custom on the Indian subcontinent to offer cup of chai tea to guests who are visiting your house. In custom, Chai tea is also consumed during breakfast along with biscuits and samosas, which is another type of fried Indian delicacy.
Preparation
The traditional preparation of Chai Tea is to boil a mixture of milk and water with loose leaf tea, sweeteners, and whole spices. There are numerous Indian markets all over the world who sell different brands of tea spice, however many people blend their own. The methods may vary according to taste or local customs, which can decrease or increase the amount of spices included in the tea. The base tea must be a strong black tea such as Assam so that the spices and sweeteners do not overpower the tea. Various types of sweeteners are used however there are some who prefer unsweetened chai tea, but at times a certain amount of sugar is required in order for the spices to be enhanced. Whole milk is used specifically for it’s richness, and also condensed milk is incorporated into the chai to be used as a dual purpose dairy addition and sweetener. The spices that are brewed into a chai are mixed together creating a spice mixture called the Karha, it uses a base of ground ginger and green cardamom pods. People today in the United states usually drink slushy cold drink similar too milkshakes in large amounts, little do they know the origins of those popular drinks are in ancient India beginning with the chai tea which was intended to be used as a medicine for various ailments.
Chai tea is a delicacy whose history dates back to over 5000 years in the Indian subcontinent. The recipes vary and are passed down through family heritage. The basic ingredients of Chai tea are black tea, spices, sweeteners and a blend of water and milk. Chai tea usually coats spices like cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, star anise, peppercorns and cloves over a strong black tea predominantly Assum. The tea is boiled with a combination whole milk with water which produces a strong flavor. Plain sugar can be supplemented for a sweetener; some recipes also add honey, brown sugar, and coconut. Traditional chai tea is served warm, but modern versions include not only hot but also iced teas.
Creation and benefits
Concerning the creation of chai tea, historical legends indicate that a king of ancient India produced a recipe in a quest to create a healing beverage. Afterwards genuine chai tea was used in the healing tradition of Ayurveda, which is alternative medicine. Chai tea was typically consumed in order to naturally heal the body beginning in the Vedic period of India. The main ingredient of Chai tea, which is black tea has antioxidants that aid in decreasing blood pressure and cholesterol. Antioxidants also stimulate the overall health of the heart, and researchers propose that they might assist in preventing various types of cancers. The tea plants grew wild and were primarily found in the Assam region which is a northeastern state of India. During the British rule of India in 1835 tea plantations were set up in Assam. The Black teas that were created there made their way into local masala chai recipes, this is the first appearance of masala chai as we know it. During the 1900s, the Indian Tea Association which was owned by the British initiated a promotion for Indian tea consumption within India. Black tea was the most expensive ingredient, so instead merchants used milk, sugar and spices to keep their beverages appetizing while keeping costs down. Consequently masala chai gained public adoration in the Indian subcontinent, while also gaining popularity around the world including the United States.
Role in Culture
Today chai tea plays an essential role in Indian culture, vendors stand on every other street corner serving savory cups of tea to both tourists, and citizens on their way home exhausted after a long day at work. Furthermore it is also a special custom on the Indian subcontinent to offer cup of chai tea to guests who are visiting your house. In custom, Chai tea is also consumed during breakfast along with biscuits and samosas, which is another type of fried Indian delicacy.
Preparation
