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Guide

The Complete Guide to Chai Tea

If you are new to Chai tea, you have come to the right place. In this post we cover everything you need to know to get started with this exotic Indian tea.

From Chai Tea origin to the different types of Chai tea available and the potential health benefits Chai tea can provide. By the end of this post, you’ll be eager to curl up on the sofa with a sweet, spicy cup of Masala Chai accompanying your favourite novel.

What is Chai Tea?

Chai tea is a traditional Indian spiced tea, a part of life in India where the word Chai translates to tea in Hindi. The term Chai tea refers to a tea made up of different Indian spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, fennel sticks and nutmeg. In India, the word Chai is used in the same way we use the word tea in the western world.

Traditionally, families in India would collect different spices unique to their region, add them to boiling water or milk and brew, resulting in many different types of Chai tea.

Given that Chai tea has been massively popular in India for centuries it is no wonder this warming full bodied tea has become a household name in the western world in recent years.

What does Chai tea taste like?

The taste of Chai tea can differ depending on the ingredients used to make the blend. Generally a good quality Chai tea will deliver a robust and full bodied taste of Indian spice. We use the highest quality ingredients in our Chai tea blends and our on-going relationships with single-origin tea gardens results in the most authentic tasting Chai tea possible - but, we'll let you be the judge of that!

Masala Chai

Our Masala Chai is the perfect choice if you want to enjoy a full bodied authentic Indian tea. Packed with cinnamon pieces, cardamom pods, nutmeg, saffron, fresh ginger pieces and black peppercorn, all tied together with the finest quality Assam leaves. Choose between loose-leaf or our environmentally friendly teabags.

Origin: Assam, India

Taste: Masala Chai offers a fruity and spicy aroma and bright orange infusion. A balanced cup with orange, cardamom notes and gentle cacao and vanilla mouthfeel.

Chai of Madagascar

Our Chai of Madagascar is the perfect blend of tender green South African honey bush leaves, juicy chunks of ambrosial orange, fragrant bits of cocoa and delicious authentic Indian spices, resulting in a mouth-watering infusion. Ideal for enjoying during cold winter evenings.

Chai of Madagascar is only available in loose-leaf so you will need to use the correct teaware to brew your tea. 

Origin: Chai of Madagascar has been crafted with the finest ingredients across the world.

Taste:  This tea offers a stunning sweet and fruity infusion.

Does Chai tea contain caffeine?

A cup of traditional Chai tea contains roughly 40mg of caffeine as opposed to 120mg in a cup of coffee. This is roughly third the amount of caffeine per cup. If you are looking for less caffeine consumption, chai tea may be the perfect choice for you with just enough caffeine for a pick-me-up but not enough to cause those dreaded caffeine jitters often associated with drinking coffee.

How to brew Chai Tea?

Depending on the type of Chai tea you wish to brew there are a few different options for brewing. Chai tea is available in loose-leaf form, teabag form and even powder form, powder being at the bottom of the food chain in regards to taste and quality.

If you want to get the most flavour and health benefits out of your Chai tea we recommend using loose-leaf. If you are yet to embark on your loose leaf journey our Masala chai teabags embody the same authentic taste you can expect using loose-leaf.

For loose-leaf Chai tea, add 3-4g of chai to your infuser mug or teapot, pour 200ml of 100 degrees boiling water to the pot and leave to brew for 3-4 minutes.  Depending on how strong you like your chai you can adjust the brewing time accordingly.

When your Chai tea has finished brewing, pour your tea into your favourite cup add your preferred milk or sweetener and enjoy.

If you are using our Chai teabags the brewing process is even easier. Simply drop the teabag into your cup, add 200ml of boiling water and leave to brew for 3-4 minutes. When your chai tea has finished brewing remove the teabag, add your choice of milk or sweetener to your cup and enjoy.

Chai tea health benefits

Drinking Chai tea can provide a number of potential health benefits due to the range of nutritious ingredients the tea is made from. Always consult with a health care professional if you are looking to change your diet however we have listed the most talked about health benefits this wonderful Indian tea can provide below. 

After all, the only thing that beats an amazing tasting brew is one that is equally as healthy.

  • Rich in antioxidants
  • Helps to fight off colds
  • Improves digestion
  • Improves skin

How can I get started with Chai tea?

If you're ready to embark on your Chai tea journey, we recommend trying our Masala Chai or Chai of Madagascar to experience the true flavour of authentic Chai. The unique flavours of Indian spice in a lovely cup of Chai tea make a delicious blend, perfect for enjoying at anytime of the day.

 

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