Chai black tea, is a staple in India. It is highly sought after for its spicy rich flavor. A chai tea is simply a spiced tea. Black tea is often simmered with milk and sugar for a couple of hours, to create a rich, smooth taste. A fresh brewed cup of tea is very easy to find on the streets of India, but in other parts of the world it can be a little tough to come by.
The flavor will depend on the different types of spices that are used while cooking the black tea. The most common spices that are brewed with the black tea are cinnamon, ginger, star, anise, cardamom, cloves and peppercorn. Some may use nutmeg as well. These are considered warm spices and are very aromatic. Fall flavors come to mind when I drink chai tea. A combination of these spices is often used in chai black tea recipes. These particular spices are used because they will not overpower the tea.
Black tea by itself is a very strong tea. Many people enjoy black tea for its health properties, but do not care for the strong taste. Whole milk is usually used to create a rich flavor. It is possible to use powdered creamer or half and half as well if that is all that is available.
Chai Black Tea Is drunk Widely Throughout India
Chai black tea mixes are available at most grocery stores. These mixes are a concentrated tea based syrup. The only thing that needs to be added is milk or water, or both. Coffee shops usually use these concentrates rather than brewing chai black tea from scratch. The chai tea can also be purchased in a powder form. These powder teas are best served in hot water.
Tea bags are also sold in supermarkets that are made with chai spices and either black or green tea. These are steeped in a cup of hot water, and are great for traveling. These tea bags are usually made with cinnamon as the dominant spice.
None of these alternatives can compare to a real cup of chai black tea, but they come very close, and they are convenient. It is a nice option to be able to grab a cup of tea whenever the desire occurs.
