Did You Know?
Masala Chai
Masala chai (Hindi: masālā chī, "spiced tea") is a beverage from the Indian subcontinent made by brewing tea with a mixture of aromatic Indian spices and herbs. By itself, chai is merely the generic word for tea in much of the world, but for many English speakers outside those regions, particularly in the Western hemisphere, "chai" automatically implies "masala chai".
Although coffee is a more popular beverage in some southern parts of India, chai is ubiquitous throughout South Asia, where street vendors called "chai wallahs" (sometimes spelled "chaiwalas") are a common sight. Chai is also a popular item in the genre of South Asian restaurants known as Irani cafés or Chai Khanas.
The traditional chai-brewing process actively boils the tea leaves over sustained heat. Chai prepared in this manner has a caffeine level comparable to coffee, as the prolonged boiling produces a more robust beverage than quiescently steeping the tea leaves in hot (but not boiling) water.
Spiced tea
For many English speakers outside those regions, the term "chai" is synonymous with masala chai, as further described below. The tautological term chai tea is sometimes used to indicate spiced milky tea as distinct from other types of tea. Numerous coffee houses use the term chai latte for their version to indicate that the steamed milk of a normal cafe latte is being flavored with a spiced tea concentrate instead of with espresso. Some coffeehouses and brand names refer to their product as chai tea latte.
You’ve discovered the coffee treasures of India. Listed below for your pleasure are some of the finest Indian tea.