What Is Chai Tea?
“Chai” tea refers to spices that are steeped into a beverage that resembles tea but does not always include tea leaves. The world of tea a vast category, and there are literally thousands of different types of chai throughout the world. While it is often associated with India, chai is also consumed in China, Japan, the Middle East, and throughout the rest of the world. Revolution Tea offers an amazing collection of Bombay chai tea that gives the perfect amount of caffeine, spice, and Assam black tea. Anyone who loves tea, will love our tea!
What Makes Tea A Chai Tea?
So, what makes tea a “chai tea?” Chai tea typically consists of four different parts – tea, milk, spices, and sweetener. For example, tea may be flavored with cardamom and cinnamon, then have milk added, as well as a sweetener like honey or tea. This allows for cultures to create their own twists on things or give each person the freedom to add their favorite flavors and create something new.
However, not all chai meets the four-part criteria. There are many different chai tea flavors and variations. Some types of chai do not include milk, and others have minimal sweeteners. Therefore, to truly be a chai tea, it must only include the tea itself and a spice blend.
What Are the Different Types of Chai Tea?
There are thousands of different types of chai tea, so below are just a few of the biggest and most popular flavors around the world.
As discussed above, chai is simply a category of tea and not a particular type of leaf or brew process. There are many great flavors of tea from cultures around the world. Included below are some of the top flavors you can make at home or find at a delicious local restaurant.
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Bombay chai – Bombay chai is a unique blend of warm and rich spices. With a combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and the classic Assam black tea, Bombay chai is the perfect chai for everyone.
- Ginger chai – Ginger chai is typically made using black tea, and it includes ginger as well as an accent spice, such as green cardamom. It also includes milk and is sweetened to taste with sugar or honey.
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Lemongrass Chai – Lemongrass chai uses boiled lemongrass, which is then steeped with black tea leaves. Then, sugar and honey are added to taste, and milk is typically added for a creamier texture. Lemon juice is also sometimes added to bring out the citrus flavor of this chai.
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Tulsi Chai – Tulsi chai does not use black tea at all, but uses tulsi, also known as “holy basil.” A tea is made from the holy basil, then spices including cardamom, ginger, turmeric, cloves, star anise, and peppercorns are added. Finally, it’s sweetened to taste with honey or sugar, and milk is added.
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Lebu chai – Lebu chai is very popular in Kolkata, India. It consists of black tea with ground ginger, black salt (Kala Namak), and lemon juice, as well as sugar to taste. Milk is not traditional but can be added to the recipe.
- Masala chai – Masala chai is what most people think of when they think “chai.” The principal spices of masala chai are ground ginger, cloves, black peppercorns, cinnamon, and green cardamom. These are mixed with black tea, sugar or honey, and milk for a truly delicious treat.
- Sulaimani chai – This tea is thought to have been brought to India by Arab traders. It’s brewed with black tea, lemon, black pepper, cardamom, and a little bit of rock salt, and garnished with a mint leaf. Saffron is also sometimes added.
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Cardamom chai – Cardamom chai is as simple as it gets! It’s brewed with black tea, ground cardamom, and milk and sweetener to taste.
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Butter tea – Butter tea is mostly consumed in the Himalayas. It consists of black tea, which is mixed with yak butter and salt. It is not sweetened, and some find it has an off-putting flavor, while others love the savory, unique taste.
- Kashmiri kahwa – This tea is brewed with green tea, green cardamom, cinnamon, saffron, clove, and star anise, and sometimes also includes dried rose petals and almonds. It’s strained, and served with sweetener, though without milk.
Want to Make Your Own Chai? Shop Today at Revolution Tea!
At Revolution Tea, we have the high-quality tea and some of the best Bombay chai tea on the market. For additional options, we carry some delicious full-leaf tea to make authentic new chai creations! Shop online now to get everything you need and start exploring this unique beverage today.
