What is Chai?

What is Chai?

Chai is a tea most common in India. The name Chai actually means "tea". This means when you call it Chai Tea you are actually saying "Tea Tea". So technically it should just be referred to as Chai.

The Chai base is usually made with a Black Tea. In our case we use our US grown Black Magnolia, Black tea as the base. In India they might use Assam or Darjeeling's that are native to their region. 

The Black tea is then mixed with spices. The spices are not always the same. In fact, a family in India would commonly create their own family blend. Many different spices may be used but commonly peppercorns, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and cloves are used. As the tea traveled additional spices have sometimes been added including all spice, star anise and fennel. Sometimes vanilla and cocoa as well. 

With so many options to add it can be very easy to create your own personalized flavor. 

What flavors are in our Chai?

Our Clairee Chai contains our US grown Black Magnolia tea blended with  cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, allspice, cloves, and black peppercorns. 

Where did Chai originate?

Chai originated in India. The name Chai means tea and was inspired by the Chinese name for tea, Cha. According to legend, Chai was created by a king who blended his tea with a mix of spices for healing purposes.

How should you store Chai?

If stored properly Chai has a long shelf life of 2 years. Over time it will lose some freshness but that freshness can be best maintained when you store your tea away from any direct light. A dark container is best. Or just leave it in our packaging which is designed to keep the light out.

Also, keep it sealed. The air has moisture and moisture is not good for the quality of your tea. A tight sealed container is best. 

Is there caffeine in Chai?

Yes there is caffeine in Chai. Chai is made with a Black tea which is a tea that has caffeine. Unless you are purchasing a tea that has been decaffeinated then most Chai will have caffeine.

Do you have to add milk to Chai?

That is entirely up to you but you can certainly add milk which we find makes for a very creamy and flavorful cup of tea. It is like the hot chocolate of the tea world, only we do not have cocoa in our Clairee Chai. 

You can also froth your milk to add to your Chai. This too makes for a treat with your tea.

Can you add milk substitutes to Chai?

Yes you sure can. In fact, it was more common in India for Buffalo Milk to be used vs cow's milk. If you are looking for a more vegan friendly option you can add soy milk, almond milk or oatmeal milk.

How do you make milk infused Chai tea?

Chai is super simple to make. 

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Milk (Cow, Almond, Oat, Soy etc.)
• 2 Heaping Spoons of Chai
• 1 Tsp Sugar

Directions:

• Pour milk into a small pot on the stove.
• Add Chai directly to the milk.
• Add sugar.
• Simmer (do not boil) for 10 minutes, stirring often.
• Strain and enjoy!

Why should you drink Chai?

Chai has many wonderful qualities. First, the inclusion of spices gives Chai the ability to warm. This makes it very popular in the cooler seasons.

Secondly, with the mixture of spices Chai has the rare gift of being able to be memorable. Scents and tastes take us back to a specific time through our memory. This makes it especially nice for those who love to feel the nostalgia of the holidays. Just like one might light a certain candle to be able to smell like the holidays in the home, many brew a cup of Chai to have that same feeling. 

Finally, although we cannot make any claims, there are thought to be many benefits to spices on your overall health and Chai is packed with great spices.

In the end, we cannot say enough good things about Chai. This wonderful tea is a favorite among adults and kids. Don't limit yourself to one Chai, try many. But get started today with our Clairee Chai.