a nice hot cup of tea: chai


I love chai tea. The first time I tried it about 10 years ago, I declared it was like having cake in a cup! Oh my, it was sweet and rich and full of spice, instantly comforting and wonderfully cozy. While popping a commercially prepared chai tea bag into a mug of hot water can be just what you need, making your own tea from scratch is a whole new experience in itself. It’s simple to make and I get to use my mortar and pestle to crunch on down those green cardamom pods (totally satisfying!) It smells great while it simmers away on the stove and it tastes even better. The best part about making it yourself is that you can control the sweetness and richness. I use skim milk and a big dollop of honey and found it perfect. Enjoy this nice hot cup of tea!

10 comments to “a nice hot cup of tea: chai”

  1. 1
    Rachel   December 15, 2006 at 8:10 am

    We make a similar tea (http://coconutlime.blogspot.com/2006/11/chai.html) but use the red and green label (loose) tea from our Indian grocery. Orange pekoe tea sounds easier to find!

  2. 2
    Ziz   December 15, 2006 at 2:22 pm

    oooo I love chai. I use to make this chocolate chai drink when I worked at a coffee place in high school. HEAVEN 🙂

  3. 3
    Joanne   December 15, 2006 at 3:15 pm

    Hi!
    I’ve been running around like a chicken without a head today and finally sat down in front of my buddy ‘Mac’ and viola! your new post is up 🙂 and it’s chai tea!…the scent of cardamom is so heavenly. I have some in my cupboard but never know what to do with it.

    I might just try this chai tea since I’m not a fan of coffee, but I do enjoy an exotic tea blend on occassion.

    For the most part I’m a mainstream tea-o-holic, namely chamomile in the p.m. (sleep inducer), Moroccan-style, fresh mint leaves in boiling water (try it!) for after dinner, green tea with my sushi, jasmine – just beacause it smells so pretty, fennel for bloating, ginger for digestion, okay I’ll stop…love them all!

  4. 4
    jenn   December 16, 2006 at 10:11 am

    OMG…I made this and its heaven. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

  5. 5
    kickpleat   December 16, 2006 at 10:34 am

    rachel, i like using orange pekoe because it’s something i already have in my cupboards. but i’m sure your chai is even more wonderful!

    mmmm, alicat, chocolate chai? i love it!

    joanne, cardamom is the best scent, i agree! and teas are pretty wonderful. my friend returned from japan with the best strawberry-honey tea! mmmm.

    beth, i think this recipe is calling your name! and it definitely can be made with all kinds of milk and vanilla almond milk sounds luxurious!

    jenn, i’m so glad you made it! it is so delicious 🙂

  6. 6
    beth   December 16, 2006 at 8:48 am

    Ooooh! Wow. I have all those ingredients at home! I could totally make that. It’s one of Liam’s favourites too. And I’m a recent convert to the wonders of ginger.
    Although just this weekend I dscovered that Chai tastes even awesomer when you make it with vanilla almond milk.

  7. 7
    cinderelly   December 18, 2006 at 7:17 pm

    mmm…i love chai. i will have to try your recipe!

  8. 8
    liberal foodie   December 19, 2006 at 5:46 am

    I’ve never tried using honey. good idea!

  9. 9
    kickpleat   December 21, 2006 at 9:22 pm

    cinderelly, i love this recipe. it’s quite simple and easy but totally yummy!

    liberalfoodie, i always thought honey was the secret to chai! i’ve never had it with sugar. honey all the way 🙂

  10. 10
    Pragati   March 28, 2009 at 8:31 pm

    hi, jeannette!

    great to see a chai recipe here. we call it masala chai(tea with spices)in india. do try a teenee bit of leongrass in it.

    pragati
    india

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