The western culture has adopted chai tea as its own from the tea known as masala chai in India, now creating its own chai latte recipe. The history of masala chai goes back to the early 1900s, when the British heavily promoted the drink there. Today, each family has its own chai latte recipe which usually includes loose leaf black tea and some combination of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, cloves, ginger and fennel. Chai tea can also be made with green tea, but is traditionally made with black.
What is in a Chai Latte Recipe?
In a chai latte recipe, the herbs used in chai tea come from traditional Ayurvedic medicine, and each herb has its own medicinal properties with many health benefits. The ratio of each herb is different from region to region in India, and even from family to family. As with many things, the combination of spices is up to individual taste and can be adjusted accordingly, allowing each person to find their own favorite chai latte recipe.
Chai Latte Recipe
2 tsp grated fresh ginger root
1 whole star anise, broken
1 tsp grated orange peel
4 cinnamon sticks, broken to about 1 1/2 inches each
1 tsp cardamom seeds
10 whole cloves
5 whole black peppercorns (white can also be used)
5 c. water
1/4 c. black tea leaves
1 tps vanilla
1/4 c. honey or granulated sugar
3 c. skim milk
Directions:
1. Put first seven ingredients in cheescloth or reuseable tea bag and close tightly.
2. Place bundled ingredients in a teapot or pot with the water.
3. Bring water just to boil and reduce heat to simmer.
4. Add tea leaves to pot and simmer for 15 minutes
5. Remove spice bag from pot.
6. Strain remaining liquid from pot into serving container to remove tea leaves.
7. Add vanilla, honey and milk to serving container then serve hot. You may also pour tea over ice
Makes 8 servings.
Traditional Garam Chai Latte Recipe
1-1/2 c. water
1/2 inch crushed ginger
3/4 c. milk
3 tsp. tea
Honey or sugar to taste
Directions:
1. Add ginger to water and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, covered, for five minutes.
2. Add tea leaves, milk and honey or sugar (if desired)
3. Bring pot to boil then remove from heat
4. Strain tea into cups and serve
Makes 2 servings.
Create your own family tradition and recipe by adding any of the Ayurvedic spices to your chai latte recipe to see which you like best.
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