What is chai tea?
Chai, an Indian spiced tea
As simple as it may seem: the word “ chai » means “ tea ". The chai we know was created in India when people began adding black tea with “masala”, a mixture of spices traditionally drunk for its benefits. Chai was thus born in India. Moreover, chai is to India and Pakistan what mate is to Argentina: an institution! If you ever travel to India, don't be shy and try their traditional spicy tea.
What does chai taste like?
The cellar is traditionally composed of strong black tea, a mixture of spices, milk and sugar. If you are one of those who like to follow recipes to the letter, you will be disappointed because the chai recipe does not actually exist. In India, everyone adapts their spicy tea to his taste and desires. Many families develop their own recipe. Ingredients vary from region to region and the spices used are sometimes different.
The taste of chai tea is therefore very rich, delicious, obviously spicy and sweet depending on the recipe used. Note that adding sugar to the chai amplifies and enhances the taste of the spices.
How to make chai tea?
The classic chai
To prepare your chai, choose your chai tea from our range of spiced black teas. Put 1 to 2 spoons of spiced tea into your infuser or teapot. Add simmering water at 90°C and let it infuse for 3 to 5 minutes.
The chai latte
Chai tea is always more delicious with milk foam. Finally compete with your favorite coffee shop and try your hand at homemade chai lattes. Find out more about our chai latte recipe.
The benefits of chai tea: the power of spices
If we had to make an analogy: chai would be like Asterix's magic potion. A little cinnamon, a hint of ginger, a touch of black pepper... As you can see, chai is a mixture of spices. But not just any ones!
Chai spices have multiple benefits. First of all, cinnamon and cloves are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger is, for its part, the star spice of winter and is often used to prevent the slight winter cold. Finally, chai, mixing several spices, greatly promotes digestion. The anise often present in the mixture has nothing to do with it. Ready to test the benefits of Indian tea?
Everything you need to know about anise
The famous chai spices
If the chai recipe is not set in stone, certain spices are essential. The chai spice blend most often contains ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, fennel, pepper, cloves and sometimes even coriander, nutmeg or cumin.
Ginger
If you like thrills, the ginger will be your favorite spice. This root grown in tropical regions and particularly in Asia is a tonic, invigorating and revitalizing spice. We love it for its warm and slightly spicy flavor.
Black pepper
The spicy and biting flavor of pepper wiggles under the tongue with each sip of chai. Among all the chai spices, pepper is the ingredient that we recognize every time.
Cardamom
Originally from India, cardamom seeds develop a particularly powerful scent, warm and fresh at the same time, and delicately lemony. The cardamom is an amazing spice that naturally finds its place in chai tea.
Cinnamon
The cinnamon is one of the oldest known spices, but also one of the most appreciated. Very delicious, slightly sweet, cinnamon is the spice of comfort. It is with pleasure that we welcome it into our chai preparation.
Cloves
The cloves shaped like nails, they have a penetrating, warm and rich aroma. This chai spice is hot and bitter. In addition to enhancing our savory recipes, cloves are essential for a chai preparation with character.
Choosing your Kusmi chai
Tchai of the Tiger, an organic black tea inspired by traditional chai
Like traditional chai, Tchaï of the Tiger perfectly blends black tea and fragrant spices. All the star spices of chai are present in this organic black tea: ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper and pink. This organic blend is a surprising balance of strength and softness, inspired by the captivating feline it protects. Because yes, Tchaï of the Tiger is an organic black tea committed in collaboration with the WWF. For the purchase of a box, €1 is donated to the Tx2 project aimed at protecting wild tigers.
Kashmir Tchaï, the essential chai black tea from Kusmi
Kashmir Tchai, one of the oldest recipes of the house, is a mixture based on black tea enhanced by a powerful blend of chai spices. In this black tea, you will find cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Add sugar and a splash of milk as desired for a very delicious recipe. To all chai novices, this is the recipe you need to discover the delights of this spicy tea from India.
Sweet Chai, the mate that revisits the classic Chai
Our mate Sweet Chai has the power to bring together three continents: South Africa and its emblematic rooibos, Argentina and its traditional mate, without forgetting India and its irresistible chai spices. Sweet Chai, these are chai spices: anise, fennel, ginger and cardamom which add to the roundness of the rooibos and the freshness of the mate. A wonderful revisitation of chai tea that doesn't lack spice.