Homemade Chai Spice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is chai spice made of? ›

The Spices

Chai can include a number of different spices. Cardamom is the most common ingredient, followed by some mixture of cinnamon, ginger, star anise and cloves. Pepper, coriander, nutmeg and fennel are also used, but they are slightly less common. Every family has a blend to suit its tastes.

Ingredients. Organic unrefined jaggery cane sugar, cinnamon, natural black tea extract (5.2%), star anise, cardamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, black pepper.

A typical mix has ingredients like ground cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, black pepper, and/or fennel, though the exact ingredients might differ depending on the manufacturer or recipe. If you're making your own chai masala blend, try not to overthink it.

Sugar, dextrose, black tea extract, flavour, milk solids, thickener (415), cinnamon and nutmeg. Allergen note: this product contains milk and is made on equipment that process wheat. This product is NOT gluten free.

The difference between masala chai and chai tea are the spices that are used for each tea. Masala usually contains organic pekoe dust black tea, organic cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, black peppercorn and cloves. Chai tea usually contains Assam tea, organic cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, black peppercorns and star anise.

' While both chai tea and masala chai are made with black tea, their main difference is the spices used in their preparation. Chai tea is essentially just black tea with milk and sugar, while masala chai is prepared with a blend of spices that typically includes cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and black pepper.

Promoting Digestive Health:

Chai tea contains spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom, which may help to promote healthy digestion and reduce bloating. These spices are also known to alleviate nausea and soothe stomach discomfort.

Traditionally, cardamom, ginger, cloves, cinnamon and black peppercorns were dominant chai spices and all readily available in India. Vanilla, nutmeg, mace, star anise or fennel may also be seen in some traditional recipes. As chai moved west, bay leaf, allspice, cacao or saffron became popular additions.

Chai consists of black tea brewed with water, milk, spices and a sweetener, such as honey or sugar, offering a fragrant and sweet aroma and flavor. The spices included in chai can vary, but the most common spices used are cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and cloves.

Chai directly translates to tea, causing the name to be a bit repetitive (tea tea). Other differences include the type of milk used. In India, whole milk is typically used, while in America, anything from skim milk to non-dairy milk can be seen incorporated into chai drinks.

Can you drink too much chai tea? ›

Excessive chai consumption can sometimes lead to digestive discomfort for certain individuals. The strong compounds in tea, like tannins and caffeine, can irritate the stomach lining and lead to issues like acid reflux, indigestion, or an upset stomach.

Chai is a much healthier drink than coffee because it contains less caffeine. A typical cup of chai contains about 20-50mg of caffeine, where a cup of coffee contains as much as 180-200mg of caffeine. Caffeine can be beneficial in small doses, but too much caffeine can be detrimental to your health.

Tazo Chai Concentrate (Starbucks brand)

You can find their products in most grocery stores. This is the tea that Starbucks uses for its tea lattes and other beverages. Starbucks uses a special (and more concentrated) version of the Tazo Chai Concentrate that is not sold commercially.

Chai tea is made using whole milk or hot milk, while the chai latte introduces steamed and frothed milk to create a creamier and frothier texture. The introduction of tiny air bubbles in the steaming process lends a smooth texture to the chai latte.

Chai Tea vs Chai Latte – The difference

Chai tea is a loose-leaf style tea brewed in hot milk, usually with some honey or sugar to sweeten it up. While Chai lattes are often made with either a soluble powder or a syrup imitating a chai flavor.

Chai tea is one of the tastiest beverages around! It has a wonderfully warm, spicy flavor that is incredibly inviting. Chai tea has a sweet, spiced flavor that is similar to black tea with notes of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, and clove. It is typically creamy and has a subtle sweetness.

One cup of chai from the powdered form has 25 to 55mg of caffeine while in the concentrate, it's more likely to be 30 to 35mg. Compare that to roughly 120mg in your average cup of coffee and it's obvious that if you want to be a lively bag of beans, you'll probably want to stick to those, well, coffee beans.

Traditionally, cardamom, ginger, cloves, cinnamon and black peppercorns were dominant chai spices and all readily available in India. Vanilla, nutmeg, mace, star anise or fennel may also be seen in some traditional recipes. As chai moved west, bay leaf, allspice, cacao or saffron became popular additions.