EXPLORING TEA TRADITIONS: Masala CHAI

Let’s start with vocabulary. Masala means “spiced.” Chai means “tea.” Masala Chai…spiced tea! So the term “chai tea” is used, well, that’s “tea tea.” (Maybe don’t say that.)

Masala Chai dates back to the 1800’s, and today we enjoy countless variations on the spicy theme. Today’s chai beverages – including Pumpkin Spice Lattes – aren’t anything close to the authentic beverage with its spices, milk, sweetener and black tea.

According to lore, Masala Chai was part of royal court ceremonies. Early on, it a spicy-sweet beverage that contained no tea leaves.Some say its history is firmly rooted in India; others say Thailand. Regardless, it was and still is part of Ayurvedic medicine with cleansing and revitalizing properties.

Authentic Masala Chai was born in Assam, India. The locals working on British tea farms couldn’t afford the tea they grew and harvested. Further, mass production meant lower quality tea. Enter milk, spices and sweetener to stretch the tea and turn sub-par tea into a delicious, creamy beverage.

Chai Wallahs are street and train vendors who serve Masala Chai – Baristas of Chai! As you move from region to region, the chai changes. Some are heavy on cloves. Others boast cardamom notes. Many use fresh ginger. And because Masala Chai is served in homes as a welcoming beverage, each home has their own signature blend.

Here at Red Stick Spice & SoGo Tea Bar, we enjoy many variations on the chai theme. Our chai blends range from naturally caffeine free herbals to coconut chai to green chai. For authenticity, grab our Masala Chai, a black tea blend with dried ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and spices. We often grind our Masala Chai into a powder to make authentic chai that a Chai Wallah would be proud of!

Check out these Chai-inspired recipes:

Chai Eggnog Latte
Creamy Eggnog and Spicy Chai Tea come together in this delicious holiday sip that’s delicious enough to call it dessert! Add a few scrapes of Nutmeg on top for a dreamy finish.

Dirty Pumpkin Chai
Espresso + Chai Tea = Dirty Chai. We make make it seasonal with our Pumpkin Spice Black Tea. The cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and allspice are all part of the Chai flavor family, making Pumpkin Spice perfect to steep up a dirty chai – the Fall version. Oh, and frothing the milk at home? Easy! Just grab our Ad Hoc Frother.

Rye & Chai
The peppery bite from rye whiskey is the perfect compliment to spicy Chai tea. Anne steeped our Masala Chai Black Tea in milk then added a splash of simple syrup and rye. Wrap your hands around a mug of this Rye & Chai and get ready for a warm hug.