The popular everyday drink from India.
Spices
Anise
botanically known as Pimpinella anisum , is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. Anise is native to the eastern Mediterranean and southwest Asia. Today it is cultivated...
Anise
botanically known as Pimpinella anisum , is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. Anise is native to the eastern Mediterranean and southwest Asia. Today it is cultivated...
Black Pepper
Botanically known as Piper nigrum, is a flowering vine in the pepper family (Piperaceae). It is native to southwestern India, particularly the Malabar region. Today, black pepper is grown in...
Black Pepper
Botanically known as Piper nigrum, is a flowering vine in the pepper family (Piperaceae). It is native to southwestern India, particularly the Malabar region. Today, black pepper is grown in...
Cinnamon
botanically known as cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) and cassia cinnamon ( Cinnamomum cassia), it is a spice obtained from the bark of cinnamon trees. Cinnamon originally comes from Sri Lanka, southern...
Cinnamon
botanically known as cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) and cassia cinnamon ( Cinnamomum cassia), it is a spice obtained from the bark of cinnamon trees. Cinnamon originally comes from Sri Lanka, southern...
Ginger
Botanically known as Zingiber officinale, is a plant species in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). Ginger originally comes from tropical Southeast Asia, particularly from countries such as India and China. Today...
Ginger
Botanically known as Zingiber officinale, is a plant species in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). Ginger originally comes from tropical Southeast Asia, particularly from countries such as India and China. Today...
In India, the word “chai” means tea.
What is the difference between chai and tea?
Both drinks are similar, but differ in the following respect: tea is made from loose leaves and is usually brewed neat, meaning only with water, and possibly served with a small amount of milk.
Chai, on the other hand, is based on a CTC base, which stands for "cut, tear and curl" and describes tightly rolled black tea leaves with very low moisture content. Milk and spices are added to create a balanced taste with a rich aroma. The classic Indian chai is also usually prepared with sugar, which is optional when it comes to Western tea.
The terms explained simply.
In India, the term "chai" means tea. However, the ingredients and preparation differ from Western tea. In India, chai is cooked with milk and sugar, which can lead to confusion with Western milk tea.
As chai continues to grow in popularity, Western tea drinkers have started to refer to milk tea as chai tea or chai latte. But that's not correct. Milk tea is not chai. For example, a milk tea can be prepared with herbs, that would never be called a chai tough. A chai latte is the combination of the Italian word latte, which means (foamed) milk, and the addition chai, which in the West often corresponds to a very flexible preparation. So you can order a chai latte in a café and maybe get one. If they live up to the word, it means, for example, a black tea base boiled with various spices, milk and sugar. We have created an essence for restaurants that helps them simplify this preparation process. And if the café prepares the chai latte like this, then it actually is a real chai.
