Before chai latte started trending, a cup of chai is believed to have been brewed over 5,000 years ago as a medicinal Ayurvedic drink. Despite its rising fame, Masala chai has been a staple brew in everyday life in India for its natural goodness and functionality. Read more to find out what chai is and how to make chai the traditional way.

What is Chai? 

The term chai is derived from the Hindi word chai and the Chinese word cha which means tea. However, over the years the definition for chai has changed, and it is usually used as a reference to Masala chai - spiced tea.

Ingredients of Chai

One of the most wonderful aspects of chai is that there is no fixed recipe to make a delicious cup of chai. Every family and chai vendor has a different way of making their chai; however, there are four basic components that are generally present: black tea, milk, sugar, and a blend of spices.

It is up to the brewer to decide which spices are to be used and the potency of each spice, but traditional spices include cinnamon, ginger and clove. You could also add other spices such as star anise, nutmeg, peppercorns or lemongrass leaves for extra flavour.

How to Prepare Chai

The traditional way of preparing chai is through decoction, a method of extracting a plant or herb’s goodness and flavour by boiling it in water.

1. The first step is gently crushing your spice blend in a mortar and pestle to release more flavour and allow maximum dissolution. Avoid grinding the spices into a paste, instead let them be relatively large pieces as it will be easier to strain.
2. Next, boil the spices, tea, and sugar. In India, Masala chai is very sweet and milky and this is achieved by brewing the spices and tea in a combination of milk and water. Allow the tea and spices to brew here for about 10 - 15 minutes until the mixture is fragrant and looks milky brown.
3. The final step is to strain the chai mixture and enjoy!

If you find yourself craving the spicy sweetness of rejuvenating chai, try Dilmah’s Exceptional Ceylon Spice Chai. 

We have perfected the intricate process of preparing the perfect cup of Spice Chai in a tea bag for maximum flavour with minimal effort. Using traditional aromatic spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and clove combined with our Doombagastalawa BOP Special Single Estate Tea, you can enjoy a truly exceptional cup of chai.

How to Enjoy Chai

Nothing is quite as comforting as a warm cup of spiced tea on a cold day. However, apart from enjoying chai in its true form, you can infuse its spicy deliciousness into food and drinks using our tea bags.

This Chai (Tea) & Almond Comforter is a wonderful morning tea idea. In this recipe, Dilmah’s Exceptional Ceylon Spice Chai is brewed in warm almond milk with orange peel and honey to give it a refreshing twist.

A lovely chai-infused afternoon tea recipe would be this Spiced Chai Apple and Rhubarb Crumble with Dilmah Earl Grey Custard Tea. Swap a traditional tea cake with this wonderful dessert which has a deliciously creamy Earl Grey custard and spicy chai crumble.

Chai is certainly one of the most comforting drinks you could have, made even better by the fact that it is loaded with health benefits. Enjoy the warmth and goodness of Spice chai today!