CHAI TEA
Masala Chai, or "Spiced Tea", has its origins in India. In this culture, drinking chai is as common as drinking coffee in America. It's made on a stove top, cooking black tea with local spices, milk and sugar. There are many theories as to how this tradition began. Some allude to folk takes of long ago Indian royal courts, while others describe a more a realistic picture of making British tea more palatable. Chai has been an integral part of everyday life in India since the 1930's. You can find it at any hour and in nearly any setting.
The spices used to make chai vary from region to region and from household to household. They are typically a variation of black tea with cardamom, ginger, clove, black pepper, bay leaf, star anise and fennel. Making traditional chai is an all-day process where whole spices and black tea are simmered with milk. At In Pursuit of Tea, we've taken inspiration from this Indian tradition and given it our own twist. Our versions do not require stove top preparation; instead they can be steeped using a teapot. Add milk and a sweetener, if so desired, after it has brewed.
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