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Chai Teas: Lattes, Instant, Spiced, Indian And Green Tea
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Published: February 23, 2007
Walking into any coffee shop, we are immediately bombarded by a wide range of styles and flavors of coffee and teas. Chai, a sweet and spicy tea, is on the rise in the United States, and people are becoming more interested in this new product.
Chai teas are just as refreshing and awakening as coffee, but with more flavor and various health benefits. Chai is the word for tea in many languages, and is the national drink in both India and Sri Lanka. In both countries, chai teas are served by tea wadis to people walking along the street. Likewise, in an Indian home, chai is the first thing that a hostess offers her guests, much like Americans offer coffee or some other beverage.
In all of the countries where it's served, chai teas are prepared differently and with different ingredients. Typically, Indian chai tea is brewed with milk, not water, and a variety of spices that vary depending on the recipe. Chai teas are served both hot and sweet to bring out the unique spicy flavor. In the United States, it's more common to use only the sweet spiced chai tea and not the savory ones. It's also becoming popular to drink chai teas iced, or blended, like a frappuccino or a chai tea latte, with vanilla or chocolate flavoring. Chai is made with a black tea base, but it can also be made with green tea or jasmine tea, depending on an individual's preference.
Though the health benefits of coffee are debatable, there are no such questions about chai teas, especially the traditional hot chai. All of the ingredients in chai teas are healthy and beneficial to the immune system. Chai teas made with black tea contains half the caffeine of coffee, and green chai tea has even less. Still, chai teas can easily be supplemented for a morning pick-me-up as they still contain caffeine, but doesn't have the wired feeling felt by coffee drinkers.
Chai teas have also been shown to contain many health benefits. Chai teas contain antioxidants that help prevent heart disease, strokes, and even cancer. Additionally, the cinnamon in chai teas can help lower blood pressure, prevent cell damage, strengthen the teeth, and fight certain bacteria. Cloves, ginger, and cardamom help soothe various digestion problems. Cardamom also helps reduce muscle spasms and cloves stimulate the appetite. Some ingredients in chai teas help reduce and control bad breath and plaque.
Though grocery stores and coffee shops sell instant chai tea, fresh is always best. A recipe taken from The Enthusiast's Online Chai Resource provides an easy way to make chai tea. The simple recipe includes boiling 7 cups of water with 1 tablespoon fennel or anise seed, 6 green cardamom pods, 12 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, 1/4 inch ginger root, sliced thin, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper corns, and 2 bay leaves. After it has boiled five minutes, steep it for another 10. Add 2 tablespoons of tea (Darjeeling, for example), and let it simmer for five minutes before adding 6 tablespoons of honey or brown sugar, and 1 cup of milk.
Of course, as there is no specific recipe for chai teas, additional ingredients such as nutmeg or other spices can be added. Each ingredient adds a different taste, and by playing with the recipe, it's possible to stumble across a unique chai tea recipe that is enjoyable and improves health. In any case, a person may find a drink that is even more stimulating than coffee.
Sources:
Chai Stall. 2005. 14 Feb. 2007 <http://www.chaistall.com/>.
Tea Leaves. 14 Feb. 2007 <http://www.tealeaves.com.au/>.
Sherman, Linda. “My Favortie Chai Recipe.” The Enthusiast's Online Chai Resource. 1998. Greywolf Community Services. 15 Feb. 2007 <http://www.odie.org/chai/rec/rec104.html>.< br />The Enthusiast's Online Chai Resource. Greywolf Community Services. 1998. 15 Feb. 2007 <http://www.odie.org/chai/index.html>.
Halsey, Eugenia. "Study: Tea may be key to protecting against some cancers." CNN Food and Health.15 Sept. 1998. 15 Feb. 2007 <http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9809/15/tea.cancer/i ndex.html>.
Medlock, Rachel. "Health Benefits for Chai Drinkers." Food N Beverage Directory. 10 Dec. 2005. 15 Feb. 2007 <http://www.food-n-beverage.com/health-benefits -for-chai-drinkers.htm>.
Chai teas are just as refreshing and awakening as coffee, but with more flavor and various health benefits. Chai is the word for tea in many languages, and is the national drink in both India and Sri Lanka. In both countries, chai teas are served by tea wadis to people walking along the street. Likewise, in an Indian home, chai is the first thing that a hostess offers her guests, much like Americans offer coffee or some other beverage.
In all of the countries where it's served, chai teas are prepared differently and with different ingredients. Typically, Indian chai tea is brewed with milk, not water, and a variety of spices that vary depending on the recipe. Chai teas are served both hot and sweet to bring out the unique spicy flavor. In the United States, it's more common to use only the sweet spiced chai tea and not the savory ones. It's also becoming popular to drink chai teas iced, or blended, like a frappuccino or a chai tea latte, with vanilla or chocolate flavoring. Chai is made with a black tea base, but it can also be made with green tea or jasmine tea, depending on an individual's preference.
Though the health benefits of coffee are debatable, there are no such questions about chai teas, especially the traditional hot chai. All of the ingredients in chai teas are healthy and beneficial to the immune system. Chai teas made with black tea contains half the caffeine of coffee, and green chai tea has even less. Still, chai teas can easily be supplemented for a morning pick-me-up as they still contain caffeine, but doesn't have the wired feeling felt by coffee drinkers.
Chai teas have also been shown to contain many health benefits. Chai teas contain antioxidants that help prevent heart disease, strokes, and even cancer. Additionally, the cinnamon in chai teas can help lower blood pressure, prevent cell damage, strengthen the teeth, and fight certain bacteria. Cloves, ginger, and cardamom help soothe various digestion problems. Cardamom also helps reduce muscle spasms and cloves stimulate the appetite. Some ingredients in chai teas help reduce and control bad breath and plaque.
Though grocery stores and coffee shops sell instant chai tea, fresh is always best. A recipe taken from The Enthusiast's Online Chai Resource provides an easy way to make chai tea. The simple recipe includes boiling 7 cups of water with 1 tablespoon fennel or anise seed, 6 green cardamom pods, 12 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, 1/4 inch ginger root, sliced thin, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper corns, and 2 bay leaves. After it has boiled five minutes, steep it for another 10. Add 2 tablespoons of tea (Darjeeling, for example), and let it simmer for five minutes before adding 6 tablespoons of honey or brown sugar, and 1 cup of milk.
Of course, as there is no specific recipe for chai teas, additional ingredients such as nutmeg or other spices can be added. Each ingredient adds a different taste, and by playing with the recipe, it's possible to stumble across a unique chai tea recipe that is enjoyable and improves health. In any case, a person may find a drink that is even more stimulating than coffee.
Sources:
Chai Stall. 2005. 14 Feb. 2007 <http://www.chaistall.com/>.
Tea Leaves. 14 Feb. 2007 <http://www.tealeaves.com.au/>.
Sherman, Linda. “My Favortie Chai Recipe.” The Enthusiast's Online Chai Resource. 1998. Greywolf Community Services. 15 Feb. 2007 <http://www.odie.org/chai/rec/rec104.html>.< br />The Enthusiast's Online Chai Resource. Greywolf Community Services. 1998. 15 Feb. 2007 <http://www.odie.org/chai/index.html>.
Halsey, Eugenia. "Study: Tea may be key to protecting against some cancers." CNN Food and Health.15 Sept. 1998. 15 Feb. 2007 <http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9809/15/tea.cancer/i ndex.html>.
Medlock, Rachel. "Health Benefits for Chai Drinkers." Food N Beverage Directory. 10 Dec. 2005. 15 Feb. 2007 <http://www.food-n-beverage.com/health-benefits -for-chai-drinkers.htm>.
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