Moody Teas offers a wide range of chai teas to suit any mood. Chai teas are not a type of tea leaf, but a type of blend – so they can be made with any kind of tea, or tea alternative! In fact, “chai” is actually the Hindi word for tea! Now, chai refers to a spice blend steeped into any tea like beverage. Chai recipes vary across the world, but traditionally include spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger and black peppercorns, steeped into a strong black tea (such as assam or darjeeling) before adding milk and sweetener (to your liking).
Within chai teas there are many different varieties, varying depending on the region. While the most popular chai blends feature a black tea base, you can also find chai with other bases – green tea, rooibos, and more! Chai tea spices often include cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger and black peppercorn, but many other spices are added around the world. Vanilla, nutmeg, mace, star anise or fennel are traditional to various regions of India, and further west recipes feature bay leaf, allspice, cacao or saffron. Some recipes even add coriander or cumin! Chai teas are often blended with milk, and while traditionally made with buffalo milk, can be made with any milk or alternative.
Chai teas are warming, spicy, sweet, creamy, fiery, earthy or even savory, depending on the tea. Their caffeine contents and optimal steeping time and temperature depend on their tea. Use about 1-2 teaspoons of tea per 8 ounces of hot water, double for iced teas or cold brews.
Learn more about the chai teas Moody Teas offers below!