For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal live. John 3:16 (NIV)

Chai Tea is gaining popularity in North American culture. This Indian spiced tea (pronounced ch + eye) originated in India. Chai means tea. Masala Chai is another term that is used which translates to spiced tea. Chai is the lifeblood of Indian culture. It is ingrained in the everyday life of an Indian household. Most people in India drink about 5-6 cups of tea a day.

The history of Chai dates back to over 5000 years ago. Legends have it that the concoction was created by a king in an Indian court. The concoction was made from a variety of spices and was known to have healing properties. The King was said to use different spices, depending on the ailment. If there is any truth to the legend, that may explain the many variations to chai and chai mixes. It may also explain why chai recipes vary from town to town and from households and neighbourhoods.

What makes Chai Tea

The basic ingredients are a chai mix, black tea and milk.

Chai Mix: A traditional chai mix is a combination of spices that are grounded and or used whole. It can be a powdery mix that is available in Indian stores or you can make it at home quite easily. The base for most mixes include cloves (can be used whole or crushed), cardamoms (very flavourful when crushed and grounded just before use) and cinnamon. Additional ingredients that make-up the different variations are ginger (fresh grated ginger is best), peppercorns, fennel and star anise.

Black Tea: A full bodied black tea is used. It is preferable to use tea leaves as opposed to tea bags for their freshness, taste and aroma. Darjeeling tea, Assam or a full bodied Ceylon Tea are some of the popular teas for making chai.

Milk: Use whole or skimmed milk. In some parts of Asia, a combination of skimmed milk and/or evaporated and sweetened condensed milk is used. The evaporated and condensed milk give it a very milky flavour. The sweetened condensed milk can also be used as a substitute for sugar.

To make chai tea, the chai mix is boiled in water. After allowing it to simmer for a few minutes, tea is added to the mixture and allowed to boil gently for about 5-10 minutes. Milk is then added and allowed to simmer for about 5 minutes. The tea is then strained into a teapot and is sweetened with sugar or honey.

Chai is good for you!

Here are some of the ingredients that make up the tea mix which explains why this brew is good for health.

Cloves

Used in Ayurvedic medicine as an analgesic, cloves are most often used to soothe toothaches and remedy halitosis. It also has antiseptic qualities, and can be used to kill intestinal parasites, fungi, and bacteria. These latter qualities have also led cloves to be used for treating diarrhea and similar digestive ailments.

Cardamoms

Relieves flatulence, harmonises digestion and eases nausea. Useful for combating colds & chills.

Fennel

Fennel has aromatic and carminative properties. Tea made from the fennel seeds is used to ease flatulence of infants and is used by women to ease menopause symptoms.

Cinnamon

Several studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory effect on blood sugar, making it especially beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes. It has also shown an amazing ability to stop medication-resistant yeast infections. It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.

Balbir Kaur has a passion for tea and all this magical brew has to offer. For more recipes on chai tea and information other tea types, visit: http://wonderoftea.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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