For thousands of years, tea has been a great way to bring people together over a hot beverage. Nothing beats sharing tales, making new friends, or exploring a new flavor while surrounded by a shared cup of tea.
Chai simply means tea to many people, but in the West, chai tea has come to be linked with a deliciously spicy drink that is also quite popular. Chai has earned a reputation for itself on a global scale thanks to its exquisite combination of herbs and spices that contribute to its distinct flavor. Furthermore, chai tea offers benefits, making this drink not only pleasant but also beneficial to health.
What is Chai Tea?
Chai tea is a spicy tea made with herbs and spices like ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and black pepper that tastes very different from plain tea.
However, while looking into the history of this delectable beverage in India, it was discovered that the Indian people have been making tea in this way for as long as they can remember, and there is nothing different about it.
While people in the United States and the United Kingdom appear to brew this tea with milk and sugar, Indians prepare it in their own unique way.
In terms of chai tea history, it originated 5,000 years ago on the instructions of an Indian King to make a medicinal spicy beverage. This tea was made with numerous herbs and spices such as black pepper, ginger, and cardamom, and has been used in ayurvedic treatment for a long time. These herbs and spices offer great medicinal effects such as increasing digestion, reducing pain, avoiding infection, and calming the mind. In the beginning, chai tea was prepared from only herbs and spices, but subsequently, milk, sugar, and leaves of Camellia sinensis were included.
Taste of Chai Tea
Chai tea flavor varies based on how it is produced and the ingredients used. The tea leaves may be important in determining the flavor and taste of the chai. While spices are thought to be a personal choice for adding flavor to tea. More spices, such as ginger and black pepper, result in a spicier tea. Chai tea has a sweet flavor due to the addition of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Fennel and cumin provide a delicious flavor, whereas saffron in large quantities produces a bitter and harsh flavor.
Masala tea, which originated in India, is the most popular and extensively consumed tea. It's because chai tea is a tea beverage recipe that includes a variety of spices with unique flavors.
Benefits of Chai Tea
Chai tea not only offers an appealing taste and flavor, but it is also quite healthy! Chai possesses a wide range of healthful components, including cinnamon, black tea, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and others.
Can Wake You UP
Because of its caffeine content, chai tea is an excellent choice for starting your day or obtaining a little additional energy midway through the day. Chai tea includes caffeine because it is made from black tea leaves, which naturally contain caffeine. [1]
Because each chai might utilize a different amount of black tea, it's difficult to tell how much caffeine each tea bag contains. Chai tea has around one-third the caffeine content of a standard cup of coffee and one-sixth the caffeine content of a strong cup of coffee.
Help Promote Digestion
Chai, like many teas, is great for controlling digestion and keeping your gut healthy. Ginger is the spice in chai tea that is primarily responsible for the digestive health benefits. Ginger improves digestion by increasing circulation and supplying oxygen to organs, allowing them to work efficiently. [2]
Black pepper, which helps the pancreas generate digestive enzymes, is another spice in tea that improves digestion. These enzymes act as catalysts to accelerate the digestion of lipids and proteins. With a more effective digestive system, you can prevent more serious issues like liver disease, iron deficiency, and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as attain your weight reduction goals more quickly.
May Protect Heart Health
Cinnamon, one of the main ingredients in chai, has been shown in studies to help decrease bad cholesterol and blood pressure. Black tea is also known to be beneficial to the heart by decreasing blood cholesterol levels. While there has been little research on the direct relationship between chai tea and heart health, numerous chai components have been shown to help develop a healthy heart. [3]
Cinnamon also includes oils that may have the potential to aid in the treatment of diabetes. These chemicals can help regulate blood glucose levels and lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. Regular consumption of cinnamon is associated with improved cardiovascular health. [4]
Boost Immune Health
Chai tea is a healthy option to enjoy the immunity-boosting effects. Drinking a couple of cups every day will boost the level of vitamin C in the body. Vitamin C helps combat infection and prevent diseases. The addition of spices to the tea offers additional benefits. For instance, green cardamom can help cleanse the sinuses and purify the body, while black cardamom is best known for its antibacterial and expectorant properties. Both varieties of cardamom in chai tea offer antioxidant and antibacterial characteristics that help in the battle against common colds, germs, and infections. [5]
Can Relieve Aches and Pain
Chai tea's spices can help relieve ordinary aches and pains and may even aid patients with more severe discomfort, such as arthritis. Many of the constituents in chai tea, including ginger and clove, have anti-inflammatory qualities, which contribute to these health advantages.
Ginger root has the ability to alleviate pain ranging from moderate headaches to migraines by reducing inflammation. Ginger stimulates circulation, bringing oxygen-rich blood cells to aching and painful areas to lessen symptoms. [6]
Cloves have been used in homeopathic medicine for mild ailments such as toothaches for over 2,000 years. Cloves have been utilized to alleviate a number of dental-related symptoms in modern civilization, including dry sockets and general tooth discomfort.[7]
Help Alleviate Nausea
Ginger has long been used to alleviate common symptoms including seasickness and nausea during pregnancy. Chai tea includes 1 to 1.5 grams of ginger, which has been shown in studies to be useful in alleviating nausea.
Gingerol and shogaol are two biological chemicals found in ginger that aid in nausea treatment. These two chemicals contain anti-inflammatory qualities that help to calm an upset stomach and relieve nausea-related stomach discomfort. [8]
FAQs
How to brew Chai tea?
Chai tea is commonly enjoyed as a regular tea made with loose black tea, spices, and hot water. This tea is often made with a mixture of warm milk and warm water. The milk offers a creamy, rich flavor that complements the strong tastes of the herbs and spices in chai.
What is Chai tea Latte?
A Chai Tea Latte is a modern twist on classic Chai tea that includes steamed milk and froth, much like a latte. It's usually made with a powerful Chai tea infusion and steamed milk, which gives it a creamy and foamy texture. It is frequently sprinkled with cinnamon or other spices for extra flavor and aesthetic appeal.
How long chai tea can be stored?
Chai tea may be kept in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To preserve the flavor and scent, it is advised to put it in an airtight container.
Is chai tea the same as masala chai?
Yes, chai tea and masala chai are the same things. Masala chai, which translates to "spiced tea," is a popular Chai tea variety that adds a fragrant spice combination.
Is chai tea good for people with dietary restrictions?
Chai tea is excellent for persons with dietary restrictions, particularly when brewed with alternative milk substitutes such as almond, soy, or oat milk. Individuals with special dietary concerns, on the other hand, should examine the components to ensure they meet their requirements.
