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| Alternative names | Spiced tea |
|---|---|
| Type | Flavoured tea |
| Course | Drink |
| Place of origin | India[1] |
| Associated cuisine | South Asian cuisine |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Black tea, milk, spices, sugar |
Masala chai (/məˈsɑːlə tʃaɪ/; lit. 'mixed-spice tea') is a popular beverage throughout South Asia, originating in India. It is made by brewing black tea (usually crush, tear, curl) in milk and water, and then by sweetening with sugar. Adding aromatic herbs and spices creates masala chai, although chai is often prepared unspiced.[2][3]
The term chai originated from the Chinese word for tea, cha via the Hindi chai (चाय). In English, this spiced tea is commonly referred to as chai tea,[4] or simply chai.[5] Originating in India,[1][6] the beverage has gained worldwide popularity, becoming a feature in many coffee and tea houses, with many using the term chai latte or chai tea latte for their version to indicate that it is made with steamed milk, much like that used to make a caffè latte but mixed with a spiced tea concentrate instead of espresso.
- ^ a b Sengupta, Sushmita. "History of Masala Chai: A Quick Dive Into The Origins of India's Favourite Drink". NDTV. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ Banerjee, Snigdha. "The British ad propaganda & the journey from tea to chai". www.cityspidey.com. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ Dalal, Tarla. "Indian tea recipe homemade chai". www.tarladalal.com. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "The History of Masala Chai (a.k.a. "Chai Tea")". Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Definition of CHAI". Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "A Brief History of Chai and 5 to Try (or Retry) This Fall". Archived from the original on 15 May 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.