Chai
Chai is one of our more recognisable products. It remains today as India’s most loved drink. In truth, it’s really quite difficult not to feel some form of love for this wonderfully aromatic beverage.
Boasting a variety of different spices and flavours, recipes of Chai have been tried and tested for centuries from village to village, city to city and country to country. It’s thick, creamy like texture, spicy and sweet flavour profile – a reflection of the rhythm of life in India.
Chai evokes a sense of belonging, it connects people to their heritage, a long-lasting source of habitual comfort. Chai comes from the Hindi word meaning ‘tea’ and originates from South Asia. Dating back thousands of years, Chai masters stirred natural spices over heat and used them for medicinal purposes – later to be used and enjoyed primarily at family gatherings.
There is evidence to suggest, like with most teas, that the ritualistic practice originated in China.
Chinese farmers were believed to have used fresh tea leaves submerged into hot water on a stove, mixed with salt, ginger, orange peel and spices. From here, the practice spread but as with most legends, there are various accounts to how the famous drink came to be.
Coffee was the drink of choice in this part of Asia, and chai initially struggled within the Indian community. It wasn’t until after 1918, the end of the First World War that the introduction of adding milk and sweet spices such as star anise and cinnamon changed the way chai was consumed.
Railway station concessions all the way from Bengal to Punjab began to offer this style of chai, word spread and by the 1930’s, the sale of Chai boomed and by 1947, Chai became the countries biggest foreign exchange earner.
Proven health benefits, such as antioxidants, are one of the many reasons for why chai tea is so well loved today.
Our chai is purposely blended with a carefully considered combination of ingredients which were chosen due to the finishing beverage providing a variety of warmth, spice and subtle caramel sweetness. Boasting a rich depth of flavour, our blend boats many vibrant spices .
A small dose of Ginger from southern India, provides the heat. An extremely clean and floral aromatic black pepper from Sri Lanka is added, providing further spice notes. From there, we add a cinnamon from Vietnam, opting for a sweet, aromatic and fragrant cinnamon to balance the spices. A rich, vibrant mahogany, dark brown star anise is combined with a coconut sugar from Indonesia, rich in flavour with a hint of caramel sweetness. Cardamom from Vietnam and clove from Madagascar round of this intriguing blend.
Chai is the Hindi word meaning ‘tea’ and derives from ‘cha’, the Chinese word for ‘tea’. Chai is a mix of spices steeped into a tea like beverage and dates back thousands of years, where chai masters stirred natural spices over heat and used them for medicinal purposes – later to be used and enjoyed primarily at family gatherings.
Legend has it, the heat from the ginger and black pepper were believed to stimulate digestion, whilst the antiseptic properties in cloves were thought to help relieve pain. Cardamom was used as a mood elevator, cinnamon supported circulation and respiratory function and star anise was known to freshen the breath.
Our carefully crafted Chai Blend combines all the attributes of an authentic spiced Indian Masala Chai. A beautiful balance of natural spices, delicate sweetness and a distinct aftertaste.
Rich in powerful antioxidants, chai helps to strengthen the immune system, improve overall digestion and reduce inflammation in the body. We believe we have created a blend the tea masters would be proud of, following the ancient principles, whilst putting our own tasty spin on things. What we love most about chai, is that it’s a universal drink with no socioeconomic stigma.
The drink connects communities, continents, families and brings joy to so many.