chai teas
Organic Masala Chai Black Tea
Time for Chai? Leave the serene tea ceremony in Japan behind. Turn away from the whispering cold springs of the Dragon Well in China. Walk away from the solitary misty cliffs where the oolong tea grows in Taiwan and leave the perfectly manicured tea gardens of Darjeeling. Get ready to head back into town on a rumbling train and when you arrive at the station brace yourself for a platform filled with shouting tea sellers serving Chai in small clay cups through the open windows of the train:
"What I received for my few rupees was an unglazed little cup full of a thick, milky drink. It was hot, spicy, nuturing, calming. Clattering sounds grabbed my attention away from the reverie I was having with my Indian spice tea. The clitter-clatter was the result of the little cups, hundreds of them, being tossed from the train windows to crash onto the train tracks below." (from "Chai the Spice Tea of India" by Diana Rosen)
Masala Chai is an everyday life force of a tea, robust and full-flavored it starts with a basic black tea and is blended with traditional Indian spices. The bold flavor of our black tea holds up well to the full notes of the spices in a way that is zesty and stimulating. This Chai should be brewed strong and served sweet with steamed milk and sugar.
Masala Chai is a classic blend of Chai - subject to interpretation of course. Chai teas are all about experimenting and having fun, both by the blender and the preparer of the tea. Invariably, a veteran Chai tea drinker finds a little twist; whether it be an added ingredient or style of preparation, that makes their personal version of a great cup of Masala Chai. While all Masala Chai teas may not have the same spices in the same proportions; generally speaking, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and black pepper are the four mainstays of a Masala Chai.
How to Prepare your Masala Chai Tea
Heat water (filtered if possible) to a boil and let cool slightly before adding one tablespoon of loose tea per cup (apprx. 8 ounces). Infuse for 4–5 minutes depending on taste preference. Add milk and sweetner according to your preference.
Want to try a more traditional way of preparing your Masala Chai? Take 1 tablespoon of loose leaf chai blend, plus a 1/2 cup of milk, 3/4 of cup of water, and 1.5 tablespoons of sweetner and add to a small sauce pan. (For more than one serving multiply the ingredients by the number of servings). Bring the chai and liquids to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for five minutes. Strain the heated chai tea into serving cups and enjoy!
INGREDIENTS: Organic black tea, organic cardamom, organic ginger, organic cinnamon, organic clove and organic black pepper. Blended in the United States.
Other teas you might enjoy: Ceylon Black, Green Tea with Ginger, Scottish Breakfast
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