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Masala chai is a combination of black tea and herbs. While a herbal tea is made with the infusion of herbs and no black tea. In short, masala chai contains black tea or caffeine, while herbal tea is free from caffeine.
Masala tea is (kind of) a product of India. As we all know that chai or tea is made by brewing tea leaves, milk, and sugar, in water. When we add a small amount of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger or any herb it becomes masala chai.
The Western world was unaware of the magical qualities of tea until 1610 when the Dutch brought tea to the country for the first time. Later, England also welcomed it somewhere in 1658—the popularity of the tea multiplied for its freshness and health benefits. Tea was one of the beverages of England’s American colonies. Some figures published online state that English consumed about two and a half tea and seventeen pounds of sugar annually by 1800. At that time, some believed that sugar was added to tea to enhance its taste, which ultimately led to an increased demand for black tea over green tea.
In 1823, Camellia sinensis assamica, the plant that introduced tea into our lives, was discovered in Assam, India. The quality of the tea plant was rated as better than that of the Chinese Camellia sinensis plant. In the 18th century, India was a British colony. In 1835, the English or British planted tea gardens in Darjeeling, near Nepal. British began to export black tea manufactured in India to England.
Masala chai is made using the true tea or black tea. Black tea is produced worldwide, but some countries dominate the market for taste and quality. If you are a tea lover, you may want to know who the producer of your favorite beverage is. Assam, India, is the number one black tea producer in the globe. It is the largest tea-growing region.
The tea manufactured by Assam is strong, and it is best when added to milk and sugar. Darjeeling, India, is also a top tea producer in the world. But its black tea is softer, and its taste may change from climate to climate. Sri Lanka, the country, produces a very strong black tea, so why not? The tea business is an important section of the country’s total economy. Kenya was quite late in realizing its potential to grow teas. But once it found the tea plant, it immediately started using the CTC method to develop the strong black tea that we all love today.
Black tea or true is added to make masala chai. You may add half tea spoon of true tea in one cup of tea.
One cup of masala cha contains half cup of water and half cup of milk. Milk is an optional ingredient. You may add it a little quantity of milk or not at all. It is all about how you like to have it. If you want to have a strong masala tea, you can skip adding milk to it.
Masalas found in traditional Indian kitchens are used to create masala chai. These ingredients include green cardamom, nutmeg, fennel seeds, cloves, star anise, ginger root, black peppercorns, and other spices.
You can use white or brown sugar to make the tea taste sweet. It depends on how you like to have tea sweet or strong.
To make masala chai, start by bringing water to a boil in a saucepan. Add crushed ginger, cardamom pods, cloves, and a cinnamon stick to infuse the water with flavor. Then, add loose black tea leaves or tea bags and let it simmer for a few minutes. Pour in milk and let the mixture come to a gentle boil.
Sweeten with sugar according to your taste preferences, and simmer for a few more minutes. Finally, strain the chai into cups and enjoy the rich, aromatic blend of spices and tea. Adjust the ingredients to suit your preferences and savor this comforting beverage hot.
Masala Chai is widely consumed in India and some parts of west. Due to its strong taste, it is not a favorite beverage of many. Moreover masala chai can cause stomach upsets if consumed in large quantity.
...Masala chai is not produced separately and is a readily available drink. In India, you can expect every eating outlets to have included it in its menu.
