Chai: My Culture-less American Recipe
But way better than what you can buy.
Masala Chai is one of my favorite beverages to drink in the winter.
It’s like a hug from my imaginary Indian grandmother.
It’s why pumpkin pie flavor is so popular. We don’t genuinely care about pumpkin. We love the spices, sugar, and cream that become masala chai.
At times I can see why the Europeans in the 15th century would embark on a months-long water journey.
Quick lesson: Masala = Spice, Chai = Tea, but going forward, I’ll use the word chai to refer to the aromatic sweet drink that Americans consume.
Don’t be intimidated by chai.
Chai seems like a mysterious blend of exotic ingredients, but nowadays, you can get most of the spices at any large grocery store. And it is simple to make at home.
I understand any hesitation because even as a chef, I didn’t know how to make it until I came across this chai gift idea. The link is a do-it-yourself gift. You simply assemble all of the spices and loose-leaf tea. Put it in jars, and voila, Christmas gift.
But this simple gift idea transformed chai making in my own kitchen.
