Table of Contents
Introduction
Get Acquainted with Masala Chai
Most people have a common confusion in the word “chai”. They know that “chai” is composed of Indian spices like cinnamon and cardamom. But on the other hand, chai is an Indian word for just tea alone and it can be served with or without milk, sugar or other sweeteners. While the word “masala” is an Indian word that stands for “a blend of spices”. So plainly, Masala Chai means Spiced Tea and we have one amazing take on this tea here spicy chai tea .
Masala chai tea is usually prepared by decoction, powdered mixes or in tea bags. Like other teas, Masala chai also gains popularity in many countries now and gets featured in many tea house and cafeteria all over the world. Masala Chai is an Indian drink, a combination of black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and other spices. Its fresh flavor and balmy fragrance tempts you to taste its one-of-a-kind cup of spiced ingredients.
The comforting aroma of Masala Chai makes itself to be on the favorite tea drinks list of people especially in India. Talking about its health benefits, surely Masala chai have a face to front with other regular teas we have encountered. Each of Masala Chai’s ingredients is used for medical purposes and can really give a numerous health advantages. One sad part of having Masala chai is that you need almost a tablespoon of sugar per cup to enhance the savor of the spices. Plus the factor that balancing the additional milk and honey can bring you some calories.
black tea with some spices like ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, pepper and clove compose the Masala Chai. It is also mixed together with milk and honey to create a creamy and sweet tasting beverage. In other places, they usually used sugar instead of honey but few are likely to use dairy as an alternative like rice milk or soy milk. There is also a variation in utilizing milk ingredients. Some are choosing a higher amount of milk in their tea and others are in favor for a higher concentration of tea.
Chai Benefits
Black tea, which is the base of Masala Chai have been studied to be effective in lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure for it is rich in antioxidants. It is also proven that antioxidants are helpful to prevent heart diseases and cancers. However, chai is not a great choice for persons who are highly sensitive in caffeine. It can also be unsafe for people who have heartburn and ulcer.
Spices in Chai Tea
The different spices that makes up Masala chai are long been used as medicines for centuries and is verified to be healthy. Here is the list of the spices with its health benefits.
- Cinnamon – It is common refreshment and is used to cure cough, sore throats and arthritis.
- Cardamom – It aids indigestion and helps your nervous system to be calm.
- Clove – It is used as an energizing ingredients and can encourage good blood circulation.
- Ginger – It relieves cold, sore throat, stomachache and flu symptoms.
- Pepper – It upholds good digestion.
The use of milk and honey or sugar instead can also be beneficial for an individual’s health. Masala Chai cannot be as healthy as the ideal proper diet that many nutritionists have been recommending but it can surely be beneficial for everyone who are not only using it in medicinal purposes but also for those who are enjoying drinking it as a tasty beverage.
Our favorite chai
One of our recent additions is our tangy thai chai tea seen here: