Whether we sip it over ice or enjoy it as a frothy latte, chai is one of our favorite drinks to indulge in (Chai Latte at Starbucks, anyone?).<\/p>\n
But what exactly is chai made of? Below are a few unique facts you probably didn’t know about this spice:<\/p>\n
Its proper name is masala chai (originating in India), which means spice blend.\u00a0<\/strong>Chai is actually just a word for tea, though others may recognize its linguistic cousin, cha, which is a common word for tea throughout Asia. Masala chai blends vary throughout all parts of India. Some families may include cinnamon, fennel, and cumin in their masala, while others may prefer a sweeter version made with nutmeg, rose petals, and clove. Regardless, almost every family enjoys a masala blend that includes cardamom, ginger, sugar, and milk.<\/p>\n Masala chai traditionally requires a bit of sweetness.\u00a0<\/strong>The inclusion of sugar is surprising to many, as masala chai is thought of as a healthy drink! However, without a bit of sweetener, the spices fade into the tea and actually makes\u00a0for a slightly disappointing cup. Our version below uses honey, which not only elevates the flavors but also adds a bit of its own.<\/p>\n Chai is lower in caffeine than coffee.\u00a0<\/strong>Resort to chai if you’re looking for a caffeine boost that’s not too intense!<\/p>\n Spices\u00a0used in chai have all sorts of health benefits.\u00a0<\/strong>Ginger, for example, helps settle a sour stomach, has anti-inflammatory properties, and is known to be high in antioxidants. Cardamom, another cornerstone of chai, works as a diuretic, detoxifier, and can even lower blood pressure.<\/p>\n Masala chai has been the drink of choice in India for centuries.\u00a0<\/strong>In fact, throughout India and neighboring areas, it’s as common to buy a morning takeout from a local cart (called a chai walla) as it is for Americans to grab an iced coffee from Starbucks.<\/p>\n Craving a cozy cup?\u00a0Find our delicious recipe below!<\/p>\n Ingredients<\/strong> Directions<\/strong> xx, The FabFitFun Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":"Whether we sip it over ice or enjoy it as a frothy latte, chai is ...","author":273052,"featured_media":98272,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[268],"tags":[],"thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/07113544\/Chai-660x400.jpg","thumbnail_url_middle_card":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/07113544\/Chai.jpg","formated_date":"February 7, 2017","category_name":"Food & Drink","category_icon":"","author_name":"","trending":false,"sponsored":false,"random_color":"#2fbfa2","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98270"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/273052"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98270"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98270\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Masala Chai<\/h3>\n
\n1 1\/2 cup milk
\n3 cups water
\n3 tablespoons\u00a0black tea
\n2 cinnamon quills
\n1 tablespoon\u00a0cardamom pods, crushed
\n1\/2 teaspoon\u00a0whole peppercorns
\n1 1\/2 teaspoon\u00a0cloves
\n1\/4 cup almonds
\n1 teaspoon\u00a0toasted fennel seeds
\n2-4 tablespoons\u00a0honey or brown sugar<\/p>\n
\n1. Heat all ingredients\u00a0in a pot. Once the mixture boils, reduce heat, and simmer for at least 15 minutes.
\n2. Strain and serve.<\/p>\n