Tea Content

If you have ever watched travel shows or documentaries on India it’s impossible for you not to have seen the art of tea pulling in some sort of shape or form. Tea pulling is a techniques used to make what is known as masala chai, a tea known for its frothy bubbles and distinct spicy taste.

Tea drinking, which was brought by the English to India and consequently spread throughout the rest of the British colonies was a traditional British affair. Although tea was already available in abundance in India it was the British who increased the Indian love for the delicious mix and changed the view from it being a herbal medicine to an actual drink. Being a country rich in diverse spices, India eventually added its own twist to the mix by inventing what is now known as masala chai.

The components which give masala chai its spicy kick are plenty given the wide variety of spices found in India. In general the following spices are the most used in masala chai:

Ginger – This fiery root is used quite a lot in Indian cooking. The whole root itself isn’t used, rather a powdery mixture of ground ginger is what adds a hot kick to masala chai

Cardamom – Cardamom is used for a variety of things in Indian cooking including its inherent medicinal properties. This spice is probably the most used and is generally the spice that stands out most in Indian tea brews

Cinnamon – If you thought cinnamon was only good with coffee you’d be wrong. This spice gives an added sweetness to the tea and a lot more aroma. Although it is not a basic ingredient of masala chai it is still quite popular and an all around favourite with Indian tea drinkers

Cloves – Although spices vary by region cloves are quite distinct in most Indian cooking. Just like cardamom it has a sweet yet spicy taste and adds an extra depth or element to masala chai.

Other than the spicy components masala chai is also known for being sweet. This is why white sugar is used quite often, although other variations can be used. Whatever the spices used masala chai is considered a delicacy all over the world. For a spicy kick try out the concoction on your own.

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