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| This 1850 engraving shows the different stages in the process of making tea in Assam. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
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| Masala Chai, Masala Tea, Spice Tea (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Assam tea is one of the strongest blends of tea you can find on the market. This tea can withstand the aroma and flavor of almost any spice. You can make chai spiced with cloves and black pepper and Assam tea's flavor will stand on its own. Assam tea is great choice for a spicy tea and for tea with potent spice mix.
Darjeeling teas have a strong yet delicate flavor. It works well with sweet, aromatic spices and flavorings like vanilla, cardamom, etc. If you are using Darjeeling tea, use only one spice or flavoring for best results. Darjeeling teas are also expensive.
English Breakfast tea is the most easily available and economical tea blend. It has strong flavor and can combine with most spices. You can use both aromatic and strong spices with this tea. The strength of brew can be easily varied by steeping the teas for longer period or using a larger quantity of tea leaves. If you are using strong or multiple spices, consider using 2 tea bags to make one cup of tea.
You do not have to have different types of teas to make chai with different spices and flavors. If you making chai for the first time, start with the tea you have in your pantry or get any black tea that you have enjoyed in the past. Add a little extra tea to make a strong brew. Add the spices you want, milk, and sweetener to make the chai.
You may be able to use teas with delicate flavors like green tea, oolong tea, etc., if you are using only a single spice and small amount of milk. Currently green tea chai is becoming a hot trend. It is not a traditional beverage. Green tea does not do well if you boil it. It tends to leave a bitter taste in the brew. This limits the amount of flavor you can extract from green tea. In spite of this, you can get a tasty beverage with green tea. Use a mild spice and double the quantity of tea leaves.
You can use teas blended with herbs and spices to make chai. You will not need to buy extra spices. Just boil the blended tea in water and milk to make your cup of chai. I have even combined a tea bag of regular black with a tea bag of herbal tea like ginger tea to make a cup of ginger chai.
However, do not use teas blended with flowers or fruits to make chai. These teas have their own character and often do not go with milk.
Anu Agarwal, Author of "All About Chai" available exclusively at http://www.chai-recipes.com . The book is a treasure of tea related information and includes a brief history of tea, information on health benefits of tea and various spices used in chai tea, a huge glossary of tea terms, and 45+ Chai recipes. 100's of other beverage recipes available as a free bonus.
Article Source: Choosing Tea For Chai
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