We know what black tea and green tea taste like, so what does chai taste like? This creamy, spicy drink is made with black tea, milk, spices, and sweetener. Recipes vary from person to person, but all agree that the signature chai taste is distinct and robust.
You can buy pre-made chai in bottles or bags from the store or make homemade chai tea in your own kitchen. The chai tea taste has an aromatic flavor profile and pairs well with food. It’s spicy and warm and perfect for a cold winter day.
What does chai taste like?
The ingredients in chai are different when two people make it, but the ingredients are always similar.
The combination of these chai spices makes this tea taste sweet, spicy, creamy, heady, complex, robust, and earthy all at the same time.
There are various subtle ways the flavor of chai changes based on the type of tea leaves, sweeteners, milk, and spices used.
Types of tea to use in chai tea lattes
Chai is typically made with black tea leaves.
Assam and Darjeeling teas are most commonly used for their milder flavor since the spices take the show in this drink.
You can also make it with green tea, but it won’t have quite the same punch as when brewed with black tea.
Sweeteners you can use in chai
Adding a sweetener to chai is necessary to balance the more bitter flavors of the other spices.
White, granulated sugar, honey, vanilla, and cinnamon are the best additions to the drink to make chai taste sweeter.
Add as much or as little as you like depending on how sweet you like your chai latte.
Different kinds of milk to use in chai
Milk is a delicious addition to the drink and makes chai tea foamy and creamy.
If you have access to a steamer, steamed milk kicks the flavor and texture up another level.
You can use whatever kind of milk you like, including heavy cream, half and half, skim, low-fat, whole milk, or a variety of dairy-free milk.
What types of spices can you use in chai?
The spices are really what makes this drink stand out among the other teas out there.
Warm-flavored spices are the best combination with black tea and milk.
Some of the best options include ginger, fennel, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, vanilla, nutmeg, cumin, saffron, allspice, and anise.
What other ways can I use chai?
There are various other ways to use chai before and after brewing into hot tea. Some options include using the dry tea as a spice rub on a pork shoulder.
Brewed tea can be combined with coffee to make a dirty chai or chilled and served over ice to make an iced chai.
FAQs: What does chai taste like?
The main difference between these two terms is the terminology.
Chai means “tea” in India, which is black tea leaves served with a splash of milk.
Masala chai means “spice” “tea” in India. This is what people in the United States commonly refer to as “chai.”
Chai latte coffee, or “dirty chai,” is coffee infused with chai tea. It has an earthy coffee flavor paired with the spice of chai.
Yes, you can use whichever type of milk you like best. Try almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk if you’re lactose intolerant.
You can easily make chai cold by brewing the tea, allowing it to get cold in the refrigerator, and then pouring it over ice in a glass.
I answer all questions!