I had my first cup of Chai when I worked at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. The tiny yoga teacher (whose name escapes me at the moment) invited me to her house for lunch and made me a cup. I watched as she ground fresh ginger into a pot of hot water with a mixture of tea and spices and heated it up. Once hot, she poured in a huge amount of milk and heated until it was very warm. Then she filled two mugs and yum!
She did share the recipe, but I have never been able to duplicate the delicious smooth cup she made for me that day. Through the years since, I have taste-tested many Chai teas in restaurants and coffee shops. Little did I know I was on the cutting edge, when I tasted that first cup. Because now it appears every respectable coffee shop has an offering of Chai tea or Chai Tea Latte (which is probably what I really had the first time).
On a trip to our favorite book store, Barnes and Noble, we discovered they had Chai tea. Jim and I ordered two cups and while it was a bit sweet, we could taste the delicious spices that were calmed by the warm milk. On the counter we noticed a container of Tazo Chai Tea and considered buying it. I am not sure why we didn’t, but for some reason we just drank their tea. About a month or so later, Jim bought me a container of Tazo Chai Tea for my birthday. I have been addicted ever since.
At our worst addiction level, we were having a cup of tea every morning and another at “High Tea” between three and four in the afternoon on those cold winter days. Nothing warms you up or calms you down, like a cup of hot Chai tea. After I noticed a few extra pounds creeping on, I decided I needed to cut down. So we dropped the afternoon tea and just had a large mug of it at breakfast.
Be mindful however, that the warm milk relaxes one so much that you may want to return to bed after a soothing cup!
So now I sit here at my computer, doing my crossword puzzle, reading my daily blogs, catching upon the latest news drinking my delicious cup of hot Chai Tea Latte.
What could be better?
BTW, we did cut down on the Chai we added to make our cups. The directions on the package called for way too much Chai. So now it is a perfect cup of early morning soothing tea. Also it helps to ask the coffee shops how many "pumps" they make their Chai with and have them cut back one or two. Otherwise it's just a bit too sweet.
Care for a cup?
