Lipton Spiced Chai Tea

Chai is the word for tea in many parts of the world. So Chai tea is actually redundant. In the United States, we have taken to calling a certain blend of spicy tea by the name "Chai Tea" which goes back to Masala Chai which is an ancient tea brew from the Hindu healing process called Ayurveda. The exact recipe for Chai Tea varies by brand, some relying heavily on the sweeter ingredients, while some lean more towards the spicier blends. Some Chai Tea brands sold in the United States do not contain black pepper. I will not purchase those blends because I don't typically like the flavor. Lipton Spiced Chai is one of the domestic brands that includes the black pepper. For that reason, I gave this brand a try, in spite of the fact that the Lipton brand to me means massed-produced tea. I was not sorry that I tried this blend.

The Concept of Chai Tea Latte
The Masala Chai is actually a milky blend already. In the US we refer to it as a Latte, so that it is understood to contain milk. When I make Chai Tea Lattes at home, I boil a pot containing an even mixture of water and cream (half and half). You can substitute milk for a less fattening treat. After the mixture starts a rolling boil, you add the tea bag(s) and let it steep for several minutes. I then pour the tea into a cup that contains one or two teaspoons of honey. If it needs to be sweeter, I will sweeten it with more honey. This creates a rich spicy-sweet drink that is decadent. The combination of spices create depth to the drink. My directions differ from the box...I have not tried their directions which call for adding the milk after you make the tea. The blend that Lipton's uses in this tea has the depth of flavor of more expensive brands that I have used, making it a bargain.

Ingredients
Chai tea is supposed to be made with black tea. Some domestic brands also switch out the tea leaves with green tea or some other type of leaf. Lipton's uses Assam Black Tea. The other spices in this tea include cinnamon (for those with allergies), Allspice, Ginger Root, Black Pepper and Cloves. From this list of spices, you can see where you are in for a zing. The cream and honey temper the spices with sweetness to balance the drink.

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