How to Make Chai Tea With Bigelow Chai Tea Bags

Packaged tea bags are a convenient way to prepare chai tea.

Chai tea is a spiced tea beverage of Indian origin, commonly referred to as masala chai or simply chai by many. Commonly prepared in homes, restaurants and even offices, chai tea is extremely popular for its sweet, rich flavor. Though chai tea is generally consumed only for its taste, some of the typical ingredients like cardamom, cinnamon, star anise and clove have been used in Eastern medicines for centuries for immune and circulatory system related problems.

Things You'll Need

• 8 oz. cold, clean water
• Kettle or small saucepan
• Bigelow Chai Tea teabag
• Teacup
• Heat-proof measuring cup
• 1/8 cup milk, half-and-half or light cream
• Teaspoon
• Sugar (to taste)

Instructions

1. Bring 8-oz. of cold, clean water to a boil in a kettle or small saucepan. Place a Bigelow Chai teabag in a teacup.

2. Pour 6-oz. of the water into a heat-proof measuring cup and allow it to cool for 2 minutes. Letting the water cool helps to prevent burning the tea leaves, which can result in a bitter, unpleasant flavor.

3. Pour the cooled water over the teabag. Allow the tea to steep for 3 to 5 minutes. The longer you allow the tea to steep, the stronger the tea will be.

4. Squeeze excess water out of the teabag into the teacup and discard the teabag.

5. Heat 1/8 cup milk, half-and-half or light cream in the microwave in a heat-proof measuring cup or on the stove in a saucepan until hot, about 1 minute. Do not boil.

6. Add the milk to the tea and stir with a teaspoon to combine.

7. Add sugar to the tea depending on personal taste and stir to combine. Serve immediately while hot.

Tips & Warnings

• Some recipes call for powdered milk instead of milk, half-and-half or light cream. If you do use powdered milk, use the equivalent amount as shown here. If the milk is sweetened, you may want to taste the tea before adding additional sugar.

• Though not particularly traditional, you can use heavy cream for a more decadent preparation. Heavy cream works particularly well if you are serving chai tea with dessert or after a meal.

• Add a small amount of ginger to the cup for a decorative garnish. You can also use a cinnamon stick as a stirrer as long as you don't leave it in too long. The cinnamon may impart too much unnecessary flavor to the chai tea.

Resources

• FoodNetwork.com: Chai Tea Recipe