What is Chai Tea?
"Chai" actually means "tea" in Hindi, so calling "chai" "chai
tea" is actually rather redundant. However, marketers in the
western world thought that "chai tea" would help them sell the
"new" product to the western market. Chai is actually centuries
old, with its origins in India. Generally, it is a milky, spiced
tea made with black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves,
pepper, and various other spices. It is usually sweetened - most
commonly with sugar, but some drinkers prefer honey. There is
not a universal recipe for chai, as different drinkers like it
different ways, so the spice list can change depending on who's
making it.
It is most likely this list of ingredients not often found in
western beverages that makes chai seem "exotic" to westerners.
But in India, chai is as common as tea is in Britain and coffee
is in the United States. In fact, it's so common that in many
Indian households, the first thing a host offers a guest is a
cup of chai.
Potential Health Benefits of Chai
Some tea companies tout the health benefits of drinking their
chai product - but buyer beware. While chai is certainly better
for the body than a drink such as coffee, because not all chai
is made with the same ingredients, it's not really possible to
state that chai is universally beneficial. And it's also more
likely to benefit the drinker when the drinker has brewed
his/her own chai, rather than buying boxed chai or chai in tea
bag form. Why? Simply because the spices and herbs being used
are much fresher. Here is a list of some of the benefits of the
different ingredients in most chai recipes:
1) Cinnamon: In a recent study by the US Agricultural Research
Service, cinnamon has been shown to benefit diabetics because
the cells are less likely to let insulin in. In lab rats with
Type 2 diabetes, cinnamon helped lower blood pressure and
prevented cell damage. Cinnamon's oils also help to stop the
growth of certain bacteria and yeasts.
2) Ginger: In the Far East, ginger has been used for over two
millennia to treat upset stomach, diarrhea, arthritis, and heart
disease. Recent research by western scientists also suggests
that ginger may help lower the risk of colon cancer.
3) Cardamom: Like ginger, cardamom is often used to soothe
digestion problems. But it is also used to treat respiratory
problems such as asthma or people suffering from other kinds of
respiratory spasms. Further, in Saudi Arabia, animal studies
have shown cardamom to have anti-inflammatory properties,
reducing muscle spasms.
4) Cloves: Used in Ayurvedic medicine as an analgesic, cloves
are most often used to soothe toothaches and remedy halitosis.
It also has antiseptic qualities, and can be used to kill
intestinal parasites, fungi, and bacteria. These latter
qualities have also led cloves to be used for treating diarrhea
and similar digestive ailments.
5) Pepper: Most chai recipes do not usually contain enough black
pepper for it to be of significant benefit to its drinkers.
However, black pepper does reduce intestinal gas and works as an
antioxidant.
Just remember: The best way to ensure that your regular cup of
chai provides you with the health benefits you're looking for is
to brew it yourself. Then you can select the herbs and spices
that benefit your specific health condition.
About the author:
Rachel Medlock is a connoisseur of hot drinks, including chai.
She runs the informational website,
http://www.MyChaiTeas.com.
