Chai is loved around the world and is a combination that has found its place in many different cultures. The word “Chai” is derived from the Hindi word for “tea” and the Chinese word for tea is “cha” expressing that even the name crosses ancient cultures. Chai’s history began as a healthy beverage for a king in what is today’s India, where it then travelled across the region and the Indian people made it their own by making it spicy. The addition of ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and clove cut with thick mild and sugar is natively know as Masala Chai translated to “Spiced Tea”. In America, masala was dropped from the name and chai is now known to be a spicy latte.
For convenience, many coffee shops and cafés use a “short cut” to make their in-house Chai lattes with a pre-made sweetened concentrate. At Short and Stout, we brew all our Chai’s fresh and can accommodate everyone’s sweet level and allergens, only 7 minutes stands between you and a delicious chai so there isn’t a need to settle for concentrate! Chai Lattes with milk and sweetener are a delicious way to enjoy your chai however, many drink chai just as a hot or iced steeped tea without the added calories! No matter how you steep it, there are many benefits to the common spices found in all Chai. Just some of the benefits found in these spices are:
- Cinnamon
- High source of antioxidants
- Anti-inflammatory
- Cloves
- High in magnesium, Vitamin E and Vitamin K
- Aids digestion
- Ginger
- Immune boosting
- Treats nausea and vomiting
- Cardamom
- Good for heart health
- Detoxifying, stimulating liver function
At Short and Stout, there are many different flavors to try both as a latte or steeped tea. Using the common chai spices, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and cardamom there really is a chai for everyone. We have Coconut Chai, Chocolate Chai, Smokey Chai, traditional Masala Chai, Sunrise Chai Mate and Vanilla Chai Rooibos, all available to take home or enjoy in store. We even have chai spice alone to add more kick to your favorite chai blend or create a new favorite of your own. Let this tea warm you up on a cold day or warm your soul the rest of the year.