Happy Happy Chai Chai

maree · Mar 30th, 2003, 11:24

Got this chai recipe handed to me at a festival a couple of years ago. Made some today and it was pretty good.... although possibly creamier than an Indian masala chai (we make good milk here in NZ though!!). If you stick in lots of sugar, sway from side to side, and drink it from one of those little clay cups you managed to get home without it smashing in your bag, you could pretend you were on a train from Varanasi to Mumbai....especially if you can get a friend to walk past chanting "Chai, chai" in a nasal angry bumblebee voice.

Mar 30th, 2003, 15:28

just checking

indiamike · Mar 30th, 2003, 17:30

chai....chai...chai...chai...c hai....

Hope you don't mind Maree, I lightened the image a little since it's a little dark.
One thing though, if someone is making this, in the US granulated sugar is the most popular sugar and doesn't seem to work well with making chai. I have made chai at home and found Raw Sugar from Hawaii to be the best to bring the sweetness to what one finds at a chai stall. Usually available in the markets as Sugar in the Raw.

Mike

Midnite Toker · Mar 30th, 2003, 18:05

You can reuse the spices by wrapping them in a bit of muslin (I have some leftover bits of bandage that work quite well). The recipe specifies tea leaves, but I think most of the vendors in India I saw had dust in their strainers, which seemed to be reused a few times... I suspect the reuse makes it taste more authentic, like refrying dal the next day mulls the flavours.

I loved the artwork on this recipe - more, please!

Slightly confused by the "...should be brewed at least three times a day." The same chai? Only desperate chai wallahs reheat old stuff in India

paan wallah · Mar 30th, 2003, 18:22

yeah one (or more ) chais a day keep all troubles away!!
it s also nice to put some black pepper ´(grains) in the chai..
you can get get the special chai taste by not cleaning the teapot so often

turkish black tea powder is quite similiar to the tea you get in india.
also one should try honey instead of sugar

chai is the best to forget all the noise in this world!

or just second if somebody prefers some cold beers

a good chai always should be followed by a nice sweet paan !!!

maree · Mar 31st, 2003, 06:17

Quote:

Slightly confused by the "...should be brewed at least three times a day." The same chai? Only desperate chai wallahs reheat old stuff in India

I took it to mean make 3 fresh batches a day.

And yes...most vendors use a type of tea dust - you could rip open a couple of tea bags, I guess.

Quizman · Jun 12th, 2003, 02:44

You may find the Brooke Bond, Taj Mahal and Lipton brands of tea if you chance upon an Indian grocery store (there are plenty in the Bay Area, Calif). Dunno about NZ though.

Layman · Jun 12th, 2003, 11:49

(old joke)
Why did Brooke Shields refuse to marry James Bond?
Because she did not want to be known as Brooke Bond.

Mar 30th, 2003, 11:24	#1
maree Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Zealander in Bangkok Posts: 850	Happy Happy Chai Chai Got this chai recipe handed to me at a festival a couple of years ago. Made some today and it was pretty good.... although possibly creamier than an Indian masala chai (we make good milk here in NZ though!!). If you stick in lots of sugar, sway from side to side, and drink it from one of those little clay cups you managed to get home without it smashing in your bag, you could pretend you were on a train from Varanasi to Mumbai....especially if you can get a friend to walk past chanting "Chai, chai" in a nasal angry bumblebee voice. Attached Thumbnails

Mar 30th, 2003, 17:30	#3
indiamike Retired Admin Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New Joisey for now Posts: 1,760	chai....chai...chai...chai...c hai.... Hope you don't mind Maree, I lightened the image a little since it's a little dark. One thing though, if someone is making this, in the US granulated sugar is the most popular sugar and doesn't seem to work well with making chai. I have made chai at home and found Raw Sugar from Hawaii to be the best to bring the sweetness to what one finds at a chai stall. Usually available in the markets as Sugar in the Raw. Mike Attached Thumbnails

Mar 30th, 2003, 18:05	#4
Midnite Toker absconding member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 474	You can reuse the spices by wrapping them in a bit of muslin (I have some leftover bits of bandage that work quite well). The recipe specifies tea leaves, but I think most of the vendors in India I saw had dust in their strainers, which seemed to be reused a few times... I suspect the reuse makes it taste more authentic, like refrying dal the next day mulls the flavours. I loved the artwork on this recipe - more, please! Slightly confused by the "...should be brewed at least three times a day." The same chai? Only desperate chai wallahs reheat old stuff in India __________________ travel tips, blog, downloads, panorama photos, online security, tokes: the tokezone

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Mar 30th, 2003, 18:22	#5
paan wallah kitchen guru Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: universe Posts: 347	yeah one (or more ) chais a day keep all troubles away!! it s also nice to put some black pepper ´(grains) in the chai.. you can get get the special chai taste by not cleaning the teapot so often turkish black tea powder is quite similiar to the tea you get in india. also one should try honey instead of sugar chai is the best to forget all the noise in this world! or just second if somebody prefers some cold beers a good chai always should be followed by a nice sweet paan !!!

Jun 12th, 2003, 02:44	#7
Quizman Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 6	You may find the Brooke Bond, Taj Mahal and Lipton brands of tea if you chance upon an Indian grocery store (there are plenty in the Bay Area, Calif). Dunno about NZ though.

Jun 12th, 2003, 11:49	#8
Layman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Bendakaalooru, KA Posts: 128	(old joke) Why did Brooke Shields refuse to marry James Bond? Because she did not want to be known as Brooke Bond.

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