Shopping Guide to Indian Teas
and Indian Chai Masala
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here for Indian Teas and Masala Chai
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Tea is the
most prominent drink of India. Today, India is the world’s largest producer, exporter
and consumer of tea. Today's popular drink Masala Chai is more common
in Northern India. It is sold in trains, bus stations, or by vendors (called "Chai
wallahs") GARAM CHAI (meaning hot tea) is usually accompanied with
samosas or pakoras (Indian fried snacks). The vendors serve Chai in low fired clay cups
called "kullarhs", which is hand made out of native clay in open fires. An
average Indian has four chai breaks in a day and at about 4p.m. chai is usually served
with farsan or nashta which are savory snacks ( more info on Indian snacks
at the bottom of this article) |
India has 3 main places where exceptional tea is grown -
Assam - is indigenous tea plants of
India. A full flavor, very satisfying tea. Assam teas are strong, well rounded and malty
with rich aroma and flavor. Usually served with milk and sugar.
Darjeeling at 6,000 feet above sea level, boasts at least 68 tea gardens.
This tea is the best in the world due to its perfect growing conditions: cool, moist
climate, high altitude, sufficient rainfall, well drained sloping landscape, and soil rich
in minerals.. This tea has a delicate and superior flavor. I call it the
rejuvenating tea or the spa tea because of its fine taste.
Nilgiri is similar to Ceylon teas grown in nearby Sri Lanka. A full
bodied tea with an excellent fragrance and flavor
Types of Indian teas
Black Tea : This is what most
westerners would think of when they hear the word tea. Black tea undergoes a fermentation
process as part of production. We carry the best Darjeeling black tea in
the world in our store
Green Tea : This is what is commonly known as tea in
Asia. Green teas are unfermented. We carry the best Darjeeling green tea
in the world in our store
Oolong Tea : These teas are half way between green and black teas.
They undergo a short fermentation process and so are often known as semi-fermented teas.
We carry the best Darjeeling Oolong tea in the world in our store
Masala Chai : A typical Indian variety. Aromatic
masalas are added to loose tea to make spiced Chai, and this has been the Indian drink of
choice for hundreds of years. It is a perfect blend of freshly ground spices (masala) like
cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom and pepper, added to a boiling pot of loose
leaf tea and milk to make a delicious, satisfying and healthy beverage. We carry
masala chai tea bags in our store
Shop here for Indian Teas and Masala Chai
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Tea recipe
Plain Chai- makes 2 cups
Water 1½ cups
Dried tea leaves (or tea powder) 2 tsp.
Whole milk 1/2 cup.
Sugar as per taste.
1.
Heat the milk for 30 seconds in the microwave.
2. Boil the water.
3. Add the tea leaves.
4. When the concoction starts boiling, remove it from the fire.
5. Divide the milk into 2 cups.
6. Strain the tea into the cups.
7. Remove strainer add sweetener as per taste and stir the tea well.
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Shop here for Indian Teas and Masala Chai
Masala Chai Recipes:
Masala Chai requires heavy stainless steel pots for
brewing.
Tea can be brewed in water or directly in milk. Skim milk is delicious for chai. Tea may
be brewed in skim, 2% or whole milk.
For a more intense flavor, grate fresh ginger into chai as it brews.
Basic Recipe
Ingredients
Water by 2/3 cup per person
Milk (whole or skim) by 2/3 cup per person
1½ cups Dried tea leaves (or tea powder) 1.5 tsp. for first person and then 1 tsp.
per person. More than 5 persons reduce per person tea to 3/4 tsp. Brooke Bond Red
label, Mamri, or Taj Mahal Black tea [do not use green tea) For gourmet chai use
Assam Tea Leaves. These variety of Teas may be ordered from www.indianfoodsco.com.
Sugar to taste.
Methods
1. Boil the water in a saucepan.
2. Add the tea spices by a pinch per person or whole spices as explained above. More
if you want it more robust in spices. Experiment for personal taste.
2. Add the tea leaves.
4. When the concoction starts boiling, Add milk.
5. Boil for about a minute.
6. Strain the tea into the cups.
7. Remove strainer add sweetener as per taste and stir the tea well.
Spices for the tea above per cup or per person
Add a 1/4 inch piece of ginger, crushed with a mallet
1 cardamom pod, crushed in a mortar
1/4 inch cinnamon stick
2 whole black peppers - crushed in a mortar
1 small pinch of fennel
1 strand of saffron
1 pinch of ginger powder
1 Clove
1 pinch of dried mint
One may experiment with combining the above to make many recipes. Popular
combinations are cardamom and cinnamon, ginger with cardamom, clove, cardamom and
cinnamon. Mint is usually used by
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Tea is a popular social event in India. Indian Tea Time
menu which is high tea but in today's world it can be made into a dinner and an excellent
menu for entertaining
Chutney/Cucumber Sandwiches
Thin slices of tomato and cucumber with a spread of cilantro-mint-ginger
chutney on sliced bread.
Bhel Puri
Mix 2 boiled and mashed Potatoes , 1 finely chopped
cucumber, 2 finely cut tomatoes and 1 minced onion with a pack of Bhel Mix (crispy
rice, sev or chickpea noodles). Pour 3 to 4 table spoons of raisin chutney and
1 to 2 tablespoons of mint chutney to the above mixture. Mix well. Garnish with chopped
cilantro and serve. - a meal in itself.
Masala Chai
Tea infused with spices, fresh ginger and served with milk and
sugar.
Gujarati Farsan or Namkeen
Crispy spicy snack made of rice, chickpea dough and nuts.
Kheer
Indian rice pudding
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This work is
dedicated to my mother Shanta who taught me the tenants of Ayurvedic Cuisine and
Knowledge.
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©
1990 to 2001 - Kavita Mehta. All Rights Reserved.
Kavita has been giving classes on Indian Cuisine in Minneapolis for the
past 10 years. She now shares her work on her website for all to enjoy. |
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