Have you ever travelled to India? Do you know that nostalgic aroma of sweet spice every time you enter a home or walk into the local marketplace. If you do, you know how blissful and comforting it is. 

Imagine creating this very scene of sweet hospitality or bustling exotic marketplace in your home, with your family and friends. Sounds soulful, doesn’t it?!

 

Chai in Hindi means Tea. Masala Chai means spiced tea. That’s the Chai we know. Full, rich, and warming. In India and other parts of the world, Chai is a rhythm to everyday life. Maybe it is for you too? We’re lucky to share in this part of culture at Tea Garden Co and to share it with you.

If you’ve visited us at a market or in our retail studio. We’ve probably had a fresh pot of our Vermont Chai brewing not too far away. It holds a special place in our journey and has been around since we pressed go back in 2016. Our Vermont Chai is warming, Moorish, and infused with the most intoxicating spices.

The tea base is an Assam GFOP (Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe) from the Assam region of India. The leaves have a rich, dark and malty flavour. We take ginger, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and star-anise. Then we infuse our tea base and spices with a sweet and natural maple. 

 

So, now that you have the blend, what to do with it?

Follow our simple recipe to make the perfect cup.

 

1. Grab a saucepan, or a chai pot, and fill with 250mls of liquid for every cup you're making. We do ½ water ½ milk, but It could be all milk, or a mixture of milk and water.
We love using soy milk, or any of the other plant based milk. The gentle flavour leaves plenty of room for the spices to shine, giving your cup a richer flavour.

 

 2. Bring the milk to a simmer. Once it's bubbling away, turn the heat right down. Add 1 – 2 teaspoons of our 'Vermont Chai' Tea for every cup you’re making. You decide how strong you like it, maybe you want 1 teaspoon or maybe it’s two?

 

3: Let the tea leaves steep in the milk for 2-4 minutes. Strain the leaves and stir in honey if you like it a little sweeter.

 

4: Drink and enjoy.

Easy, right?!  Now that you have the recipe, you can fill your days with Chai. There are 30 cups in our small jar, that’s one for every day of the month.

Grab two jars and give one to a friend who might need some comfort too.

Already making chai? We’d love to hear from you. Jump onto our Instagram page and share with your fellow sippers how you brew it.