Archive for June, 2009

Smoothness Personified: Vanilla Chai Tea

Posted in Chai Tea
Post date: June 9, 2009

Chai tea is one of the staples of Indian cuisine. It is the most common of all the tea blends available there and offers a distinctive flavor that can make you feel like you are at a sidewalk café in Mumbai. Vanilla chai tea is a tasty take off on the popular drink.

Where Chai Come From

Traditional chai is made with black tea and spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cloves and pepper. When drank hot, it offers a delicious, relaxing experience. Adding a touch of vanilla offers a creaminess that is unsurpassed. The best way to enjoy vanilla chai tea is to brew it, serve it hot with sugar and milk for a smooth, comforting experience. Chai tea caffeine is low, so it will give the right pick me up without making you jittery.

Best Recipes

Gourmet teas can get expensive, but with some basic ingredient you can make a delicious mix that can last a long time. Vanilla chai tea can be made using instant tea along with several other dry ingredients including dry milk, non-dairy creamer(French vanilla), sugar and traditional chai spices. Mix the dry ingredients in a blender to avoid grittiness and store them in an air tight container to have plenty to go around.

If you want to go more high end, you can combine spices and loose black tea and steep it the old fashioned way adding hot milk and sugar for a delicious treat. This will not last as long or make as much, but the taste is incredible.

For the diet conscious sugar can be replaced with sweet and low, Splenda, or any other sugar substitute. Vanilla chai tea can replace more fattening desserts if you have a sweet tooth and there are many health benefits to tea including a good blast of anti-oxidants that can both fight off infections and suppress appetite.

Vanilla chai tea can also be made in an iced tea form. You can use boiling water to steep the tea. Then pour the steeped tea into cold water adding sugar, milk and more water as needed. Just be sure to double the strength of the hot tea as it will be diluted in the cold water and will loose flavor easily. If made right vanilla chai tea can be a refreshing drink on a hot summer day.

However you serve it or drink it, vanilla chai tea is a fantastic pick me up and will satisfy body and mind. Whether hot or cold, you can enjoy the benefits and pleasures of this beverage guilt free and easy.

Tazo Chai Tea at Starbucks

Posted in Chai Tea
Post date: June 9, 2009

You can find pretty much whatever beverage you want when you head to Starbucks, even the ever so popular Tazo Chai tea, which is delicious and loved by even some of your favorite celebrities. The Tazo Chai tea has a very distinct, unique flavor, one that definitely leaves you loving it and wanting more.

The Tazo line of tea is all fantastic in fact, and there are many flavors to choose from other than Chai such as the vanilla Chai tea which is well loved as well.

The Company

Before you try the Tao Chai tea for yourself, you are going to want to learn a bit more about the company and understand why so many people love them. For one, the Tazo Company is considered as being one of the most popular tea manufactures in the world. They are known for their large and vast selection of tea and other products.

You can even get organic tea through this company if this is something that you are interested in, because many people prefer to drink the organic tea which they know is more natural. There are also decaffeinated teas that are available through the Tazo Company and at your local Starbucks.

If Tazo Chai tea is your preference, you are going to want to head down to your favorite Starbucks and make an order.

This Tazo Chai tea is a full bodied blend of exotic teas and spices and will be perfect if you enjoy black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla flavors.

The biggest difference between the Tazo tea company and others is that in the quality of the teas. Sure you could go through any other company and get tea but you will taste the difference when you go with the Tazo tea.

You can also purchase the Tazo teas at your local supermarket if you would rather make the tea yourself instead of heading to a café. This way you know that you will be able to make it perfectly to your preferences, with as much milk and sugar as you want. On the other hand, if you are familiar with your Starbucks because you go there on a regular basis, they will probably remember just how to make your beverage and so you know that you can go there.

This is one type of tea that you are definitely going to want to try if you have not already because it is so unique and delicious.

Coming up With a Chai Tea Recipe

Posted in Chai Tea
Post date: June 9, 2009

If you love Chai tea, then you are going to want to know how to come up with a Chai tea recipe for Tazo Chai tea or any other type. Fortunately, because this Chai tea recipe is so popular, there are actually quite a few different recipes that you will probably be interested in.

Recipe Ideas

Now if you want a great Chai tea recipe, here is one that you are definitely going to want to try. For it you are going to need 7 cups water, 1 tbsp fennel or anise seed, 6 green cardamom pods, 12 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, 1/4” ginger root sliced thinly, ¼ tsp black peppercorns, 2 bay leaves, 2 tbsp black tea, 6 tbsp honey and 1 cup of milk.

This is a tasty Chai tea recipe that is very simple to make. All you have to do is take a saucepan and combine the first eight ingredients and then you cover and bring to a medium boil for about five minutes. After this you want to turn off the heat, and make sure that you don’t overcook it because this is going to result in a not so nice tasting tea, and then you want to let it steep for about ten minutes.

Now this is not all because after this you want to add the tea and bring it back to a boil again. You want to simmer this for about five minutes and then add some honey or rock sugar and milk. This will make the tea sweeter and taste better. This will make about eight cups and obviously you can double or triple the recipe as you need.

Another great Chai tea recipe is to use 4 slices fresh ginger cut, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 whole cloves, 1 heaping spoon of powdered cardamom, 1 6-inch vanilla bean, dash nutmeg, 1 heaping tsp sugar, 1 ¼ cup honey, 3 Darjeeling blend tea bags, 2 cups water, and 2 cups of milk.

Now you want to bring 2 cups water to a boil and add the teabags and then the other ingredients after that. You want to reduce the heat and then simmer this for five minutes and make sure that you watch the time because you don’t want to let it overcook.

Stir occasionally and then add the milk and bring to a boil, then take off the heat. Strain through the strainer or coffee filters and serve hot or in a tall glass filled with ice.

Chai tea is delicious and you are definitely going to want to try, and you can even head to your local Starbucks to get one.

How to Make a Chai Tea Latte

Posted in Chai Tea
Post date: June 8, 2009

Chai tea is one of the most popular types of tea today, and if you want to try it yourself you could go head to your local Starbucks, or you could make your own Chai tea latte right at home. There are some delicious Chai tea latte recipes that are super easy to make, and all you have to do is find a Chai tea recipe that you think you will like, get all the ingredients, and you are good to go.

How to Make Chai Tea at Home

So you know that you want to make a Chai tea latte at home, but how do you do it? It is very easy, and this is the perfect recipe for you to try. You are going to need 1 ½ cups of water, 1 ½ inch stick of cinnamon, 8 cardamom pods, ¼ inch fresh ginger root, 2/3 cup milk, 6 teaspoons sugar, and 3 teaspoons of Darjeeling tea leaves.

Now for this Chai tea latte recipe you want to start by placing the water into a pot. Now you want to add in the cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and ginger in the pot as well. Now once you have brought this mixture to a boil, and add the milk and sugar. Now bring it back to a boil and then allow to simmer.

Now you want to add the tea leaves, and remove the heat and cover. Now you just let it steep for about five minutes and strain. Now you can serve to yourself and your guests and enjoy.

Remember that you can mix up the ingredients here and there to meet yours and others preferences. You can add in lots of different flavors to make the tea taste however you want, but these are the basic ingredients that you are going to want to include for the great Chai tea taste.

Not only is the Chai tea latte delicious but there are even health benefits that are you get when you have a cup of the tea. More than anything, when you are drinking the tea it is hot and warming up your body and so you instantly feel relaxed. If you get the right atmosphere, for instance if you are taking a bath or sitting in a dim room reading a book while having your tea, you will see how you are pretty much instantly relaxed and calmer than you were before.

What is Chai Tea?

Posted in Chai Tea
Post date: June 2, 2009

There are over one hundred different types of tea that you could try, and the Chai is one of the most popular types. This tea is based on a black tea and is then blended with cardamom, cloves, coriander, cumin seed, sweet cumin seeds, curry leaves, lemon grass, rampe leaves, and is best enjoyed with milk and sugar to taste.

Whenever people taste this tea one of the first things that they talk about is how aromatic the tea is, and how calming drinking a steeping cup of the tea is.

We have all heard of our favorite celebrities running into Starbucks to order their favorite Chai tea drink, but do you really know what Chai tea is? Whether it is a Chai tea latte or any other type of Chai tea, you obviously want to learn more about it and understand what it actually is before you try it out for yourself.

What it is

Now if you want to know what Chai tea is, the first thing that you want to know is that it is a spicy type of tea. There are a lot of terms that could be used to describe this tea, but spicy is definitely one of the best. Chai tea is very aromatic, so you get the same soothing, warming feeling as you do when drinking any type of tea, but you also get the aromatherapy benefits.

If you want to make a traditional Chai tea, you are going to want to gather fresh spices from an Asian or Indian market. This way you are going to get the most authentic tasting tea, and you want to include chopped ginger root as well. Now there are other ingredients that you could include as well, but these are the basic ingredients.

Remember to experiment and have fun with it when you are brewing up a Chai tea for yourself, but you really always want to keep the basic ingredients because these are what make the tea Chai, and so unique and different from other flavors.

This tea is really delicious and has flavors that you won’t get with any other type of tea. If you have never tried this tea out before, then you are definitely going to want to. Remember, you can make your own tea with a recipe like this, or you can head to any café and they are sure to offer a grand selection for you to choose from.

English Teapot, More Than Just A Teapot

Posted in Teapot
Post date: June 2, 2009

Life today has become very rushed. Many city dwellers live out their lives on a constant caffeine high and rarely give tea a second though. The very real truth is that taking the time to enjoy properly made and served tea as well as the tea itself can be greatly rewarding.

Tantalizing Teapots And Tantric Tea

Properly making and serving a cup of tea needs at least a teapot. An English Teapot is a great choice when choosing a vessel to brew your tea in as the traditions surrounding tea have many of their roots in Brattain.  Many an English Teapot is made of traditional bone china. This fine white china makes an English Teapot stand out from the crowd and adds value to your teapot as an heirloom to be handed down from one generation to the next.

You can, of course, serve your tea in a full tea service set with your English Teapot as your star china attraction. However, if you think that the fuss of making it in a teapot is effort enough then the rest can be left to what you have in your kitchen cupboards. Your English Teapot will create all the enchantment you need. Serving tea, even if it is just for yourself, will make you take some time out of your busy day. This time can be used for some much needed relaxation and can be used as an excellent way to steal a few moments of “me time” for yourself.

When you serve tea in an English Teapot you add an air of elegance and pampering to your “tea and me” time which often makes you feel more relaxed and valued. Not to mention important. To add more relaxation oomph to your stolen moments of self indulgence you can brew up some Chai Tea. This tea is an aromatic blend which is rich in taste.

So when you need some tea and tea and a few moments’ peace why not try this tea. Blended with cloves, cardamom, cumin seeds, coriander, sweet cumin seeds, lemon grass, curry leaves and pamper leaves. Soothing to both the pallet and the soul this tea perfectly compliments the beauty of your English Teapot and completes the feeling of indulgence when serving your tea. Next time you see that beautiful English Teapot  on a shop shelf or sitting on your home shelf gathering dust you know that is worth more that just sitting around as a white elephant.

Everyone Loves A Teapot Set

Posted in Teapot
Post date: June 1, 2009

Tea drinkers are a passionate bunch when it comes to discussing the different teas and which of them are the best possible as everyone has his or her personal favourite and swears by it. Many people immediately think of The British when the subject of tea is discussed.

Yes, they are known across the world as avid tea drinkers, but tea has universal appeal. Americans love their tea as well and the iced teas of the Southern states are world renowned. It is therefore not really surprising that many people have a passion for collection teapot sets. They will tell you excitedly about that very first teapot set they saw and simply had to have.

Collector’s Item, Daily Friend or Family Heirloom

The variety of type of teapot sets today is huge. You can choose from the most delicate bone china, more sturdy porcelain and fine china and glass to ceramics, stoneware and the top of the range silver teapot sets. If you are an avid tea drinker, the most logical choice would be a set manufactured from porcelain, stoneware or ceramics as these are the most durable. They also come in a huge variety of colours and styles that would suit your personal tastes and needs.

For the passionate collector things change slightly as most go in a specific type such as bone china that become an investment as it gains value over time. Or you may wish to collect a specific designer’s teapot sets or a specific brand name as your passion goes.

When it comes to heirlooms; there are many people who treasure a silver teapot set that have been handed down from generation to generation and shown to guests with great pride. For others a single English teapot takes pride of place in their collection or a treasure that great-grandmother brought with her across the sea journey from England more than a century ago.

Antique, Traditional Or Modern, The Choice Is Yours

When you want to purchase that teapot set you have been looking for and you are not sure what you want, an online search will give you all the information you could wish. You should have a look at some of the extraordinary antique sets that are available to see the superior craftsmanship. Then also there is such a great variety in both traditional and modern teapots sets that you can satisfy your personal tastes. You can find a set to fit in with your decor easily and in manufactures in the materials you prefer.