Growing up, we used ginger in our household for a lot of medicinal purposes. Yes, it was a daily part of most of our meals like with dals and sabzis. But my mom also made sure I drank several cups of ginger honey tea when we were sick or not feeling our best. As an adult, I love Adrak Chai for a bit of caffeine, some cozy warmth, and all the health benefits that comes with ginger. Stuffy nose? Ginger tea! Aching sinuses? More ginger tea! Sore muscles? You guessed it, ginger tea. If you’re one of those people that requires caffeine on a daily basis, or even several times daily, then this is a great way to include ginger into your diet! It’s a lovely, lightly spiced tea for winter time.
What is Adrak Chai?
The word “chai” translates to “tea”, so “chai tea” means “tea tea”. There are several types of chai, the most popular being Masala Chai. There’s also Doodh Patti, Kashmiri Pink Chai, Kadak Chai, Kesar Chai, and many more. Adrak Chai simply means ginger tea. It’s an Indian-style of tea with black tea, fresh ginger root, milk, and sugar. It’s typically served warm during the winter as a warming drink that reduces inflammation and soothes colds. Gingerol, the main bioactive ingredient in ginger, is an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant which is why the root is used for its medicinal properties. The benefits can include reducing nausea, aiding digestion, relieving the common household cold and flu, and many more.
Ingredients - Notes and Substitutions
This Indian Ginger Chai isn’t like most ginger teas you may get in the U.S. A lot of them are simply ginger simmered in water with honey and lemon for an especially soothing non-caffeinated drink.
Black tea - Assam tea work best for chai, and English breakfast is a good runner up. My favorite loose leaf black tea is Danedar and my favorite tea bags are Tetley British Blend. I do not recommend earl grey. Some families even make their own blend of tea - my dad does a blend of black and green tea leaves. Ginger - Use fresh ginger root! I prefer to remove the peel for ginger tea. Cardamom - This can be optional, however I find that it gives a bit of fragrance and sweetness that compliments the ginger. Sweetener - Granulated sugar is the most typical sweetener, but brown sugar, stevia, honey, and even maple syrup will work. Milk - The best milk for chai is undoubtedly dairy milk, preferably whole. The best vegan plant-based milk substitute for chai is oat milk or cashew cream.
How to make Adrak Elaichi Chai
Adrak ki Chai doesn’t require anything too fancy to make, but I’ve developed a technique to ensure the perfectly spiced drink! Additionally, ginger has enzymes that can curdle milk so the method below will ensure this doesn’t happen. Mix in honey, sugar, or you’re preferred sweetener to the tea when serving.
Tips and Tricks
As someone who is really particular about ginger (it’s not my favorite), here are some tips and tricks to make the best ginger tea:
Fresh ginger. Fresh ginger has enzymes that can curdle milk. It’s best to boil the water with the spices, including ginger, before adding the milk. Alternatively, use dried ginger or ginger powder but fresh ginger is highly preferred. Don’t overdo the ginger. Too much ginger can seriously overpower the tea, leaving an uncomfortable zing to the tea instead of a pleasant sweet and spicy ginger. Cut the ginger into pieces, don’t grate. Cut the ginger into chunks or matchsticks for more surface area. Don’t grate, because it’ll release too much ginger juice into the tea and overpower it, possibly curdling the milk as well. Dairy vs. dairy free milk. Dairy milk is a popular option for adrak chai. You can add more than a ¼ cup to make it milkier if you’d like. If you’re using a dairy free option, I recommend heating it separately and adding it after the tea leaves have steeped to prevent curdling or separation. Make ahead instructions. Yes, you can make this ahead, which is great if you’re a bit under the weather! I scaled the recipe and kept it in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. I poured out a cup and enjoyed it chilled, but you can enjoy it warm as well! Pop it in the microwave for up to a minute.
Ginger Tea Variations
While we love a good caffeinated chai, you can also make Adrak Chai without the tea leaves if you’d like to! Add a few other spices like fennel and nutmeg, or an orange peel for a bit of citrus and acidity. Need more ideas to customize your Adrak Chai? Here are some popular variations:
Ginger-Cinnamon Tea
For something a bit warmer that screams fall, add a cinnamon stick along with the ginger.
Adrak Tulsi Chai
Tulsi, also known as holy basil, is a medicinal herb that blossoms with violet flowers. The leaves, stems, or seeds can be used in most use cases. It can be found in many home gardens! Add a sprig of dried tulsi along with the ginger.
Ginger-Turmeric Tea
Turmeric offers additional anti-inflammatory benefits along with the ginger. You can find fresh, bright orange turmeric root in most grocery stores or a farmers market. Treat it the same way as the fresh ginger, cutting slices and adding it as the water simmers. A few turns of a black pepper mill will improve the health benefits turmeric offers.
Adrak Pudina Chai
Similar to tulsi, mint (pudina) is a popular addition to this tea. Just a few dried or mint leaves are more than enough.
More Indian Drink Recipes to try
Recipe
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