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It's Chai time!
By Jessica Alexander
November 6, 2006 | Pacific Chai mix, top shelf, coffee
aisle at Smith's: About $3
Cup of pumpkin spiced chai from the café at Borders:
Breaking bank at almost $4!
The warm feelings that entwine your body when you
take that long sip of sweet creaminess: Priceless.
Chai is just another word for tea. This is not just
any kind of tea; this is Christmas in a cup. Or, that's
how it's been described to me before, and I cannot help
but agree.
What's this about chai you say? This latest craze?
Well, chai has been savored for centuries, supposedly
centuries in India and other Asian countries. It is
made from a base of strong black tea flavored with "warm"
spices. You know, spices such as cinnamon, cardamom,
ginger, peppercorn and cloves. But that's not all. You
can add nutmeg, chocolate, vanilla and licorice! Such
a variety! And then when you add steamed milk, you cannot
help but go back to your childhood days of sitting in
front of the fireplace with your warm cocoa and watching
the twinkling Christmas tree lights beside you.
With specialty coffees, lattes and caramels-in-liquid
form, a.k.a. Starbucks, rampaging all across the United
States, chai seems to fit quite well in the bunch. However,
with our wallets running empty and our taste buds yearning
for more, options are running low. It would seem the
best money-saving college-student option would be to
head on over to the grocery store and pick up that canister
of powdered bliss, and make your own chai at home. Right?
Well, drinking a cup of chai is a little more involved
than popping a package in the microwave and splashing
marshmallows in it. Chai is an experience, and if you
want to get it right, certain procedures must be followed.
OK, not really. I guess I'm just biased! I wouldn't
call myself a chai connoisseur, but I do know what is
good and what is not. So is it worth it to get the powdered
stuff on the store shelf, or is it just better to fork
up the dough and take in the experience? Let's take
a look.
First of all, there is nothing like a good steaming
cup of chai that was made by the adorable barista behind
the counter:
-- It's so creamy and frothy!
-- You don't have to measure out the perfect amount
of powder to get it just right.
-- You are supporting our economy by paying almost $4
for the darn thing.
-- Plus, you are helping that adorable barista earn
a living -- talk about generous!
-- You get that cool hand protector.
-- If you ask a friend to go with you, you can socialize
and stimulate your mind.
-- You look hip in that cool little café, so mysterious
yet intriguing to onlookers.
Now, all of these are great reasons to go out and
buy that magnificent cup of chai. But, what about taking
it easy at home? There are perks to having a cup at
your discretion during any time of the day:
-- You can have it in the morning, at noon and at night
-- you get that comfort-of-your-own-home feeling, like
the home workout gym commercials you see at three in
the morning while you're eating a gallon of ice cream.
-- You only have to pay $3 for 13 cups of chai, talk
about a deal!
-- You can experiment with the chai. Frozen chai, blended
berry chai, chai shakes -- the list can go on and on.
-- You can invite over a good friend, sit in front of
the fireplace (if you have one) and have pillow talk.
So, there you have it folks. The extensive list of
reasons why chai is great! Personally, however, I would
rather go out and get that steaming cup of perfection
with a good friend and enjoy the atmosphere. Although
I do appreciate the times when I can make chai for myself
first thing in the morning, or for a late-night snack,
I believe it's all about balance! I can't make that
perfect blend of chai myself, so I pay someone else
to do it for me. And, sometimes I'm too lazy to put
throw on shoes and a coat, so I cozy up on my couch
with the next best thing.
NW
RB |
