Chai - at home or easily available

[SpaceOP]

I recently went to Dishoom and had chai for the first time. Loved it. Dh got me one at a market a few weeks ago and it was also lovely, but not as good. If I want to treat myself locally I most likely need a chain that does good ones or a good (easy) option at home. Please recommend?

We live in Surreyn near Epsom, so in unlikely event anyone has local recommendations I am open to that too!

We have a few branches of Chaiiwala near us and I like theirs. Or you can get the recipe for Dishoom’s version, but it’s a bit of a hassle.

Yeah, definitely want a bag and a quick microwave option if doing at home. Will look up chaiiwala. Never heard of it.

Where I live, you can get powdered instant Masala Chai made by Royal from supermarkets and Indian-owned groceries. Royal chai comes in both individual sachets and boxes of loose powder. It comes in both unsweetened and sweetened versions and I always go for unsweetened. Other companies produce the same kind of thing but Royal seems to be the most widely available.

There is a brand called Royal Chai they do sachets and tins of different Indian tea. I get mine from a local Indian supermarket but I reckon a big Tesco/Asda may have it in their World Foods aisles.
they are quite sweet but nice. Alternatively you could probably google how to make chai masala online. Again possibly source these items from supermarkets and then bring in a coffee grinder.
Then simply pop a teabag into boiling water on the cooker, add a bit of the masala and some milk- then let it come to the boil a few times. then use a fine sieve and pour the tea into your mug.

Dishoom do sell their chai tea online. You have to add it to milk, warm it and then strain. We had some for Xmas but haven't tried it yet.

www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/dishoom-masala-chai/amp/

It's easy to make

Watch a YouTube tutorial 'Indian chai'

Do you live near an Asian shop to buy the tea masala powder and rest of the ingredients x

Ok, looks like even if I buy a decent pre made bg, inhave to accept this is not a quick option. Have been goggling and watching you tube.

Definitely don't want an instant dissolvable one with powdered milk. I have added a tree pigs bag to my shopping trolley and eill try it. I think ds might like it too so perhaps I can make it a bit of a thing we enjoy after dinner sometimes or something.

I see the dishoom.one too. Pricey though but might give it a try. Will experiment with tree pigs first.

Might also try pret/starbucks/Costa too..

There are 2 nearby although I have never checked out tea options - when I do pop in irs usually kist to buy veg like baby aubergine or okra for MIL!

I know you said you didn't want an instant dissolvable one but honestly the Royal Chai ones are the best.
I am part Indian, and they come the closest to what my Indian grandmother makes at home. No other tea bag has ever come close. The teapigs Chai bags are nice enough but they ain't Chai - to me anyway, they're not sweet enough and if you add sugar the balance goes.
I buy the big tubs of royal Chai from amazon and drink them regularly. I am far too lazy to make proper Chai

Don't touch the 'tea india' chai teabags, you might as well fill a mug with dishwater and rub a little cinnamon round the rim. You'll need to try a few to get the right blend for you (more or less cardamom/cinnamon/anise) but whatever you go for if you aerate it a little by pouring it from cup to cup a few times before drinking it, it helps bring out the flavour.

I have a weird hatred of powdered milk!! I can't even drink hot chocolate with it. I love th idea of instant but.....

Definitely get the stuff from the Indian store.

Yes you have to brew it on the stove. But you can use a normal tea bag instead of loose.

I grew up with a grandma that made Indian tea twice a day, every day.

Simply boil water with any bog standard teabags on the hob. Add cardamom, fennel seeds, fresh cinnamon to taste. Sometimes we add ginger or cloves too. This is where you need to experiment with how strong you like each flavour so it might take a few tries but once you know that it's easy. Allow to simmer for about 5-10 mins then add milk, bring to the boil again and then simmer for another few mins again.

I do find it never tastes as nice if you're trying to make it for only 1-2 servings, it's better when you make a lot.

Forget chai teabags, I've yet to find one that actually tastes of anything other than a vague bit of cardamom.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Royal-Chai-Elaichi-Premium-Sweetened/dp/B0045FSIUK/ref=pd_bxgy_d_sccl_2/262-0528591-5164735?pd_rd_w=APWlq&content-id=amzn1.sym.02820c73-8608-4218-9735-1554b4beb596&pf_rd_p=02820c73-8608-4218-9735-1554b4beb596&pf_rd_r=G0P3MPAM88JC2CDQWYS0&pd_rd_wg=BPzaC&pd_rd_r=b367517c-6c51-4d0e-b082-8da7473eb7ff&pd_rd_i=B0045FSIUK&th=1

Is this the stuff?

I like a chai and I would rather have something instant than faffing about on the stove and not getting the flavours right

Whats the difference between all the different flavours/types?

I suspect this is why the dishoom.one is good - it's real.spices mixed up for you rather than some.watered down version in a bag.

I don't drink a lot of herbal or fruit teas but have consistently found I would rather have black tea with fresh mint or make my own lemon and ginger than any bag can ever do. I did have a moroccan mint tea from Whittards which I used to enjoy so just checked their website and they have a loose leaf chai . At £9 I would hope it's as good as the moroccon one was. I am going to check if there's still a store in Wimbledon.

I like the sweetened masala Chai one. I get these but you can also buy packs of 10 sachets amzn.eu/d/crL5OjS

That was to @soupfiend
They do other varieties, my family and I tried them all and this is our favourite. I have a soft spot for the pink elaichi but it's quite an acquired taste and a bit artificial.

I dont understand the difference between the green elaichi (which says cardamom) and the orange coloured one which also says cardamom?

I going to get the masala, the green one and not sure wheher to try the ginger one.

@soupfiend please report back. I am seriously tempted by instant even with my loathing of powdered milk!

I will also report back. I am going to try stove top but with a bag bought from waitrose first. I may also check local.Asian supermarkets if I get a chance and/or whittards. And I might even get a rush of blood to the head and try making with spices from my cupboard!

Of course, next I will want the cute little copper saucepan too....

I also have this one too but I find it makes my mouth sort of itchy, not sure what thats about, its a bit processed

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/drink-me-spiced-chai-250g-6819821-p-44?utm_medium=cpc&cmpid=cpc&catalogId=10241&utm_content=shopping&productId=464094&utm_campaign=20333793068&utm_custom2=759-449-0952&storeId=10151&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4rK8BhD7ARIsAFe5LXL3V9Usa3XckjORCoUb9hhsGVKoZZdjNN_thEQ5nOk2GkQigTGpyeYaAqXlEALw_wcB&utm_custom1=&langId=44&utm_source=Google&krypto=Kg0CqJ412EDduLzKtcOxoX%2FdZzCnYJ%2B5cwv00AjxHn8KUnOVf7dCSSgKGJXV8KbDjqH1P6ji6dbPyCqRAebqKlAV1ImMzp6DXStMzWuUNoBMCN3oL32z5Y1Y3Ug9g6ldfdLStBi3Rpv%2Bf8%2FbrzVLTppF97ChdUYzpryx5Q1jQRNvLUCWQHrfc8YSUq%2FHr%2B1mgYxt4ldMw%2BgbdIyp0k5ppo3q7xKBmRI3ZSCIoobeCS%2Bh7GdAonpcUtEHKdUcpFzf5TEMLx58CZIbD0PlZPmsewMjkRfk%2FKnGB4QAXAhFJSg%2B64PicmYb1tfGsENkGIUxewgCv5pshmphbq%2B6C0HaLed%2BI5R7FlstK79JdPEbFwuipJ29vVrpMaOfWFgMXbsnTGnXAVhQNi7sO%2FKITOgT3n2jUBBjp5CQRPYWgdl6wb%2BQLWyALj%2BjeVB6pkEGQL2G&ddkey=https%3Agb%2Fgroceries%2Fdrink-me-spiced-chai-250g-6819821-p-44

I always feel the dishoom chai tastes a bit like it uses evaporated milk (or maybe I'm not used to the taste of whole milk) because it has a slight greasiness/creaminess to it.
I could drown in the stuff, going try the Royal Chai as suggested because no way I would ever get round to making it from scratch.

@soupfiend yes I've drank that in the past, it's not really comparable to real chai, I've had too much of it I think and can't stand it now

Use chai tea bags. Make with hot milk and aerate. Chai tea bags are widely available. I like Tesco's own brand.