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Many tea drinkers are turning their attention to chai tea. Tea refers to the twigs, leaves and buds of the tea bush or Camellia sinensis. These tea plant parts are processed for sale, and tea is brewed by soaking them in hot water for a period of time.

Chai is the word for tea in Chinese, as well as in many Middle Eastern and South Asian countries. Although the correct reference is "chai," many Westerners combine "chai" with "tea" in a somewhat redundant term. If the listener does not know what "chai" means, however, the combination of "chai" and "tea" together is a helpful reminder.

In India, there is a twist on the chai preparation. A popular recipe is called masala chai, or spiced tea. The spice mixture called chai masala is sold for making this popular tea. Debates exist on whether chai alone, or masala chai, is the most popular inside India. What is important, however, is that the method of chai preparation is more similar to a coffee latte than a traditional steeped tea.

Tea made in the chai style can be described as a thick, spiced milk tea. Ingredients begin with a rich black tea leaf. A heavy milk is added, although this can be replaced by soy milk for those with vegan beliefs or lactose intolerance. The mixture of spices is added next. The preparation is finished with a powdered or liquid sweetener.

Chai preparations use a strong black tea, so that the spices do not overpower the flavor. Assam is one such tea, as is gunpowder tea. Sometimes herbal infusions (called tisanes) such as yerba mate and rooibos are added, although these seem to be Western innovations in the chai recipe.

The chai sweetener can be as simple as plain table sugar. Sometimes unprocessed sugar is used. Liquid sweeteners such as honey, molasses, and even flavored syrups are also used. Due to the strength of the tea and the correspondingly strong spices, large amounts of sweetener are used in the tea preparation.

Spices are the heart of making chai. The taste has been described as "bracing," which is quite different from the calming and soothing adjectives normally associated with hot tea. Chai mixes can include such potent spices as cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom. Some chai brews are made from green tea, and actually include black pepper!

Chai recipes vary greatly around the world. However, it should not be very difficult to find a good chai spice mix nearby. To begin, boil water with the sugar and spices. Add the tea and the milk (or similar substitute). Simmer for several minutes, strain the mix to removed particles, and enjoy. Your first cup of chai tea might just be the end of your regular tea drinking habit.