Chai is a spiced tea drink that originated in India, made by brewing black tea with warming spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves, then mixing it with milk and sweetening it with sugar or honey. The word simply means “tea” in many languages, including Hindi, but in America it usually refers to this sweet, creamy, spiced version.

When you order a chai latte at a coffee shop, you're getting a Western version of this traditional Indian drink, usually made with steamed milk and a concentrated spice mixture. The spices give chai its distinctive warm, slightly sweet, and aromatic flavor that tastes completely different from plain tea.

Making traditional chai involves simmering the tea and spices together, which releases their flavors more fully than simply steeping a tea bag. In India, chai wallahs (tea vendors) sell fresh chai from carts on street corners, and families often prepare it at home as a daily ritual. Each family or vendor might use their own special blend of spices, making every cup a little different.