National Chai Day is celebrated annually on 21st September in the United States in appreciation of this very tasty tea beverage and also for promotion of it.
Chai, also referred to as Masala chai, is a sweet Indian tea beverage with a slight hint of spiciness, traditionally consisting of aromatic spices like cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper.
Originating in India, the beverage has gained worldwide popularity, becoming a feature in many coffee and tea houses. And it is gaining more and more popularity by every passing year and why it shouldn't be because it provides such a rich taste. Hence this day is celebrated with an aim to increase its popularity and consumption.
| Event | National Chai Day |
|---|---|
| Date | September 21, 2022 |
| Day | Wednesday |
| Significance | Masala Chai's refreshing flavor is celebrated |
| Observed by | United States |
National Chai Day History:
Chai was introduced in Asia as a herbal drink and special treat for royalty during 3000 B.C. At that time chai was not an tea but a herbal drink made with various spices. Its earliest version was only a mixture of spices but without tea leaves. But this changed when the tea got invented in China.
And the modern version of Chai that we know today mostly developed during the British colonial rule over India. As during this time the British pushed the Indians towards tea cultivation after learning it from the Chinese. And today India is one of the largest exporter of tea because of that. By the 19th Century milk and sweetener were added to the drink by the British amd through Britiain only it started to get popular in the western world also.
Then after the Indian Independence from Great Britain and because of Indian and other South Asian diaspora Chai started to gain popularity in the west. Numerous coffee houses also started to use the term chai latte or chai tea latte for their version to indicate that it is made with steamed milk, much like that used to make a caffe latte, but mixed with a spiced tea concentrate instead of espresso. By 1994, the term had gained currency on the U.S. coffeehouse scene.
National Chai Day officially commenced in 2018 only and is said to have been founded by Somrus, the world’s first line of Indian liquors. So it is a very recent celebrations which have been only kickstarted and still gaining in its popularity.
National Chai Day Significance:
The term chai originated from the Hindi word 'chai', which was derived from the Chinese word for tea, cha. In English, this spiced tea is commonly referred to as masala chai, or simply chai even though the term refers to tea in general in the Hindi language. So any tea is called Chai in Indian subcontinent which is not the case in western countries.
The recipe or preparation method for masala chai is not fixed, and many families have their own versions of the tea. Most masala chai contains caffeine, typically one-third that of coffee. However, masala chai has seven basic components which are almost always present and these are water, tea leaves, milk, sugar, cardamom, black pepper, and ginger.
The western adaption of chai, or chai latte, has a lighter and sweeter taste than the Indian version of a more herbal and spicier milk beverage. As it was modified in taste to suit the western taste which is generally is not as spicier as Indian cuisine.
Today, chai is well known for the many benefits it provides the body as it contains various nutritional constituents. These constituents and their health benefits include black pepper and ginger, which aid digestion, cloves that help to relieve abdominal pain, cardamom, which helps elevate one’s mood, and cinnamon, which promotes the health of the lung and heart.
As an alternative to the hot tea format, several types of cold "chai" beverages have become popular in the United States. These range in complexity from a simple spiced iced tea without milk to a slush of spiced tea, ice, and milk mixed in a blender and topped with whipped cream.
National Chai Day Celebrations:
What can be better way to celebrate this delicious drink than to have it yourself as treat on this National Chai Day! You just need all of the basic ingredients like cardamom, cinnamon, ginger cloves, and allspice, together with milk, sugar, or honey. Then mix them all up and add water to it and you have your Masala Chai!
Drinks are best enjoyed when taken with friends and family. So sit around a table or couch in your house to converse, or a TV to watch a movie together your friends or family as you take delicious sips from your cup of chai to mark the celebrations of this day and make it memorable for your life.
Otherwise you can also go out for a outing on this day to enjoy a sip of chai. As there are many Indian restaurants which offers this incredible drink and sometimes they even offers discounts on this special day do check it first. And you can also go visit any cafe on this day to taste chai tea latte to mark this day.
Most Searched FAQs on National Chai Day:
1. When is National Chai Day is celebrated?
National Chai Day is celebrated annually on 21st September in US.
2. When was National Chai Day created?
National Chai Day officially commenced in 2018 and it was founded by Somrus.
3. Is Chai tea a laxative?
Chai spices enhance the digestive activities of the stomach and intestines. Hence, its functioning enables it to act as a natural laxative when taken in large quantities.