What if I told you the chai at AJ’s and Rough Draft is not the real thing – that “chai” flavored syrup in a glass of milk is as similar to chai as slices of apple in water to apple cider?

In many places, especially Hillsdale, the “chai” available for sipping is nothing more than a sickly sweet cinnamon swill unfit for human consumption. The “chai” served at Rough Draft or AJ’s or sold at Kroger is a shadow, in the Platonic sense, of what chai really can be.

Chai is a Hindi word for tea and masala chai means spiced tea. It is what people are attempting to imitate when they concoct a cinnamon, sugar, and milk drink thoughtlessly labeled chai. Masala chai recipes vary based on the region of India they originate from as well as how they’ve been Westernized, but the most basic typically include black tea, cardamom, and milk. Variations may include other spices like ginger, cinnamon, black pepper,  nutmeg, or cloves. Typically the tea is lightly sweetened with sugar or honey.

That’s what real chai is, and it’s delightful. The black tea makes it bitter, the milk rich, the cardamom sweet and light, and the additions of ginger, cinnamon, or other spices add depth, warmth, and sharpness. 

The “chai” in Hillsdale and elsewhere is a poor imitation. Too many people are missing out on the joy of real masala chai.

Here’s the problem with the vague impersonations of chai found in Hillsdale: they all taste too much of sugar and cinnamon and not enough of tea. Chai should have tea in it; this seems like a small ask, but especially in Hillsdale, it’s apparently not.

According to multiple Rough Draft baristas, the shop makes its “chai” with a cinnamon-flavored sugar syrup. I have been reassured, after multiple public outcries, that their syrup recipe includes tea. But syrup is not tea, and vice versa.

Perhaps even worse than Rough Draft’s syrup are the premade “chai” concentrate at AJ’s  and the instant powdered “chai” at Checker Records.

People might ask why they should care what real chai is if they find the fake stuff tasty. First, I’d ask them whether they’ve had real masala chai before. If not, I’d encourage them to try it. Either way, I’d then tell them about the benefits of chai.

Black tea and ginger are antioxidants that can help with gut health, cholesterol management, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. Cardamom, aside from being a delicious and criminally underrated spice, is antibacterial and can soothe inflammation. When you drink “chai” with very little real tea, little to no ginger or cardamom, and heaps of sugar, you miss out on all the benefits that come alongside the warm, comforting nature of authentic masala chai.

It’s not even hard to make – it takes about the same time as your morning cup of coffee. To brew a delicious cup of authentic masala chai, warm equal parts water and milk on a stovetop. Add black tea and leave it to steep before adding cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and other spices of choice along with a little sweetener, if desired. Then serve it fresh and steaming. There’s no reason to drink fake chai when the real stuff is at your fingertips. You can buy tea, milk, whole spices, and fresh ginger as close to home as the Carleton Road Kroger.

Step out of the cave. Learn to make real masala chai.