What is the difference between milk tea and chai tea?
Milk tea is tea served with milk and sometimes sugar, with no fixed spices. Chai, in most of the English-speaking world, means masala chai: black tea simmered with milk and spices such as cardamom, ginger and cinnamon. Chai is spiced milk tea, so all masala chai is a kind of milk tea but not all milk tea is chai.
Free download
Milk and Dairy Storage Chart (PDF): How long milk, plant milks, cream, yogurt and kefir last, opened and unopened. 23 rows, each with its source.
Thank you
Your chart is ready
We use your email only for this download.Also free:
Home Bar Storage Chart (PDF)Juice, Soda and Water Storage Chart (PDF)Coffee, Tea and Hot Drinks Storage Chart (PDF)Drink Strength, Calories and Units Cheat Sheet (PDF)Want the full pack? About 10 printable sheets: a larger chart for each drink type, a “has it gone off?” checklist, date labels, a party planner and an inventory sheet.
In this article
What is the difference between milk tea and chai?
The short version: milk tea is a broad category and chai is a spiced member of it. Milk tea is tea with milk, which may be black, green or oolong, hot or iced, with or without sugar. Chai tea in the U.S. usually means masala chai, which translates to spiced tea: black tea brewed with milk, a sweetener and warm spices. In India, “chai” simply means tea, so the word is used differently by region.
Side by side
| Milk tea | Masala chai | |
|---|---|---|
| Spices | None needed | Typically cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper |
| Tea | Any tea | Strong black tea |
| Method | Brew tea, add milk | Simmer tea and spices in milk, then strain |
| Taste | Mild, creamy | Warming, layered, aromatic |
| Sweetener | Optional | Usually jaggery or honey, or sugar |
Chai versus chai latte
A chai latte from a cafe is a third thing. It is usually made from a powdered mix or syrup with milk, so it is quicker, sweeter and milder than brewed masala chai. Caffeine and sugar vary by product.
Other kinds of milk tea
- English-style tea with milk.
- Regional styles such as Hong Kong milk tea and bubble tea, which use their own methods.
- Plain milk tea made without spices, which some people also call chai in India.
How to make a simple masala chai
- Simmer water with crushed cardamom, a slice of ginger and a cinnamon stick.
- Add black tea and milk and simmer; one chai maker says the whole process takes about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Strain, sweeten to taste and serve hot.
Definitions vary by country and shop, so check what a menu or recipe means by chai. Both drinks contain caffeine from tea unless you choose a caffeine-free version.
People also ask
Is chai tea the same as milk tea?
Not exactly. Chai is usually spiced milk tea. Milk tea can be any tea with milk, with no spices.
Does chai tea have caffeine?
Yes if it is made with black tea, which is the usual base. Caffeine in a chai latte varies by product.
Is a chai latte the same as masala chai?
No. A chai latte is usually made from a syrup, concentrate or powder mixed with milk. Masala chai is brewed with spices and milk.
Sources
About · How we verify this · Editorial policy · Corrections
What would help you most next?
One tap. Anonymous. It helps us decide what to build.
Thank you. The free charts above are yours to keep.
