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National Chai Day

Drink · September 21

A day for chai, the spiced milk tea made by simmering black tea with ginger, cardamom and other warm spices.

National Chai Day falls on Tuesday, September 21, 2027. That is 329 days away.

Chai, in many parts of the world, simply means tea. In American cafes the word usually points to something more specific: black tea simmered with milk, sugar and a handful of warm spices until the kitchen smells like a spice cabinet opened all at once.

The spice mix changes from cook to cook. Cardamom and ginger show up most often, with cinnamon, cloves and black pepper joining in when someone wants more warmth. Many households in South Asia make it on the stove, boiling the tea and milk together in one pot rather than steeping a bag in a cup. The result is strong, creamy and sweet, with a little heat at the back of the throat from the ginger.

In the United States, chai often arrives as a latte, with steamed milk and a concentrate or syrup. That version is mellower and frothier. Neither is wrong, though the stovetop kind tastes noticeably sharper and more alive.

Making it at home takes about ten minutes. Crush a few cardamom pods, slice some fresh ginger, and let them simmer in water before adding loose black tea and milk. Strain it through a fine sieve, and expect a thin skin of milk on the pan, which comes off easily with a quick soak.

Leftover spices keep well in a jar, ready for the next pot on a cold morning.

Ways to celebrate

• Try simmering chai on the stove with fresh ginger and crushed cardamom.
• Compare a cafe chai latte with a homemade cup.
• Share a pot of chai with a neighbor or coworker.
• Look for a local South Asian grocery and browse its loose teas.
• Experiment with adding black pepper or cloves to your spice mix.

Dates

All national days on September 21

Also on September 21

• Miniature Golf Day
• National Pecan Cookie Day

Categories: Drink days