Have you ever looked down into a steaming mug of tea and wondered about all the generations of people who have done the same over the centuries? That happened to me recently when I stirred up a cup of my favorite hot beverage, Oh My! Chai. This was one of the first products I tried when I came to work at Tastefully Simple nearly 20 years ago, and it’s remained a favorite. It’s so different from what I was used to in hot tea – more mellow, more soothing, and with its blend of black tea, honey and spices, a little exotic.

With Oh My! Chai® Drink Mix back in the line for Fall-Winter, I was inspired to do a little research. Did you know …

  • Chai tea dates back from 5,000 to 9,000 years. Legend has it that the blend was developed by a king in India or Thailand as a medicinal drink for his people.
  • Masala Chai (spiced tea) gained popularity when the British set up tea farms in India in the early 19th
  • Chai has less caffeine than coffee, and the caffeine interacts with the tea tannins to have a different effect on the brain described as inducing a “calm, relaxed, yet mentally focused state.”
  • The word “chai” is derived from Chinese Mandarin and Cantonese dialects, while “tea” is derived from Chinese Min Nan dialect. Both refer to the same thing, so saying chai tea is essentially saying, “tea tea.”

Now that you’ve gained some chai knowledge, why not invite a friend over for a cup of tea and stimulating conversation – perhaps you can drop a few of these fun facts into your talk.

Here are some delicious recipes using Oh My! Chai® Drink Mix:

Oh My! Chai Frappe.

All you need is a blender, milk, ice and Oh My! Chai® Drink Mix, and you’ve got the frostiest, more refreshing frappe ever – and you didn’t have to wait in line at the coffee house drive-thru!

Oh My! Chai Baked French Toast.

You may have enjoyed chai at breakfast … but never like this! The cinnamon-sweet flavor of Oh My! Chai gives this version of French toast that something special.

Chocolate Ugly Latte Cake.

There’s nothing homely about something this sweet! Luscious chocolate cake is layered with Oh My! Chai-flavored whipped cream and velvety Creamy Caramel Sauce.

Oh My! Chai Snack Mix.

It’s all the best things about snack mix – crunchy cereal, nuts, candies and raisins. PLUS the distinctive cinnamony flavor of Oh My! Chai® Drink Mix. Make a double batch for the holidays – this will go FAST.

Chai Pumpkin Dip.

This has GOT to be on your fall get-together menu! Nestle this creamy pumpkin dip, flavored with Oh My! Chai® Drink Mix, into a small, carved out pumpkin and serve with Twisty Grahams for dippers. A favorite of the kids and grown-ups!

With all these ways to use this versatile drink mix, if regular tea isn’t your bag, chai something new!

– kgm