you guys are just getting bad chai period. real indian chai is supposed to be milky, sweet and spicy. never bitter. actually there are other variations to it, but the one i like best is very heavy on the ginger and spices, including pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, cinamon, powdered ginger, to name but a few. the stuff you get at starbucks or dunkin donuts is vile. i've never had good chai in any cafe, boston or new york or san francisco except in a proper indian/desi cafe.
well, usually i make it at home, after a friend showed me (who was not indian, but seemed to have learned it in some reasonably authentic way). i make some black tea on the stove (usually something like assam or nilgiri) and simmer in a bunch of whole spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, peppercorns, star anise, etc.). then i drain everything and add milk and honey. or i heat the milk separately and froth it to make latte-style chai.
i never buy the boxed stuff or make it from a powder -- from what i understand, chai is just sweetened, milky tea brewed with yummy spices. and i'm pretty obsessive about tea, so i'm careful to use freshly boiled water, not to oversteep the tea or use too much, etc., etc. i've never bothered with chai at any chain since i know they don't make it in-house, but some cafes make their own. i've always enjoyed the "masala spiced tea" i've had in indian restaurants, and since "chai" just means "tea," i assumed that was similar to what other places called chai... yes/no?
I guess! There's alot of interesting Chai at Rainbow Grocery which is like what you describe. Also, there's good Masala spiced tea at Indian Garden on Foslom. You'd love it.
any chance you're doing one last performance before you move? also, i saw your new photos on alt models, and they're beautiful. who did you shoot with?
well, i think i'll be here for Halloween, so hopefully i'll get to see you perform then! otherwise, i should go visit Seattle again sometime anyhow :). i need my good coffeeshop fix -- none of the ones here compare.
and i'll check out the photographer's profile, thanks -- i'm still looking around for interesting photographers in the Bay area.
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Out here, it's all indian style chai, which is more like a bitter tea.
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bah.
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i never buy the boxed stuff or make it from a powder -- from what i understand, chai is just sweetened, milky tea brewed with yummy spices. and i'm pretty obsessive about tea, so i'm careful to use freshly boiled water, not to oversteep the tea or use too much, etc., etc. i've never bothered with chai at any chain since i know they don't make it in-house, but some cafes make their own. i've always enjoyed the "masala spiced tea" i've had in indian restaurants, and since "chai" just means "tea," i assumed that was similar to what other places called chai... yes/no?
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I guess! There's alot of interesting Chai at Rainbow Grocery which is like what you describe. Also, there's good Masala spiced tea at Indian Garden on Foslom. You'd love it.
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Thank you! They were done with Arturo J in Oakland (his name in that post is linked to his Model Mayhem profile). :)
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and i'll check out the photographer's profile, thanks -- i'm still looking around for interesting photographers in the Bay area.
best of luck with the move!!
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