Best Chai in Chicago?

I'm sure there are some great chai teas on Devon and elsewhere around town, but I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations? I think it'll be a great winter drink and I'm hoping to find some good ones around town. This thread was inspired by an excellent house chai I had at Dishoom this morning in London.

I find a lot of chai on Devon to not have as much spice variety as I like. Most of the options I've tried have been heavy on the black tea with a small bit of cardamom flavor. I used to get chai all the time at Rajun Cajun in Hyde Park, but then I started making my own at home which I've done daily for years. I boil water with freshly grated ginger and sugar (both to taste) and add tea leaves, freshly roasted and ground cinnamon, cloves and cardamom seeds (all bought in large bags on Devon). Then I add ground pepper and milk (about 2/3 milk to 1/3 water) and boil again. The longer I let it simmer, the spicier it gets. I'm not in any way claiming authenticity, just that this is what I like to drink. So my suggestion is to play with your own version - adjusting spices to your own taste.

bon2mic wrote:I find a lot of chai on Devon to not have as much spice variety as I like. Most of the options I've tried have been heavy on the black tea with a small bit of cardamom flavor. I used to get chai all the time at Rajun Cajun in Hyde Park, but then I started making my own at home which I've done daily for years. I boil water with freshly grated ginger and sugar (both to taste) and add tea leaves, freshly roasted and ground cinnamon, cloves and cardamom seeds (all bought in large bags on Devon). Then I add ground pepper and milk (about 2/3 milk to 1/3 water) and boil again. The longer I let it simmer, the spicier it gets. I'm not in any way claiming authenticity, just that this is what I like to drink. So my suggestion is to play with your own version - adjusting spices to your own taste.

I've never been a chai fan but your recipe sounds terrific and I'm going to try it. It also sounds like a wonderful base recipe for ice cream. Thanks!!

I like both the Original Yogi Tea version (not the new version with stevia) and Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice. Neither of these have tea, so I generally will add some decaf black tea if I want that flavor.

They both imply you can just steep the tea in water, but boiling it is def. the way to go.

boudreaulicious wrote:

bon2mic wrote:I find a lot of chai on Devon to not have as much spice variety as I like. Most of the options I've tried have been heavy on the black tea with a small bit of cardamom flavor. I used to get chai all the time at Rajun Cajun in Hyde Park, but then I started making my own at home which I've done daily for years. I boil water with freshly grated ginger and sugar (both to taste) and add tea leaves, freshly roasted and ground cinnamon, cloves and cardamom seeds (all bought in large bags on Devon). Then I add ground pepper and milk (about 2/3 milk to 1/3 water) and boil again. The longer I let it simmer, the spicier it gets. I'm not in any way claiming authenticity, just that this is what I like to drink. So my suggestion is to play with your own version - adjusting spices to your own taste.

I've never been a chai fan but your recipe sounds terrific and I'm going to try it. It also sounds like a wonderful base recipe for ice cream. Thanks!!

I'm with bon2mic. While I do order chai w/ my meal whenever I have Indian, I like the one I make at home, based on a CI recipe, better. I adore cardamom. And I also adore milk tea.

I'm a HUGE fan of Chai (which is the Indian word for tea- so to say "Chai tea"- is like saying "Pizza Pie")
but not the oh-so-sweet-Starbucks Chai-
but genuine Indian(or Pakistani) Chai.

2 great ones are on Devon and Western-
The "Kashmiri Chai" @ Khans House of BBQ which is a
pistachio topped tea- very unlike other Chai's I've had.

Equally tasty @ The Sweet Shop just east of Western- Tahoora-
.... they make a more traditional Chai- very pepper/cardamon-ey.

Further west on Devon is the Grocery Store/Cafe- Kamdar Plaza-
where they make an especailly flavorful Chai.


Khans BBQ
2401 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 274-8600

Tahoora
2345 W Devon Ave,
Chicago, IL 60659

Kamdar Plaza
2646 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659

Thank you! I'll be sure to check these out, Hombre de Acero.