Chai Workshop: Learn to Make Authentic Chai from Scratch
About this Event
Chai Workshop: Learn to Make Authentic Masala Chai from Scratch
Most people know chai from a coffee shop or a grocery store shelf.
Few have ever learned where it comes from, why it tastes the way it does, or how to make authentic chai from whole spices and tea.
Whether you're a tea enthusiast, a café owner developing a signature menu item, a coffee cart operator looking to stand out, or simply someone who loves learning about food and culture, this hands-on workshop will teach you how to make traditional chai while exploring the rich history behind one of the world's most beloved beverages.
Together we'll prepare chai from scratch using whole spices, ginger, black tea, milk, and jaggery while discussing the techniques that separate exceptional chai from the sweet concentrates commonly served in cafés.
In this workshop you'll learn:
- What chai actually is
- The history of chai and its connection to tea, colonialism, culture, and community
- How chai spread throughout South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa
- The role of tea, spices, and milk in creating regional styles of chai
- How individual spices contribute to aroma, sweetness, warmth, body, and balance
- The fundamentals of spice blending and building your own chai recipe
- Professional techniques for brewing authentic chai from scratch
- How to create chai concentrates and scalable recipes for cafés, coffee carts, and home use
- Small recipe adjustments that dramatically change flavor, texture, and aroma
Throughout the workshop we'll taste multiple styles of chai, compare flavor profiles, discuss aroma and mouthfeel, and explore what makes an authentic cup different from many commercial chai beverages.
Then you'll make your own chai from scratch, experimenting with spices and brewing techniques to create a recipe that reflects your own taste.
Perfect for:
- Tea lovers and curious home brewers
- Baristas looking to expand their beverage knowledge
- Café owners and managers
- Coffee cart operators
- Hospitality professionals
- Anyone interested in tea history, food culture, and hands-on learning
No previous tea experience is required.
Leave with a deeper understanding of chai, greater confidence making it at home or in a professional setting, and the knowledge to continue experimenting long after the workshop ends.
Duration: 2 hours
Hosted by Sip Society Coffee Education Center
Chicago's community-focused coffee and tea education studio, offering hands-on workshops for curious beginners and industry professionals alike.
Agenda
Intros & Expectations
Info: Who you are and what you are hoping to learn
Ingredients & Materials
Info: What do we have and how to use them.
Recipe building & Tasting Tasting Tasting
Info: You will spend a majority of the time building your perfect chai beverage.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 55.20
