Hot Chai and Chilled Frappe.

The term Chai means Tea in ancient India. It is made by first boiling tea leaves in water. Add milk and sugar and then strain the final concoction. This gives you the real chai.

Frappe is a chilled beverage that is derived from the French word Frapper. It means to knock and beat around. It is sometimes flavored with tea and juices. An important characteristic is the frothy tasty foam on top.

When Chai gets together with Frappe, you get endless possibilities to adapt. Explore with your imagination and taste buds.

For centuries, chai has been a popular beverage in most cultures. Spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves and pepper are added to make a masala chai version. This is spicier and keeps you warm in the chilly winter months. A lot of people innovate and make this hot chai over crushed ice instead.

This gives it a slush consistency when made in a blender. You now get chai ices and combination milkshakes. These can be low calorie, nonfat and decaf if preferred. It is a great thirst quencher in sultry hot weather.

McDonald’s and Starbucks are the known big brands that sell chai based frappes at their various outlets. The popularity of these easy drinks has sparked off a lot of Do-it-yourself home recipe sites. There are YouTube videos that feature these drinks in detail.

Home baristas and innovative housewives have added whipped cream and different toppings. Milk, vanilla, sugar and sweet sauces have opened new avenues. You get the same great taste at a fraction of the price.

A homemade chai and frappe recipe involves getting together 5 teabags, vanilla and some powdered cinnamon. Dip the teabags in boiling water for half an hour. After cooling transfer this into empty ice cube trays. Let the tea based cubes freeze. Blend some ice cream, flavored cubes, vanilla and cinnamon together. Add more frozen cubes if needed. The blend should be smooth and slushy. Pour in to a long glass. Enjoy with a straw.

The aromatic herbs and spices in Chai vary across regions and households. It is warming, soothing and contributes to your wellbeing. Traditionally frappe is made in a special shaker solely invented for this purpose. An ice crushing blender also gives good results. 

A warm relationship between the chai and frappe has given birth to innovative results. Commercial concentrates and prepackaged mixes between the two is now available with most grocers. Coffee and tea houses all over the globe keep adding and advertising new ideas. It is good for business.

A coconut chai and frappe frosty beverage is also very popular. Coconut as a base was unheard of earlier. But now you can get gluten free and fat free mixes. No hydrogenated oils mean you do not have to deal with flat oily bubbles.

Make a batch of coconut chai from teabags and let it freeze. Add it to some almond milk. Use regular milk if preferred. Sweeten with honey and add a pinch of vanilla extract. Blend everything over crushed ice. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon.

Some commercial cafes add thickeners to bind together the froth. This results in the more ‘frigid frappes’. You get regional variations depending on where you order. In Boston a frappe is a milkshake. Greece mixes instant coffee with sugar over ice for their frothy frappe. They don’t add flavoring, chai or milk.

Spicy cold beverages that are made in two minutes add to the mass appeal. Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry are more commonly used. But unusual combinations are also a hit now. These add to the novelty factor.

Chai and Frappe combinations refresh the soul and are savored everywhere.