Chai drink mix vs. Chai tea

[beacooker]

KA Cookie Companion has a recipe for a Chai Shortbread that I want to try. The recipe calls for 1/2 cup Chai drink mix. The drink mix is mixed right into the dough. To me, drink mix implies something powdered that will dissolve. The only thing I have seen at the store is Chai tea bags. Is there such a thing as a powdered Chai drink mix, or do they mean to use actual Chai tea?

Thanks!

[blazedog]

I saw a similar recipe for a Bon Apetit poundcake.

I don't think they mean Chai tea because it would specify that rather than a mix.

Coffe Bean & Tea Leaf sell powdered chai tea mix and I think that is would they mean. I also have a liquid Chai tea mix which is diluted with water I bought at TJ but I do think they mean the powdered mix -- of course I don't know for sure. :)

[breadmama]

Trader Joe's makes a Chai tea mix. But, if you don't have a Trader Joe's, you might like to try this recipe, from the CLBB (Sorry I don't know who to attribute it to!). I just made it this weekend, and they were yummy and well received.

Vanilla Chai Icebox Shortbread Cookies

Category: Dessert
Number of Servings: 3-4 dozen

Ingredients:
2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted Butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large egg yolks
1 medium vanilla bean

Icing:
1 cup confectioner's sugar, sifted
2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
More vanilla bean seed scraping, if desired
1 tablespoon water

Cooking Directions:
In a large bowl, sift or whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice, ginger, allspice and cardamom. Set aside.

Combine Butter, sugar, honey and salt in a bowl. Using an electric mixer or wooden spoon, beat until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, and beat until smooth.

Using a small knife, split the vanilla bean lengthwise in half. Scrape the seeds from both sides of the pod with the tip of the knife and add them to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat to combine.

Add in flour-spice mixture, 1 cup at a time, blending until fully incorporated.

Divide the dough in half and transfer each half to a sheet of wax paper. Using the wax paper, shape into a 12-inch log, rectangle, or square. Chill logs at least 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350ºF with an oven rack in the middle. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

With a sharp knife, cut logs into 1/8-inch-thick slices and arrange 1/2 inch apart on baking sheets. Bake until lightly browned around edges, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to racks to cool.

In a small bowl, whisk together icing ingredients until smooth and transfer to a sealable plastic bag. Cut an 1/8-inch opening in one corner of bag. Arrange cookies as close together as possible on sheets of wax paper and drizzle icing decoratively across the tops.

[beacooker]

Ok, if there really is something called Chai drink mix, I'm sure they don't mean the tea.

Laurie - that recipe looks great, and I have all those ingredients on hand! I will try that one instead of the KA one. Thanks!

[seeteekay]

My favorite chai tea mix (which is a powder) is the brand Orgegon Chai, the original. It is usually in the tea section at most supermarkets and at cost plus world market.

[swquilts]

Those International coffee things also have a Chai tea powdered mix.

[Peweh]

This is a slight hijack but how do you guys pronounce Chai? I say the ch sounds like K as in "Kye" but my SIL says it's CH as in "Chye".

Thanks if you can settle this! I may be wrong but just want to know in my own mind more than to correct her.

[Kathy B]

The "ch" sound as in chye is correct. In some languages, chai simply means tea.

[Peweh]

The "ch" sound as in chye is correct. In some languages, chai simply means tea.

OOOH, I hate it when SIL is right! Just kidding. Thanks, Kathy!

[tbb113]

This is a slight hijack but how do you guys pronounce Chai? I say the ch sounds like K as in "Kye" but my SIL says it's CH as in "Chye".

Thanks if you can settle this! I may be wrong but just want to know in my own mind more than to correct her.

Its CHYE for the tea, but KYE when you speak Hebrew and mean 'life'. So you are both right ;)

[LLR]

I also use the Oregon chai liquid concentrate, I pick mine up at World Market, and I have also seen some supermarkets starting to carry it. I prefer this to the powdered, I also see the coffeehouses using the same concentrate when making chai drinks for purchase.

[blazedog]

I also use the Oregon chai liquid concentrate, I pick mine up at World Market, and I have also seen some supermarkets starting to carry it. I prefer this to the powdered, I also see the coffeehouses using the same concentrate when making chai drinks for purchase.

I think powder mix would be used in the recipe though unless it was the only source of liquid.

Here is a Chai Cookie that I am planning to make on Friday which doesn't use a mix but just blends the spices.

Chai Spiced Almond Cookies
------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------

Recipe By: Bon Apetit
Serving Size: 22

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, room temp
1 1/3 cups powdered sugar, divided
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour
3/4 cup toasted almonds, finely chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

Using electric mixer, beat butter, 1/3 cup sugar, both extracts,
spices and salt in medium bowl. Beat in flour. Then stir in almonds.

Using hands, roll dough into tablespoon-size balls. Place on large
baking sheet, spacing apart. Bake until pale golden, about 25 minutes.

Cool on sheet 5 minutes. Place remaining sugar in a large bowl.
Working in batches, gently coat hot cookies in sugar. Cool cookies on
rack. Roll again in sugar and serve.

Notes:

These cookies, a twist on traditional snowballs, are just the thing
to enjoy with a spot of tea

-------------------------------------------------
Sent to you using MacGourmet
http://www.macgourmet.com

[swquilts]

I've seen the Oregon mix at Target. I'll have to pick some of that up since the International coffee one is WAY too sweet. It says sugar free, but they OD'd on Splenda or something.

[Kathy B]

Those look really good, blazedog! I hadn't decided what cookies I wanted to make this week, but I think I just did! :)

kima actually posted the Vanilla Chai Icebox Shortbread Cookies which also look great, but I will have to wait until I order vanilla beans to try those. I really would like to try them!

[blazedog]

Those look really good, blazedog! I hadn't decided what cookies I wanted to make this week, but I think I just did! :)

kima actually posted the Vanilla Chai Icebox Shortbread Cookies which also look great, but I will have to wait until I order vanilla beans to try those. I really would like to try them!

Yes I had the ones with the vanilla beans but then decided I just wanted to make my life easier and save those for when I am making only one batch and want to fuss with scraping. :p

[rburganmckinley]

Lipton has a powdered chai mix too in a yellow bag. So does Tastefully Simple.

[beacooker]

I'm actually happy to have a recipe that calls for the individual spices. Its not often I get to use my ground cardamon! :)

[blazedog]

I'm also happier not to use a mix because I feel more in control of the finished product.

[tbb113]

I'm actually happy to have a recipe that calls for the individual spices. Its not often I get to use my ground cardamon! :)

Check out this thread (http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?t=63358&highlight=cardamom) for more ways to use up your cardamom

[Linda in MO]

I've seen the Oregon mix at Target. I'll have to pick some of that up since the International coffee one is WAY too sweet. It says sugar free, but they OD'd on Splenda or something.
Just a warning but the Oregon Chai Tea mix is quite sweet.

I also use the Oregon chai liquid concentrate, I pick mine up at World Market, and I have also seen some supermarkets starting to carry it. I prefer this to the powdered, I also see the coffeehouses using the same concentrate when making chai drinks for purchase.
I'm the opposite. I didn't care for the liquid concentrate at all. It was too sweet and didn't have enough "chai" flavor. I think the powder is sweet too but I make it w/water and dilute it with some milk.

[beacooker]

Oooooooh - thanks for that tip, Tyra. Lots of yummy-looking recipes to try!

[breadmama]

"kima actually posted the Vanilla Chai Icebox Shortbread Cookies which also look great, but I will have to wait until I order vanilla beans to try those. I really would like to try them!"

I made the recipe without the vanilla beans - just added 1 tsp. Penzey's double strength vanilla and it was good.

I was looking for easy and this fit the bill. We also rolled the logs in turbinado sugar, which was a nice touch.

Hope you like the cookies!

[misskitty100]

Starbucks also sells the Oregon Chai mix -- it comes in a waxed box and is sold as a liquid.