I first experienced chai in 10th grade. I was visiting my friend Michaela in Germany and we ducked into a Starbucks to escape the chilly weather. It was my first time in a Starbucks and I didn’t know where to begin. Did I want small, or a tall? Were they the same thing? Because tall doesn’t sound very small. My mind hadn’t even begun to process the crowded menu.

Thankfully, my friend ordered for me and placed a chai latte in my hands. I took one sip and knew I had a favorite drink. In a world of coffee drinkers, I had found my place. Chai tasted like Christmas in a cup and warmed me from my head to my toes.

Since then, I have tried chai lattes in countless coffee shops in countless cities. I have found though, I don’t actually know that much about my beloved tea. I know which coffee shops in Austin have the best, worst, cheapest, and most expensive chai but I don’t know the history behind the drink or what spices make chai, chai. So this is my “Chai 101,” a brief look at the history and Westernization of my favorite drink plus recipes and other tidbits. Pour yourself a cup of chai and enjoy!

Read the rest on my blog.