Now the world's most popular beverage after water, "tea" properly refers only to the infusion of the leaves of Camellia sinensis, hence "chai" could refer to any and all such preparations. In modern India, tea is usually boiled up very strong with milk and lots of sugar, as spices and honey are comparatively expensive, honey so much so that it is sometimes consumed straight as a dessert. Ayurveda is an ancient system of Indian medicine which thousands of years ago codified the use of certain foods and spices to restore and maintain the balance of different kinds of physiological constitutions. According to ancient practice, honey is the "Perfection of the Sweet,"the best of vehicles for preserving and delivering therapeutic and rejuvenating substances. It also balances the pungent and virilizing properties of the spices in Jozseph's Chai.
Milk is added to tea as the perfect synthesis of plant and animal. On a less metaphorical basis, milk completes the flavor saturation of the tea with its protein and richness. Almond, rice or soy milk perform much the same function, though some brands may be overly sweet. The spices in Jozseph's chai are all said to improve milk's digestibility.
Most imbibers prefer black tea or a mixture of green and black tea with Jozseph's Chai. If you are avoiding caffeine, de-caffeinated teas work well, as do roasted grain teas like Mu Zest. Chamomile and Mint Chai also has its adherents. A small, but vocal, minority likes Jozseph's Chai in coffee.
Ancient and modern Ayurvedic writers disagree about the specific properties of different spices. Over the years at India Joze, I have found this balance of pungent and cooling spices, which one reviewer referred to as "like falling in love," to meet the needs for excitement and refreshment of a large percentage of the population. If you are unhappy in any way with Jozseph's Chai, please return it to me or your retailer for a full refund.