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Buttered Chai

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Buttered Chai (similar to bulletproof coffee - but chai) by Ashley of myheartbeets.com

It’s funny how traditional activities and concepts are making a comeback.

Making bone broth, oil pulling, taking fermented cod liver oil, and putting butter in tea are not new concepts. While these things have made headlines in recent years, the fact is that these ideas have been around for thousands of years.

Before there was bulletproof® coffee, there was buttered tea. Tibetans have been drinking this hot beverage since at least the 15th century. The concept of drinking tea began in China in the fourth century. According to food historian Lizzie Collingham, in her book Curry: A Tale of Cooks and Conquerors, she says tea-drinking eventually spread into Tibet and the Himalayan regions of India “where tea was drunk as a kind of soup mixed with butter.”

The ritual of drinking tea arrived in India much later, the concept introduced by the British under while India was under their rule. While everyone knows of chai as milky spiced tea, the concept of making chai with ghee isn’t totally out there. Growing up, my mom and her family members drank buttered chai in India.

I still love my traditional cup of Masala Chai, but I think buttered chai is an experience to try. If you’ve never experienced the creamy, rich flavor of buttered chai, you’re missing out. A cup of this creamy, frothy buttered drink will make you forget about your troubles, at least for a few minutes.

So why not give buttered tea a try? You can use butter, ghee, or coconut oil.

I’m curious to hear what you think!

Buttered Chai (similar to bulletproof coffee - but chai) by Ashley of myheartbeets.com

I wake up pretty early to get to work and the fact is, I’m not typically hungry when I wake up. While I might not be in the mood for breakfast, I am always in the mood for coffee or tea. Using butter as a creamer helps keep me full and by mid-morning, I’m ready for a hard-boiled egg or two. I don’t like skipping breakfast altogether, but I’m okay with delaying it a bit. Besides, eating a late lunch helps the work day go by quickly. Eating healthy fats in the morning helps me manage my cravings. I’ve also noticed more energy in the mornings.

Do you put butter in your tea or coffee? Would you?

Buttered Chai

Buttered Chai (similar to bulletproof coffee - but chai) by Ashley of myheartbeets.com

Buttered Chai

4.74 from 23 reviews
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Ingredients
 

Instructions
 

  • Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Strain the drink if desired, then serve.
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Comments

  1. SKG says

    I remember reading about it somewhere, and even tried it at times, but gave up coz that was an extra thing to my usual tea making ways. Now, I have resumed making tea with ghee. I have mild IBS and someone told me that ghee or butter with tea or even hot water helps. I feel it does.

    Reply

  5. Sonia says

    Hi, how come you didn’t cook the spices with the black tea itself ? Wouldn’t it taste raw when just throw them in the blender with the other ingreds?

    Reply

    • My Heart Beets says

      I just add the ground powder to the blender with the hot black tea – it’s warm enough to heat the spices through in my opinion but you can definitely brew it with the tea if you’d like!

      Reply

  6. Greg says

    5 stars
    Really like anything Chai, especially with some healthy fats mixed in!

    As an alternative, you could use The PowerCreamer, which is Grass fed Ghee, Coconut Oil, and MCT Oil. It works great for this recipe as well!

    Keep the delicious recipes coming!

    Reply

  12. Shauna says

    5 stars
    I’ve been drinking it in my coffee, but I think I have a new favorite buttery beverage 🙂 I made this this morning, and it is AWESOME!

    Reply

  21. Colleen says

    My tummy is sensitive to caffeine, but I do like the tummy friendly herbal ingredients like ginger and cardamom. I would love to try a caffeine free version of this!

    Reply

  22. Annette says

    I love chai, but never thought of making it from scratch. The only spice that caught me by surprise was fennel. While fennel is one of my favorite veggies, I’m afraid that fennel (seed) is one of my least favorite spices. And thank you for mentioning Coffee++ – I’m going to look into trying some.

    Reply

  26. Liese says

    5 stars
    I love Chai, never drink Coffee. So the whole Bulletproof thing, doesn’t interest me much.
    I would love to try out this recipe.

    Reply

  27. SarahRod says

    Thank you for sharing this recipe. It sounds delicious, and the butter creamer sounds like an interesting alternative.

    Reply

  28. Tamara says

    I haven’t tried the recipe yet but I’m sure I’ll love it! I’ve drunk bullet-proof coffee/tea for years and love Chai…this combines them both!

    Reply

  36. Leslie says

    I am not a big tea drinker but this just might convert me! Assuming the tea needs to be warm/hot when blending. Or have you tried making in a larger batch and reheating?

    Reply

  39. Amma says

    I recently have been drinking bulletproof coffee with ghee (purchased from Pure Indian Foods) and cold-pressed coconut oil blended in my Nutribullet. I must say, it has a beautiful rich color and creamy taste. I have a boost of energy all day and am not craving sweets. Can’t wait to try your recipe. It’s simple and I have all of these ingredients. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

    Reply

  55. Kimberly says

    Looks good! I will have to try this as soon as I get some more ghee. I love adding butter to my coffee, haven’t tried it In tea yet but now I will have to!

    Reply

  56. Heather Gaillot says

    Love their ghee, haven’t tried anything but the plain yet though. I just started making butter coffee so I’d love to try this! Pinned the recipe!

    Reply

  57. Maggi says

    I’ve been drinking butter coffee for about a year now, but had never even thought of buttered chai! Gotta try this soon!

    Reply

  61. Flo says

    5 stars
    I’m 7 months pregnant and while I wasn’t a heavy coffee or tea drinker prior to pregnancy I’ve found myself missing it. And then just a few days ago I had the brilliant idea to make bulletproof tea. AND coming across your post on FB about buttered chai — CHAI IS MY FAVORITE.

    Reply

  62. Susan Cvach says

    I am looking forward to making this when my offspring are home at Christmas break, a new family tradition. Thank you.

    Reply

  63. Sandy Shaner says

    5 stars
    I’ve been experimenting with buttered or oiled hot tea, too, using flavored tea bags then adding whatever strikes my fancy. I’ll enjoy trying your version.

    Reply

  67. Danette says

    I had buttered tea at the Rubin Tibetan Art Museum in NYC. Very rich and unusual, but good. I plan to try this recipe.

    Reply

  69. Michele says

    My husband does and every once I take a sip. It’s nice! It never occurred to me that I could do the same thing with chai!

    Reply

    • Michele says

      Oh and I am totally trying this recipe. I’m not crazy for fennel but I like chai and your recipes have never steered me wrong!

      Reply

  78. Kathryn N says

    I really enjoy chai tea, and have put coconut oil in my coffee in the past. Definitely will be looking to try butter in chai tea. Mit sounds like it would be velvety rich.

    Reply

  83. jessica m. says

    Yum, I hope I win this so I can share this with my sister! I finally convinced her to try butter in her coffee, so I think she would be on board with this!

    Reply

  91. Layla Jabur says

    5 stars
    I have no doubt this would sound soooooooo good. All of your other recipes are to die for. I make them all the time.

    Reply

  92. Sue Raddatz says

    5 stars
    I learned about buttered chai for the first time from you on Bloglovin. Your Buttered Chai recipe and I are headed to the grocery store. Yum is in my future:). Thanks!

    Reply

  107. Roxana S. says

    I already drink my own version of “Bullet-proof coffee” with ghee/coconut oil and turmeric,black pepper and cinnamon to keep me warm and alert in the winter. This recipe sounds wonderful as I liked chai ever since my Pakistani roommate introduced me to it. Thank you!

    Reply

  120. Lauren says

    Going to try this tomorrow with my oolong chai! Is blending required for emulsification of the butter, or would a whisk or spoon work as well? (I have a blender, but I like to minimize my dishes in the morning)

    Reply

  121. Carly Earnest says

    I love drinking my bulletproof coffee every morning! It keeps me full and gives me mental clarity. I usually put protein powder in it for an extra kick. I would love to try it with ghee! I would love to win so that I could try this awesome recipe.

    Reply

  126. Jessica P. says

    AGH!!! I absolutely love tea, can’t wait to try this recipe 😀 I’ve tried coffee with butter and it was yummy, but the tea sounds delicious as well 😀

    Reply

  146. rebeca andres says

    I drink buttered coffee, i just made a chai mix (for a smoothie), I recently tried the ghee sampler pack (yum) and now you’re telling me I can put it all together? I’m in love with this!!

    Reply
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