What colour should your chai be? Find your perfect cup on the tea shade chart

Too pale? Too milky? Or dark enough to give you that strong cup of chai you like? The colour of your chai depends largely on how much tea, water and milk go into the pot.

From a light golden brew to a deep reddish-brown cup, each shade comes with a different tea-to-milk balance. So, what should the ideal chai actually look like? Use this simple shade guide to find the right proportions for the cup you prefer.

For 2 cups of classic chai:

• 2 tsp tea leaves
• 1½ cups water
• 1½ cups milk
• 2–3 tsp sugar, or to taste

How to get that perfect chai colour

• Boil the tea in water first. Let the leaves simmer for 2–3 minutes so they release their colour and flavour.
• Add milk after the tea has brewed. This gives you better control over the final shade.
• Simmer for another 2–3 minutes. The longer it cooks, the deeper the colour becomes, but over-boiling can make the tea bitter.
• Adjust with milk, not water. If the chai looks too dark, add a splash of hot milk. If it looks too pale, brew the tea a little longer.

Use the right tea. CTC tea generally gives a darker, stronger cup, while whole-leaf teas can produce a lighter, more nuanced colour.

The visual target: a good everyday chai should usually sit somewhere between golden caramel and medium reddish-brown, depending on the style of chai.