The Way of Chai: Recipes for a Meaningful Life

by Kevin Wilson

In this celebration of the comfort and community to be found in a warm, well-made cup of chai, Kevin Wilson offers readers his famous chai recipes alongside meditations on how to live a simple yet full life.

Dubbed “the CEO of Chai” by Bon Appétit magazine, Kevin Wilson is an expert on all things chai. When Wilson was a teenager, his family in Sri Lanka applied to come to America, but his was the only visa approved. A world away from his country and so many of his loved ones, he stayed connected to his culture and his family through chai. One day Wilson made a TikTok about how to make the perfect cup of chai—carefully crushing cardamom, cloves, peppercorns, and cinnamon bark, boiling them in milk, adding tea leaves, and stirring until he saw what he describes as “the color of a happy brown boy.” The video went viral and earned Wilson many fans who come for the useful guidance on how to make chai but stay for his wise meditations on how the perfect “cuppa” can soothe and sustain us—even in the most trying of times. In this book, Wilson shares his most popular recipes and introduces readers to making chai as a spiritual practice that involves patience and attunement to meld just the right combination of spices.
In The Way of Chai Wilson beautifully describes how something as simple as a well-made cup of tea can bring us solace amid our struggles. While a steaming cup of chai can’t solve everything, it can help us tap into the power of patience, clarity, and intention.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cooking, Food, Cookbooks, Tea, Christian, Food and Drink

224 pages, Hardcover

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Reviews

[Stephanie Ridiculous · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean this with the most affection possible, but this was mostly just good background noise. There is the occasional touching line, and the chai recipes are great. The memoir portions of this are interesting, as I've followed Wilson's trajectory into influence and it's nice to know more about him. There is a light sprinkling of history, too, and some tea facts - which are nice. Otherwise, though, this is a lot of fluff. Cliche, tropey, stretching-to-make-the-uplifting-point-fluff. It's certainly a feel good read, it's nice to get a pick me up via Wilson's generally positive attitude. I personally would have gotten more out of something was a little meatier - something that dug a little deeper than converting the steps of chai into quasi devotional inspirational messages.

But, to each their own. It's not bad by any means, just not really my cup of tea (ha.)

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savor this book like you would a perfect cup of chai. You’ll get a fascinating introduction to the process of tea making, interesting anecdotes about the author, and encouragement to reflect on your own journey. There is so much to be learned about what living authentically looks like, that you’d be forgiven for forgetting it’s also filled with delicious chai recipes.

Look, I’m not going to pretend like I’m not biased as hell here. I made a new shelf just for this book: authors I know irl. If you’re looking for an objective review, you will not find it here. If you’re wondering if his chai is really that good, I’m here to tell you it’s amazing. You should absolutely try his recipes. You’ll never drink a Starbucks tea tea latte again.

[sarah kanaparthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

being a south asian, chai has always been a huge part of my life. there’s not a day that’s gone by that i haven’t smelled the familiar smell of cardamom, ginger, & black tea flowing through the house made by my mom. i’m so used to it, i don’t think much of it! kevin wilson, a social media influencer & pastor, takes something that i’m so familiar to and sculpts a beautifully written read that intertwines into being present, embracing the “now”, exploring grief, your identity regardless of the the hardships & circumstances, & SO so much more.

i’m not sure it’s because of my roots and connection to chai, but connecting a familial experience into significant & meaningful components of identity was a touching experience. with hints of nostalgia (growing up in south india),cultural references, and actual chai recipes, this was a beautiful read saturated with a graceful prose & unforgettable lessons.

beautifully written.

[Danielle Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful easy-to-read book containing authentic chai recipes and beautiful autobiographical stories from the life of Kevin Wilson.

I first discovered Wilson through one of his viral chai recipes on Instagram. I guess you could say I came for the chai and stayed for his profound perspectives on Christianity and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Wilson's perspectives on life, faith, deconstruction, and religion are as refreshing and beautiful as his recipes. I'm so glad his stories and recipes found such a big platform.

Wilson has a way of challenging you, but in a way that feels like you're being personally handed a steaming cup of chai from him. It's a gentle invitation. It's a loving push to something more profound. It's a challenge to view society, religion, and all of life outside of the lens of colonized Western society and capitalism.

[Robin Mandell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect to love this book. At most I thought I would get a few recipes for chai and enjoy a few of the stories.
But, from beginning to end, this is a gem. Kevin Wilson has a lot of gentleness and wisdom.
He has seen and experienced a lot of hard things, and he does not try to gloss over or minimize any of that. But he also brings an air of grace that we are so desperately needing.
And the chai recipes sound lovely.

[Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

hgHhhhh everyone read this soft little book about this chai-obsessed man’s life

“The recipes of chai show you that you can achieve true mastery not only by pursuing a love of habits but by cultivating habits of love.”

Including 15 different chai recipes at the end of each chapter, genuinely good life advice, a nice dose of perspective, and a simmering love for the process, method, and experience of chai, this book was so much more than I ever expected it to be oUuhhghjhhhh

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. The recipes are 👌🏽 The weaving of life and chai making along with the rich heritage expressed throughout make this book amazing.

[Lethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book! I have loved Chai for a long time and have been looking to expand my relationship with it. Kevin's social media posts were a door, and this book is an excellent physical reminder of all I've learned from him. 10/10!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. There are so many good stories and it is so nice to read stories from a different culture. I have only made a few of the recipes but I especially appreciated that the recommended supplies were outlined in the beginning. The process is also very easy to follow.

*Pre-Review* The author has been sharing excerpts and stories on his social media. The stories are from before the book was even written. His outlook and story telling are so beautiful and kind I can confidentially say this is going to be a 5 star read before I even read it.

[Mae_chann · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could rate this a 10/10 I would. I followed Kevin from his TikTok account and fell in love with chai and chai making.

This book brought the love of chai and navigating a meaningful life together in the best way. Wonderful stories and ideas flow together in a way that makes this book enjoyable. Not preachy like some books tend to be. I will be reading this again. And again.

[Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book randomly popped up for me on social media and I was unfamiliar with the author (never heard of him, had not seen a video of his anywhere, etc.) but I do love tea (chai) so I thought this would be interesting. He sounded like he has a super interesting story. Wilson was born in Sri Lanka and is currently a pastor in California and I was very curious to how he made this journey and the story behind his TikTok.

Part biography, part history, part recipe book, Wilson shares parts of his life with us, along with making many versions of chai. Sometimes he tells the story of meeting an old family friend, the story of his family, parts of his life, etc. As someone who had no idea who he was it seems like he's led an interesting life and has had an interesting journey.

That said, overall I found the book a little dull. It was at times a little too chipper, a little light on the chai, etc. This could very well be because it would help if I had known of him before picking up the book, etc. but I guess I was really here for the chai and not the other parts. That is not to say this was not good or there is not an audience for it, just that I would say it was not for me. I would have loved more pictures of the actual chai, for example.

Would bet that there are definitely fans who would love his book and many who would enjoy reading/hearing his story in this form. Recommend this for his fans for sure but I would bet this would be of interest to anyone who likes the backgrounds of social media influencers, have a particular interest in chai, etc. Just be aware this is also very much his story, too.

Library borrow was best for me.

[Leanna Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lifelong atheist, it's a funny thing to read through what is essentially the manifesto of a Christian pastor. That said, Kevin Wilson's online presence has always been a little more radical, a little more loving, a little more zen than any other pastor I've seen - so I took a chance on his book.
This is partially because I am a tea book enthusiast. This isn't my first "way of tea" book, not by a longshot. There's a substantial amount of literature in the world about tea as a way of life, and this book having a focus on specifically chai intrigued me. There is a significant amount of similarities, stories which ground the eventual "proverb", a tie back to the chai making process, an emphasis on using tea as a metaphor for a way of living.

I found this book to be delightful. Kevin's storytelling is bite sized but beautiful, and invariably earnest. I took the book slowly, reading a chapter or two per month - as I often do with books along these lines. The only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is because I've read so many "way of tea" books - this one felt like the tiktok teacher version of those stories, just enough to get the message across, but not enough to really get in depth with the concept. That said, rooting everything in specifically chai and Sri Lankan culture was really special and worth the read.

[Stella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hesitant to check this out at the library because the author biography claims he’s a TikTok sensation and an ordained minister in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. But it was shelved in the cookbook section and I do love tea, so I gave it a try. I’m glad I did.

This is more of a meditation on tea, with recipes. There is history of tea, instructions on preparation, and the author’s own family stories as Sri Lankan workers on tea estates. The religion that comes through is multicultural and ecumenical, striving for community, justice, and service…in other words, the parts of faith that I used to like.

I struggled with the self-help portions. The author seems young to me, the advice too general, or perhaps I am more skeptical and jaded. I wonder what kind of conversation we might have over tea, the more world traveled optimistic minister, and the older secular humanist who lost her faith?

[Kaitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't for me. I bought this book because of my 20-year love affair with chai, and because I enjoyed Kevin's chai-making videos on tiktok. I only read the first chapter, but I felt the book was so full of generic platitudes, that is was almost meaningless. Only brief portions felt like Kevin was speaking authentically from personal experience. He told a very abbreviated story about his mentor in his young preteen and teenage years, and I wanted to know more. However, the majority of the writing is "pearls of wisdom" that could be found in any self-help book of the last 5 years. I feel a bit as if I've been hoodwinked.

I listened in audiobook format, and Kevin is a pleasant narrator. However, I just can't commit 5 hours to finishing the book. Instead, I'm going back to finish my re-read of Derren Brown's Happy.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie....I saw the authors name and was thinking of the other Kevin Wilson when I requested this book....that being said, I enjoyed the audiobook and listening to the author's way of relating life to chai. And I solemnly swear not to call it chai tea. Does it get a little cheesy at times? of course it does...the same way any feel good book telling you to slow down and smell the chai should. I loved the way the author refers to the reader as bestie. You feel like a friend throughout the book. The audiobook is read by the author and is a fast easy listen. It covers some tough topics but in a way that you feel hopeful after, not weighed down.

[Annie Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun, encouraging, lighthearted book! As a lover of chai and an Instagram follower of Kevin for several years I knew more of his personality and humor, which made reading the book really fun. A mixture of chai recipes, personal stories, historical context/background, teachings of Jesus, and some self-help techniques this book is a unique mixture of several different things. I really enjoyed how Kevin used the process of making chai to teach upon/talk about real life realities which made it fun. If you love chai and reading stories I’d say it’s a good book for you!

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A relaxing book on chai with life lessons for extra flavor

I picked up the book for the chai but stayed for the stories. Wilson shares insights about everything from tea making to family history to lessons on life, death, and service. The book captured my attention in the way the writer captures his experiences so perfectly while modeling the process of tea from seed to decomposition of the leaves. I highly recommend this book for all tea lovers and people who are looking for another engaging book to read!

[Eliot.V · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, I am biased because most books on how to live a better life are written by white men who have lived their entire lives in first-world countries.

However, even though the author's thoughts and life lessons are basic, they are still honest and universally applicable. I believe many people can benefit from them as a daily reminder of the different phases and stages of life. Just like a chai life, life has many phases and stages.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew nothing about this author until I listened to this audiobook, but everything fell into place when he mentioned that he's a Christian pastor. The recipes for chai sound delicious, and I'd like to learn more about Wilson's 'third culture' upbringing, but the platitudes, clichés, and being called "bestie" made me feel like I was being talked at by a Youth Pastor.

Sorry, I just went to his website, and he spells it "bestea"?

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about chai and reflections on life by at TCK. I enjoyed the chai history and recipes.
A light easy to read book. Easy to read in chunks great for put down and pick up book.
I am so interested in the author.
one of my favorite things was the cover I just loved the illustrations and the feel of the cover of this book.

[Jon Coupal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenally written with a pastoral heart. My wife bought me this book for my birthday since I’m also a pastor with a similar bent toward justice, slowing down, and being. Every chapter had something wonderful and peaceful to offer, and I connected with Kevin’s stories easily. It could be a quick read, but I suggest taking it slow.

[Kristen McDermott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sweet little book that's more spiritual self-help than recipe collection, but the author seems to have had a lot of interesting experiences and offers warm, accessible advice about mindfulness and empathy.

[Christen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter begins with a Chai recipe and then delves into a nugget of wisdom for life's goings-on. A lovely book!

[Kayla Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most authentically pure reads ever. Kevin pours his heart and soul onto the paper, and the whole book is like sharing a cup of chai with your bestea :)

[Alicia Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. Thought-provoking, intimate, and touching, this was much more than a book about how to make Chai. Just like a cup of chai will never just be a normal cup of tea for me again.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part recipe book, part spiritual meditation, part biography, this is a sweet book. The author is a chai expert on Instagram and a pastor from Sri Lanka. Great recipes and thoughtful insights.

[Domonic Philbrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that features some very tasty chai recipes, as well as heartfelt stories that not only educate you on elements of the tea industry, but also teach valuable life lessons.

[Zoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF - it’s unfortunately very telling when a social media influencer gets a book deal.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tips for Chai and life.

[Shariq Hirani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute book with some nice recipes. It does seem to ride high on the author's social media fame though.