A quick note on language: "chai" simply means "tea" in Hindi — so "chai tea" is technically "tea tea." What the Western world calls chai is what India calls Masala Chai — "masala" meaning spiced. Our Masala Chai is brewed the traditional way: black tea leaves and whole spices (ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper) are simmered together with water and then whole milk is added and the entire thing simmers until deeply fragrant and the perfect shade of golden-brown. It's strong, milky, warming, and sweet — the opposite of a thin, steeped tea bag. This is the chai that 1.4 billion people reach for every morning. When paired with a samosa or pakora, nothing is more perfectly Indian.
Key Ingredients
Black tea leavesFresh gingerCardamomCinnamonClovesBlack pepperWhole milkSugar