The origins of our Masala Chai Tea

One look at our Great Taste award-winning Masala Chai tea, with its large leaves and chunks of spices hints at the complexity to be found in this award-winning loose-leaf spiced tea. Packed with cinnamon pieces, cardamom pods, nutmeg, saffron, fresh ginger pieces and black peppercorn, our chai is an authentic Indian tea. Made from the finest quality Assam leaves and chai spices, it's the perfect daytime pick-you-up.

Strong and full-bodied, this authentic Indian chai blend offers a slightly malty flavour and an alluring aroma of fresh green cardamom, with delicate notes coming from the whole and ground spices; clove, cinnamon and black pepper.

First, there's that comforting aroma of warm spice rising from the amber-coloured infusion. Then there are the exotic, traditionally grown Indian spices on the palate – these are what make this famous black tea so wonderfully rich and exotically flavoursome. Finally, there are those strong and full-bodied orthodox Assam leaves. All of which combine to create an exceptionally calming, sweet and spicy chai loose-leaf tea, best enjoyed with milk and ideally drunk while curled up on a sofa with a good book!

What is masala chai?

First of all, it is not entirely correct to say 'chai tea'. Chai is the name for tea in many parts of the world, so by saying 'chai tea', you're really saying 'tea tea'. As for its background, masala chai hails from India – or possibly Thailand, depending on your perspective. Regardless, its origins are claimed to go back thousands of years, when it is reputed to have been drunk as an Ayurvedic beverage at South Asia's royal courts.

Originally caffeine-free and made with a mix of spices and sweeteners for various ailments, the drink's evolution into masala chai really began with the British establishment of tea farms in India in the mid-19th century. By the 1900s, black tea leaves were being included in masala chai recipes as working-class Indians created their own version, sweetening it with milk for nutrition, adding a bolt of sugar for energy, and hawking it at street stalls across the nation.

Fast forward to the 1960s, and Western travellers began discovering it for themselves. And while fast-drink outlets have since adulterated the traditional drink with their abundance of overly sweet and artificial chai lattes, authentic Indian spiced black tea such as our Masala Chai remains a premium brew with a beautiful balance of intoxicating spices.

Need more convincing? Well, with those spices adding their own health-giving qualities to those of the antioxidant-rich Assam leaves, our Masala Chai comes with a raft of health benefits and is available as loose leaf or in for convenience our Triune tea bags. Add to that its feel-good factor and no need to use a spice grinder when making; everyone should have a caddy in their kitchen! Enjoy a cup of chai with your choice of your milk and sugar; cow, almond milk, soy milk or oat milk.

If you are in the mood to experiment why not add fennel seeds and star anise during the brewing process to develop the flavour.

Explore other spiced teas

If you enjoy your chai with milk and sugar, we recommend our Classic Karak Chai, an intensely strong black tea infused with traditional spices. If you are looking for another cosy tea for winter nights, try our Christmas Tea. For warming, exotically flavoured infusions which are caffeine free, try our Chai of Madagascar or our Turmeric Spice herbal tea.

Spiked with gorgeous pieces of spice, our Masala Chai needs to be seen! Show off yours in one of our glass tea pitchers or infusers.

This tea offers a spicy aroma and deep amber infusion. A warming cup with cinnamon, cardamom notes and malty mouthfeel.

Indian Black Tea, Ginger, Bay Leaves, Cinnamon, Green Cardamom and Cloves