Masala Chai: Origins, Benefits and How to Brew
What is Masala Chai?
Masala Chai is a traditional spiced black tea originating from India, made by simmering black tea with warming spices and milk. Rich, aromatic, and deeply comforting, it is both a daily ritual and a sensory experience, valued for its balance of strength, spice, and warmth.
At Idyll, our organic Masala Chai is blended with carefully selected spices and black tea to create a cup that is bold yet balanced, layered without being overpowering, and suited to slow, mindful drinking.
Origins and traditional history
Masala Chai has its roots in India, where spiced beverages have been prepared for thousands of years. Early versions were often caffeine-free herbal concoctions used in Ayurvedic traditions, valued for their warming and restorative qualities.
When black tea became more widely available in India during the colonial era, it was incorporated into these spiced preparations. Over time, this evolved into the Masala Chai we know today — a combination of tea, spices, milk, and sweetness, prepared fresh and shared widely in homes and on streets across the subcontinent.
The tea and spice components
Masala Chai is built on a foundation of black tea, typically chosen for its strength and ability to hold flavour when combined with milk and spices. The spice blend varies by region and household, but commonly includes ingredients such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and black pepper.
Each spice plays a distinct role. Cardamom brings aromatic lift, ginger adds warmth, cinnamon contributes sweetness and depth, while cloves and pepper provide gentle heat.
Growing regions and sourcing
Masala Chai is typically built on black teas from Assam in northeast India, prized for their malty depth and strength, with Nilgiri teas from southern India sometimes added for lift. These regions produce leaves that remain flavourful when paired with milk and spices.
The spice blend draws from distinct origins: cardamom from India or Guatemala, ginger from India and Southeast Asia, cinnamon from Sri Lanka, and cloves from Indonesia. Quality Masala Chai depends on balance — allowing spice and tea to complement one another without dominance.
Flavour and aroma
Masala Chai depends on careful blending to ensure the spices enhance rather than overpower the tea. The ratio of black tea to spice is critical: too little tea and the cup becomes sharp and perfumed; too much and the spices lose definition. When balanced correctly, the spices release gradually during brewing, creating warmth and depth without heaviness.
This approach is reflected in our Masala Chai black tea, which produces a full-bodied cup with rounded heat, gentle sweetness, and a lingering warmth that develops over time rather than arriving all at once.
Benefits and traditional uses
Masala Chai has long been enjoyed for both its flavour and its functional qualities. The spices traditionally used are associated with warming the body and supporting digestion, while black tea provides natural caffeine and antioxidants.
The combination of caffeine and L-theanine in black tea supports alertness with a smoother energy profile, while spices such as ginger and cardamom are commonly valued for digestive comfort.
Is Masala Chai caffeinated?
Yes. Masala Chai contains caffeine due to its black tea base. A typical cup offers a moderate caffeine level, providing a gentle lift without the sharp intensity often associated with coffee.
When enjoyed with milk, the effect tends to feel slower and more sustained, making Masala Chai a popular choice for mornings or mid-afternoon pauses.
How to brew Masala Chai
Masala Chai benefits from a slightly longer brew, allowing the spices to fully infuse.
- Use 2g (a heaped teaspoon) of loose leaf tea
- Heat fresh water to 95–100°C
- Add 250mL of water and steep for 4–5 minutes
- Add milk to taste and strain
- Sweeten if desired
This method produces a rounded, aromatic cup with depth and warmth.
A warming routine
Masala Chai is both energising and grounding, making it well suited to moments that call for comfort and focus. Its ritual nature — brewing, warming, and slowing down — is as much a part of the experience as the flavour itself.
For those seeking a black tea that feels both nourishing and indulgent, Masala Chai remains a timeless and deeply comforting choice.
