Authentic Masala Chai Teabag closeup
A macro pile of Authentic Masala Chai Loose leaf tea
Authentic Masala Chai Teabag Envelope infusion in a glass cup
Authentic Masala Chai  arranged in a circle
Authentic Masala Chai 100 teabag pack
Authentic Masala Chai 250 teabag pack

No. 125

Authentic Masala Chai - Teabags

Sale price£38.50

Our authentic loose-leaf Masala Chia balances bold Assam leaves with traditionally grown Indian spices for an invigorating blend packed with warming flavours.

Format
size:100 Teabags
Quantity:

About our Masala Chai Teabags

Our Masala Chai biodegradable Triune™ teabags are packed full of our award-winning Masala Chai loose-leaf tea. Crafted from sustainable and compostable cornstarch, each triangular Triune™ is generous in size and allows for all the tea leaves and spices within this delicious Indian Chai to infuse to its full potential when placed in a mug full of boiling water.

These Great Taste teabags offer a strong and full-bodied infusion, packed full of cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and more alongside a powerful Assam black tea. Expect bold malty notes alongside fresh traditional Indian spices.

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 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.

Region

Sibsagar Assam Region, India

The Assam region of India, located in the northeastern part of the country, is renowned for its rich, full-bodied black tea, which forms the robust foundation of traditional Indian chai. Assam’s hot, humid climate, coupled with fertile alluvial soil, creates ideal conditions for cultivating not only tea but also a variety of spices integral to chai, such as ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, and bay leaf. These ingredients thrive in Assam's warm, wet environment, which accelerates growth and enhances the aromatic oils and pungency of the spices.

The abundant rainfall, averaging 2,500 to 3,000 mm annually, and temperatures ranging from 18°C to 37°C, boost the flavour and quality of both tea and spices. When combined, these spices and Assam tea create a deeply aromatic, invigorating brew that epitomises the authentic chai experience. Careful harvesting at optimal times—ginger and turmeric in winter, cardamom in late summer, and cloves and cinnamon during the late rainy season—ensures that
the spices retain their potent essential oils. Assam, therefore, is not just a producer of premium black tea but also a vital hub for the cultivation of the key spices that contribute to the complex flavours of Indian chai.

1 triune teabag

200ml

100°C

3 - 5mins