Masala Chai
Also known as Chai, Masala Tea, Karak Chai
India's spiced milk tea. Black tea is simmered with milk and spices such as cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and clove, and sweetened with sugar or jaggery. Recipes change from home to home and from one street-side tea seller (chaiwala) to the next.
Taste
Sweet, milky and warmly spiced
How to brew
Simmer the spices in water, add black tea and milk and let it bubble gently. Add cardamom towards the end, strain, and sweeten to taste.
Cultural background
Tea came to India in the colonial period, and the British promoted it with posters and adverts. In the early 20th century the Indian Tea Association pushed tea breaks and supported tea sellers at railway stations. When vendors added more milk, sugar and spices, the association first objected, as it meant fewer leaves per cup – chai became India's everyday drink anyway.
Where to drink it
No places on the map yet.
Sources
For everything above except our personal notes.