Guide

The spices in your chai

Masala chai is a spice infusion that happens to contain tea. Each of those spices was chosen long before anyone was thinking about flavour alone — most have a long history in Ayurvedic kitchen practice.

What follows is what these ingredients are traditionally used for and what they contribute to the cup — not medical advice. See the note at the foot of the page.

The spice box

Ginger

The warming spice, and the one that gives adrak chai its bite. Traditionally taken in warm drinks in cold weather and after heavy meals. In the cup it adds sharp heat and a long finish.

Green cardamom

Sweet and floral, the most widely used chai spice. Long used in Indian cooking as an aromatic and a palate freshener. It rounds a cup rather than cutting through it — see cardamom chai.

Lemongrass

Bright and citrus-forward, traditionally enjoyed as a light infusion in its own right. It is the lead in lemongrass chai and the one spice that makes chai feel refreshing rather than warming.

Cinnamon

Adds sweet depth and body without sugar. A small piece of bark is enough; it is a background spice rather than a lead.

Clove

Dark, aromatic and extremely strong. Used sparingly — one or two per pot. Traditionally associated with warming preparations.

Fennel and tulsi

Less common but traditional additions. Fennel is cooling and slightly sweet; tulsi (holy basil) is a classic herb in Indian households and brings a distinctive savoury-herbal note.

And the tea itself

Black tea contributes caffeine — meaningfully less than coffee per cup, but enough to matter — along with the polyphenols and other compounds naturally present in Camellia sinensis. A strong Assam brewed for chai will be more caffeinated than the same leaf steeped briefly, since the simmer extracts more.

This page describes traditional culinary uses and is provided for general information only. It is not medical advice, and nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a health condition or are pregnant, talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to what you drink.