If you've only ever had chai as a syrupy latte from a coffee chain, you're in for a treat. Masala chai simply means "spiced tea". Masala is Hindi for a blend of spices, and chai is the word for tea. It's one of India's best-loved drinks, brewed in homes and poured from street stalls on pretty much every corner.
Our version starts with a strong Ceylon black tea, then adds warming cinnamon, fragrant cardamom and a kick of ginger. It smells like the inside of a spice cupboard in the best possible way. The flavour is warming and lively without being fiery, with a fragrant, lingering spice at the finish.
For a proper chai, give it a good long brew and add a generous splash of milk, plus a little sugar or honey if you like it sweet. That's how it's drunk in India. It's built to stand up to milk, so it never ends up weak or watery. For a homemade chai latte, brew it strong in a small amount of water and top it up with hot, frothy milk.
It's got a good caffeine kick, so it's a great swap for your morning coffee. It's also a proper treat on a cold afternoon, with a biscuit to dunk.
- Tea type: Black Tea
- Caffeine: Medium caffeine
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Preparation: 100° for 7-10 mins. Use the longer steep for a fuller, spicier cup that stands up well to milk.
- Weight: 50g
Where our tea comes from
We work with a specialist tea importer who sources directly from the farmers and growers in some of the world's best tea regions. Sourcing directly means that the tea reaches you fresher, and you get whole-leaf quality without the big price tag.
It's the same approach we've always taken with our coffee - really good quality, but at a price that makes sense for everyday drinking.
Getting the best from loose leaf tea
Brewing methods differ depending on the tea and whether you're adding milk, so use the following as a rough guide.
Use about one teaspoon (2 to 3g) of leaves per cup, and always start with freshly poured water rather than re-boiling what's left in the kettle. Temperature and steep time make a big difference, so check the guide on each tea, but as a general rule, allow for at least 2 minutes for your tea to steep.
Black and herbal teas like it boiling hot, while green teas are happier a little cooler. A tea infuser, strainer or teapot with a filter gives the leaves room to open up, and that's where all the flavour comes from.
Keeping your tea fresh
Store your tea in an airtight container somewhere cool, dark and away from sunlight and moisture. Matcha needs extra care, because light quickly dulls its colour and flavour. That's why our matcha comes in packaging without the window you'll see on our other teas.
If purchasing matcha tea, keep it in its pouch or in an opaque, airtight tin rather than a glass jar, and once opened, enjoy it within a month or two while it's vibrant and green.
Tea also picks up smells easily, so keep it away from spices and strong-smelling food. That includes your coffee, however much we love it!
Orders up to £25
£3.65 Royal Mail Tracked 48
Orders over £25
Free UK delivery on orders over £25.00
We aim to dispatch all orders placed online within 24 hours Monday to Friday however, if we have / had a promotion running, we appreciate your maximum patience for your order to be dispatched as there may be a delay of up to a week to dispatch (all orders will remain freshly prepared on the day it's dispatched).
Orders placed on bank holidays or during other closure periods will be dispatched as soon as possible, depending on the amount of orders we receive during this time.
