Chai masala
A tea spice blend of cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and pepper, boiled with milk and tea.
Also: masala chai spice, tea masala, karak mix
Chai masala is the aromatic mix used to turn black tea into masala chai, a drink of India and neighbouring lands. Standard ingredients are green cardamom, dried ginger or fresh ginger, cinnamon or cassia, cloves and black pepper, sometimes with fennel, star anise or nutmeg. Households crush whole spice for each pot, and tea shops hold their own recipe as a trade secret. The spice is boiled with water, milk and tea leaves, and sweetened. Regional versions include Kashmiri kahwa with saffron and almond, Gujarati chai with lemongrass and mint, and Gulf karak. Tea itself was popularised in India by British tea promoters in the early twentieth century.