The story of Masala Chai

There are a few things that Indians cannot live without. Two of them are masala (spices) and chai (tea). But what happens when we combine these two? We get the very popular authentic beverage, the Masala Chai or what some like to fancily call the Chai Latte! While the concept itself seems quite modern, the history of masala chai is believed to be very ancient. What’s the story? Let’s find out!

Masala Chai. Illustrated by Dishani Goswami: Visual Storyteller at ThisDay

Be it in a local tapriwala (small tea stalls), or a five-star restaurant, be it the simple masala chai or chai latte, it all carries the same meaning for an Indian person. Tea is not merely a beverage in India, but it is a stress-buster and an intense energizer. It is something that people, strangers, and friends alike, bond over.

Some might claim that the beverage of tea itself has no indigenous roots and is rather a product of colonialism. However, the Camellia Sinensis species, used to make tea, is believed to have been available in the wilderness of Assam since eternity. The British merely turned this naturally grown plant into a cash crop and thereafter, a popular commodity for consumption.

Historically, prior to the arrival of the British in India, tea was not used as a recreational beverage – the morning cup of refreshment that Indians cannot do without. Moreover, they neither used tea leaves nor any milk or sweeteners to brew their beverages.

Instead, ‘tea’ in ancient India was comprised of any drink that used herbal plants along with various aromatic spices like cardamom, cloves, etc., and could be consumed to regain energy. The composition of ancient masala chai was quite similar to Kadha, a medicinal drink prescribed by Ayurveda.

Some believe that the ancient form of masala tea was introduced to India by a Buddhist monk who accidentally had a taste of this refreshing drink during his travels in China. Subsequently, the drink became a popular beverage in the royal courts and among elite circles in India.

In his travel accounts, the Dutch traveller, Jan Huyghen van Lincschoten Jan, also mentioned that such traditional chai, made with plants and spices with no milk, was used in the court of emperor Asoka.

According to another lore, masala chai was developed in the court of Harshavardhana (590-647 CE), the ruler of the Pushyabhuti or Vardhana Dynasty. He apparently used to drink masala chai to keep himself alert during lengthy court sessions. Well, we can almost believe that, considering how it keeps us alive during our boring meetings and tiring work hours!

Since tea leaves were abundantly found in Assam, some stories also suggest that Laal Cha (red tea) was regularly consumed by the Ahom Kings (Assam).

When the British introduced tea, specifically black tea, in the 1830s, as a regular commodity for consumption, the masala chai gained even more popularity. Since Black tea, being an export item, was expensive, the local vendors were sold only the leftover darkened leaves, that could not be exported.

These vendors then started experimenting with different spices like ginger, cardamom, etc., milk, and sweeteners, resulting in the modern-day masala chai!

Milk or no milk, chai has always been a special part of Indian culture and the stories surrounding the origin of masala chai are proof of that!

Masala Chai. Source: Spicemountain