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Indian tea has major significance in India and is seen as an inseparable part of the Indian way of Life.

One of the most iconic aspects of Indian tea culture is the preparation and consumption of  Chai (Indian tea). 

Indian tea, commonly referred to in India as "Masala Chai" or “Chai” literally means “tea” in Hindi . The term means a mix of spices brewed with black tea leaves and milk blending into a tea-like beverage.

Around the world, each country has its own rituals and traditions from British Classic Afternoon Tea to Japanese Tea Ceremonies. When it comes to Tea, In India, Chai, is an Art form.

Completely different from that of a "chai latte" found in Western coffee houses, traditional Indian tea, "chai," is prepared  on a gas fire and served in traditional clay pots. 

Each household and region in India may have its unique recipes and methods, resulting in a diverse range of flavours and aromas. Every one of them has its own secret recipe passed from generation to generation.

Besides being a pillar of Indian street culture, chai is important in Indian households. Guests are treated as “emissaries of God,” and they always receive a cup of chai upon arrival.

Tea is also an integral part of religious and spiritual practice in India. It is offered to deities during rituals and ceremonies, symbolising purity and devotion.

In India, legend tells the story of Buddha, Prince Bodhi Dharma, who left his homeland for China, to spread Buddhism. He was committed to staying awake during his 9–year mission, but nearing the end of his third year, exhausted, he decided to pluck a few leaves of a tea shrub and ate them up. The leaves gave him the strength to complete his mission, and soon his followers and people began drinking tea.

Apart from legends, history teaches us that the British introduced tea to India — the new beverage was welcomed and local tea vendors created their version. From that moment, Indian chai makers, called chai wallahs, started to set up shop on almost every street corner. You can see them pouring the chai from cup to cup, grinding spices, and masterfully sipping each batch to test its perfection.