Assam CTC Black Tea + Cardamom + Cinnamon + Clove + Black Pepper · Tea Bags
This Is What a Billion People Drink Every Morning — Now in Your Kitchen
Not a “chai-inspired” blend. Not a Western interpretation. This is the actual masala chai recipe used in Indian households for decades — strong Assam CTC black tea infused with cardamom, cinnamon, clove, and black pepper. The same spice combination your Indian neighbour makes, the same aroma that fills every railway station in India, the same chai that fuels a nation. High caffeine for a proper morning wake-up. Bold, spicy, aromatic. Add milk and sugar like they do in India, or drink it black. $9.99 for 60 tea bags — $0.17 per cup.
Authentic Indian Recipe
High Caffeine
60 Tea Bags
Ships via DHL / UPS
What It Tastes Like
Cardamom & Cinnamon
First aroma — instantly recognisable
Rich Amber-Brown
Deep cup colour
Full Body
Strong, robust character
Bold Assam CTC
Malty, brisk black tea base
Warm Spice Middle
Cinnamon + cardamom sweetness
Peppery Clove Finish
Black pepper + clove warmth
Medium Sweetness
Best with milk & sugar
Anytime
Morning favourite
Open the bag and inhale — cardamom and cinnamon hit you first, the unmistakable aroma of an Indian kitchen. The sip starts bold and malty with the strength of Assam CTC — this is a proper black tea with real body, nothing delicate about it. The middle blooms with warm spice — cinnamon’s sweetness, cardamom’s floral complexity, and clove’s deep warmth layered together. The finish is peppery and lingering. Add milk and the entire flavour profile transforms — the spices soften, the tea rounds out, and you get that creamy, comforting cup that India has been addicted to for generations.
India’s Four Sacred Chai Spices
Assam CTC Black Tea — The Strong Foundation
CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) is the Indian tea processing method that produces small, dense granules designed to brew strong, quickly, and stand up to milk and sugar. Assam CTC is the gold standard for masala chai — malty, brisk, full-bodied, and high in caffeine (50–90mg per cup). It’s a completely different experience from delicate green teas or herbal tisanes. This is the tea that India runs on — robust enough to hold its own against four powerful spices and a generous pour of milk.
Cardamom — The Queen of Spices
Cardamom is the soul of masala chai — the single spice that makes chai smell like chai. Its floral, slightly sweet, eucalyptus-like aroma is instantly recognisable and irreplaceable. Beyond flavour, cardamom aids digestion, freshens breath, and has antioxidant properties. Indian cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is the world’s finest — grown in the Western Ghats of South India, the same region where Moolihai sources many of its ingredients.
Cinnamon — The Sweet Warmth
Cinnamon provides the warm, sweet undertone that balances the briskness of black tea and the sharpness of pepper and clove. It also helps regulate blood sugar — particularly useful given that masala chai is traditionally served with sugar. The anti-inflammatory cinnamaldehyde compound adds therapeutic value to every cup. The cinnamon-cardamom combination is what gives masala chai its characteristic “warm hug” quality.
Clove — The Deep Spice
Clove adds a deep, almost medicinal warmth — the “backbone” spice that gives masala chai its complexity. Eugenol, clove’s primary compound, is a powerful antibacterial and analgesic (it’s used in dentistry for toothache relief). In chai, clove provides a lingering warmth that carries the flavour long after the sip. A little goes a long way — the blend uses it judiciously so it supports without overpowering.
Black Pepper — The Sharp Finish
Black pepper closes each sip with a clean, sharp warmth. Piperine boosts the absorption of all the other spice compounds — curcumin-like logic applied to chai. Pepper also aids digestion, detoxifies, and adds the subtle heat that distinguishes authentic Indian masala chai from the gentler “chai latte” versions sold in Western cafes. This is the ingredient that makes this recipe real.
Three Ways to Make Your Chai
The Indian Way — With Milk & Sugar
Boil 200ml of water. Add the tea bag, steep for 3 minutes. Remove the bag. Add 50–100ml of warm milk (whole milk is traditional — the fat carries the spice flavours beautifully). Add 1–2 teaspoons of sugar. Stir well. This is exactly how 99% of India drinks their chai — strong, milky, sweet, and spiced. The milk transforms the tea completely, rounding out the boldness and amplifying the cardamom and cinnamon. This is comfort in a cup.
Stove-Top Method — The Authentic Experience
For the most authentic chai experience: add 150ml water and 100ml milk to a small pan. Bring to a simmer (not boiling). Add the tea bag and simmer for 2–3 minutes — the tea and milk brew together, creating a richer, creamier result than adding milk afterward. Remove from heat, squeeze the tea bag gently, add sugar. Pour into a cup from a height (the “pouring from height” technique aerates the chai and enhances flavour — this is what chai wallahs do in India).
Black — The Strong & Simple Version
Boil 200ml of water, add the tea bag, steep for 3 minutes. Remove and drink as-is or with honey. Without milk, the spices are more prominent and the Assam CTC character is front and centre — malty, bold, and brisk. This is for purists who want the full spice impact without the softening effect of milk. Also excellent for those who are dairy-free or vegan. Try with oat milk for a plant-based alternative that still carries the spice beautifully.
What You’re Getting
60 Tea Bags
Also available: 15 & 30
5 Ingredients
Assam CTC + 4 spices
India
Origin
High Caffeine
Real energy — 50–90mg
Medium Sweetness
Best with milk & sugar
Energy
Primary benefit
No Additives
Real spices, not flavourings
$9.99
$0.17 per cup
Ships Worldwide
USA
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Common Questions
Most Western cafe “chai lattes” use a sweet, syrupy chai concentrate mixed with steamed milk — heavy on sugar, light on spice, and nothing like what Indians actually drink. This is the real thing: Assam CTC black tea (the same variety used across India) with whole spices — cardamom, cinnamon, clove, and black pepper. It’s bolder, spicier, less sweet, and far more aromatic than any chai latte you’ve had at a cafe. The spices are real, not artificial flavourings. At $0.17 per cup, it’s also about 30× cheaper than a $5 cafe chai latte.
This is the highest-caffeine tea in the Moolihai collection — approximately 50–90mg per cup from the Assam CTC black tea base. That’s comparable to a weak-to-medium cup of coffee (which has 95–200mg). This is a proper energy tea — it will wake you up. If you’re caffeine-sensitive, drink it in the morning only. If you want lower caffeine, try the green tea blends in the collection. This chai is designed for people who want real energy from their tea, not a gentle lift.
No — it’s delicious black too. But milk is the traditional way and it genuinely transforms the experience. The fat in milk carries the spice flavours and rounds out the boldness of the Assam CTC. Whole milk is traditional, but oat milk is an excellent plant-based alternative (its natural sweetness complements the spices). Almond and soy milk work too but are thinner. If you’re vegan or dairy-free, oat milk is the recommended choice. Try it both ways and decide — many people end up preferring the milk version.
Assam CTC black tea is produced at massive scale in India — it’s the country’s most commonly consumed tea, and the raw material cost is lower than specialty green teas, moringa, or amla. The spices (cardamom, cinnamon, clove, pepper) are also standard Indian kitchen ingredients that Moolihai sources at scale. The $9.99 price reflects genuine affordability — this is everyday chai, not a premium health supplement. At $0.17 per cup, it’s probably the cheapest authentic masala chai available outside India.
Completely. Every other Moolihai tea is green tea or herbal tisane — light, health-focused, low or zero caffeine. This is the only black tea in the collection — strong, bold, high caffeine, and spice-forward. The others are wellness teas. This is a pleasure tea — you drink it because it tastes incredible and gives you energy, not because you’re targeting a specific health benefit. That said, the spices (cinnamon, cardamom, clove, pepper) do have real health properties: blood sugar regulation, digestion, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory. Health benefits come as a bonus, not the purpose.
The high caffeine content (50–90mg) means it may disrupt sleep if consumed in the late evening — similar to a cup of coffee. Most Indians drink their last chai by 4–5 PM. If you want an evening spiced tea experience without the caffeine, try the Turmeric Ashwagandha Herbal Tea (zero caffeine, warm and spicy, designed for evenings). For your morning and afternoon chai fix, this masala chai is unbeatable. Pairing both gives you spiced tea from morning to night.
*Disclaimer: This is a food/beverage product. Contains high caffeine — not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women, or caffeine-sensitive individuals without medical consultation. Health benefits described are based on the known properties of the individual spice ingredients. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results vary.
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