Chai is India’s national drink. From roadside stalls to lavish palaces, rural shacks to urban penthouses, chai rules as the go-to drink of choice.

Chai culture is intrinsic to India, where morning and afternoon cups of chai involved happy socialization and strong family ties. Masala Chai’s origins are steeped in misty antiquity dating back to thousands of years ago. Masala could mean any combination of herbs and spice blends based on the regional preference and palate typically brewed in hot water over a stove.

Cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and pepper form a holy quadrant that lends chai its essential flavor and provides a host of Ayurvedic medicinal benefits that give the tea drinker a daily boost of immunity.