We don’t need an introduction to our unparalleled love for tea. A cup of piping hot chai is all you need to start your day afresh, especially during winters. Nowadays, masala chai has gained widespread popularity as it has aromatic spices and herbs that keep you warm and offer a host of health benefits as well. The masalas in the masala chai typically contain green cardamom, fennel seeds, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper, all of which are brewed with black tea leaves.
Many brands, these days, have come up with their versions of powdered, and in some cases ground masalas. We tasted and reviewed 10 chai masalas to help you find the best ones. Here are our top recommendations for your perfect cup of masala chai!
Table of Contents
Mishry Reviews: Tastiest Chai Masala
Top Pick: Masala Monk Ammiji’s Chai Masala – Digestion
Masala Monk Ammiji’s Chai Masala – Digestion
Masala Monk Ammiji’s chai masala wins hands down because of the beautiful aroma of ginger, pippli, and saunf.
MRP – Rs 699/- for a 100 gm jar
*Price at the time of review
Why Masala Monk Ammiji’s Chai Masala – Digestion is our top pick.
The chai masala has a rustic charm. It is a roughly pounded home-style masala where you can see the ingredients used, unlike most chai masalas available, which are finely sieved powders.
The masala has a strong fennel (saunf) aroma, which is very pleasant and not overpowering at all.
Post cooking, the flavor of ginger is dominant, and the punch of saunf takes a backseat.
Masala Monk Ammiji’s Chai Masala is by far the tastiest chai masala for those who like thier tea fragrant, and tasting of spices like ginger and saunf.
The only con of Masala Monk Ammiji’s Chai Masala is its price. While it does great on the flavor factor, at its current pricing, the jar of chai masala does seem overly expensive and maybe a reason for many to stay away. Luckily, in our research that lasted over a week, we were able to find another chai masala we would like to recommend as a Value For Money Pick.
Mishry Reviews: Tastiest Chai Masala
Value For Money: Chaayos Chai Masala
Chaayos chai masala is dominated by the flavor of ginger and cardamom. A hit of black pepper at the end of the cup is a surprising addition.
MRP – 199/- for 100 gms
*Price at the time of review
Why Chaayos chai masala is also our top pick
Chaayos chai masala offers a balance of flavor and pricing.
The Chaayos chai masala has a beautiful, intense aroma. It contains ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper.
All the ‘kadak’ chai lovers can opt for Chaayos chai masala as the presence of cinnamon and cloves is very warming.
After cooking, the taste of ginger is dominant, and we noticed that you need to use very little of Chaayos chai masala, for adequate aroma and flavor.
Our Review Process
For Indians, their cup of tea is sacred and no one should mess with it. There is only a small percentage of people who may not like tea. But for those who do, it is almost like an addiction.
For our review of the tastiest chai masalas we divided the process into two phases.
Phase 1 included a review based on aroma. Every chai masala was automatically more fragrant when it had fennel and cinnamon. The ones that had warming spices like nutmeg, bay leaves, mace and star anise had an earthy aroma which was similar to garam masalas. Those with the most fragrant aromas made their way to phase 2. The brands that cleared phase 1 were –
- Keya
- Chaayos
- Masala Monk
- Tea treasures kadak chai masala
Phase 2 included judgment based on texture and taste. We cooked the four contenders using the same amount of tea leaves, milk, and sugar. The milk used was toned in all cups of tea. The chai masala was added before the tea came to a boil. Chai masala was added according to packing instructions if no instructions were given on the packet, then a standardized 1/4th teaspoon was added. The entire process was done side by side, where it is easy to make a comparison.
From here, emerged our winners.
The Brands We Picked
Everest Tea Masala (Buy On Amazon)
Girnar Tea Masala (Buy On Amazon)
Urban Platter Bombay Chai Masala (Buy On Amazon)
Keya Chai Masala (Buy On Amazon)
Chaayos Chai Masala (Buy On Amazon)
Masala Monk Ammiji’s Chai Masala (Buy On Amazon)
Chai Calling Chai Masala (Buy On Amazon)
FirstBud Organics Homemade Chai Masala (Buy On Amazon)
Tea Treasure Kadak Chai Masala (Buy On Amazon)
Tea Treasure Premium Chai Masala
Who Is This For?
Chai masalas are for people who not only love drinking tea on a daily basis but also for someone who is open to experimenting with their daily dose of chai. It is for someone who would love their tea spiked with some spiciness and warmth of masalas. Some may also have chai brewed with these masalas for the health benefits these spices have to offer.
How We Reviewed
While our review based majorly based on the taste test, we also looked at two other important parameters, aroma and texture.
Aroma: Chai masalas typically have a very prominent aroma, which could easily help you identify the spices in it. Most of these masalas may have a spice that may dominate and make or break your entire tea drinking experience. What we were looking at was how well all the masalas come together to create a balance.
Texture: The texture of the masala should be such that it mixes with the chai well. It should neither be too grainy or coarse, nor should it be finely ground into a powder. The chai masala should have the perfect graininess, and yet, enough powdery to be mixed well with the tea.
Taste: Finally, the taste is what sets the masalas apart.
Results Of Our Review
Most chai masala brands had spices like star anise, nutmeg, mace, and bay leaf apart from the usual ones like cardamom, fennel seeds, cloves, etc. Some of them ended up smelling more like garam masala. A good chai masala should smell pleasant and fresh, and not strong at all. Some of the brands add way too much black pepper, making the chai ‘spicy’. These may work after all if you were looking to add them to herbal infusions or to manage bouts of cough or a sore throat. These are not the kind of chai masala that lift the flavor and aroma of your everyday chai.
Our winners – both brands – can be added to your everyday cup of tea. They will make the chai tastier, and certainly more aromatic. Both contain only natural ingredients and offer different kinds of tea-drinking experiences.
Top Pick: Masala Monk Ammiji’s Chai Masala – Digestion
Masala Monk Ammiji’s Chai Masala – Digestion
Masala Monk Ammiji’s chai masala wins hands down because of the beautiful aroma of ginger, pippli, and saunf.
MRP – Rs 699/- for a 100 gm jar
*Price at the time of review
Value For Money: Chaayos Chai Masala
Chaayos chai masala is dominated by the flavor of ginger and cardamom. A hit of black pepper at the end of the cup is a surprising addition.
MRP – 199/- for 100 gms
*Price at the time of review
* If you do agree with our review, please give it a thumbs up! And, tell us which one is your favorite from this list. If you don’t, please tell us why!
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* Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.
* No part of this review is sponsored by any brand. All expenses were borne by us.
