Masala chai ka global charcha

One of the most beloved Indian beverages, chai is that drink that majority of us reach out for in order to recharge, or simply, start our day. No wonder, over one billion cups of chai are consumed every day in India.

The word "chai" comes with its own set of emotions. And now, there’s more reason to rejoice! The ubiquitous tea, rather masala chai, has been given the title of the second best non-alcoholic beverage in the world. Made by brewing tea with milk, sugar and aromatic spices like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and ginger, masala tea has various versions across the country.

We aren't saying it, global food and travel guide TasteAtlas is. It recently revealed a list as a part of its year-end awards, of which India's masala chai is a part. While it might be an Indian way of consuming the beverage, but the popularity of it is such that it's reached cafes and restaurants globally, with them coming up with their own interpretations.

Revealing the news in an Instagram post, TasteAtlas wrote, "Chai masala is an aromatic beverage originating from India. It is made with a combination of sweetened black tea and milk that is spiced with a masala mix - which typically includes cardamom, ground ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and black peppercorns. However, the choice and the exact proportion of spices often vary. Although there are several theories that claim otherwise, the origin of chai masala is mostly associated with the British tea trade. In the 19th century, the Chinese had a monopoly on the tea trade, and the British looked for other markets that would fulfill the high demand for black tea—which was a firm European favorite."Read the full post below.

While netizens couldn't agree more, some Indians did point out and mildly troll the global food and travel guide for calling the beverage Chai Masala.

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