The inspiration for our masala chai formula

The year was 1979, and the air in Sydney, though warm, felt alien. After what felt like an eternity in the sky, my feet finally touched Australian soil. Exhaustion clung to me, and all I craved was the familiar comfort of a hot cup of tea. 

"A cup of tea, please," I requested, my voice still thick with the echoes of a long flight. The friendly attendant at the airport counter smiled and handed me... a foam cup. Inside, there was boiling water, a single tea bag, and a tiny pod of milk. My brow furrowed. This was not the elaborate ritual I knew. Where was the simmering pot, the fragrant steam, the careful blend of spices?

Confused, and in my jet-lagged state, I fumbled with the tea bag. Unfamiliar with its purpose, I tore it open, expecting to pour the contents into the hot water. The fine tea leaves, liberated from their paper prison, immediately dispersed, floating like tiny islands on the surface of the boiling water. My heart sank. This wasn't tea; it was a murky, leaf-strewn puddle. A wave of homesickness washed over me, sharp and sudden.

As soon as I arrived at my new apartment my first act was to find a saucepan. I needed to reclaim a piece of home. The aroma of ginger, cardamom, and cloves soon filled the unfamiliar kitchen as I brewed myself a proper cup of chai.

Life in Australia began, and with it, work. It was the early 80s, and the concept of a 'chai wala' – a street vendor serving hot, spiced tea – was utterly non-existent. Even today, you'd be hard-pressed to find one on a street corner. The longing for that perfect cup of masala chai, that comforting taste of home, persisted.

So, I took matters into my own hands. I began to experiment, grinding my own blend of spices, perfecting a chai mix that I could simply add to hot water and milk at work. It was a revelation – a convenient way to recreate that exact same feeling, that same taste, that same warmth that connected me to my roots. My entire family, from then on, embraced this convenient chai mix. It became a staple, a little packet of home that could be enjoyed anywhere, anytime.

And today, after all these years, I am filled with joy to be able to share this very same blend with more people, hoping it brings them the same comfort and connection to tradition that it has brought me and my family for decades.