# Masala chai tea.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masala-chai-tea/426886>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 18, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masala-chai-tea/426886 "2007-11-18T01:53:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masala-chai-tea/426886/1 "2007-11-18T01:53:31Z")

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Yum!  
Got a tin for the first time the other day from Peet’s and brewed it as per the directions on the label.  
It is now added to my short list of refreshments. 🆒  
Peace,  
mangeorge

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masala-chai-tea/426886/2 "2007-11-18T01:57:55Z")

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Just gotta chime in to note that “chai tea” is a bilingual redundancy. “Chai” means “tea”. It’s like saying cafe coffee.

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masala-chai-tea/426886/3 "2007-11-18T02:23:03Z")

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[QUOTE=John Mace]  
Just gotta chime in to note that “chai tea” is a bilingual redundancy. “Chai” means “tea”. It’s like saying cafe coffee.  
[/QUOTE]

You’re absolutely right. My mistake, not Peet’s. The name on the tin is “Masala Chai”, and below "A blend of India teas with cinnamon, ginger, cardamon, cloves, and pepper.

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**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masala-chai-tea/426886/4 "2007-11-18T02:28:48Z")

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Must be related to “cha,” which is “tea” in Thai. I think I heard it called “cha” in China, too.

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masala-chai-tea/426886/5 "2007-11-18T02:42:53Z")

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[QUOTE=Siam Sam]  
Must be related to “cha,” which is “tea” in Thai. I think I heard it called “cha” in China, too.  
[/QUOTE]

In China it’s:  
??  
Sorry. Blame google, not me. 😉  
I guess you can’t do Chinese characters here.  
That’s what I get for being a smartass.

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**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masala-chai-tea/426886/6 "2007-11-18T02:48:00Z")

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[QUOTE=mangeorge]  
In China it’s:  
??  
Sorry. Blame google, not me. 😉  
I guess you can’t do Chinese characters here.  
That’s what I get for being a smartass.  
[/QUOTE]

How is that pronounced?? 😃

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masala-chai-tea/426886/7 "2007-11-18T02:53:10Z")

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[QUOTE=Siam Sam]  
How is that pronounced?? 😃  
[/QUOTE]

“Huh”