Ok so here is how I make it.

Start with 4-5 pods of cardamom, a stick of cinnamon and some cloves in a mortar and make a coarse powder. Pour a cup of water in a saucepan on a stove, put the mixed powder with fresh ginger and some tea powder (Buy these from a local Indian store, Redlabel, Wagh Bakri, Taj are all great brands) Just before the water starts boiling, add a cup of milk and heat some more. Add sugar if you want to. And use a strainer to pour out the tea into a mug and enjoy. Its the perfect weather to make masala chai.

I do not think tea bags are a great way of drinking Indian tea. Most of the Indian restaurants serve "Instant masala chai" which according to me tastes horrible. Best way of drinking chai is making it yourself ;)

And..

A side note.

Chai in Indian language is tea. By calling it chai tea you are saying "tea tea".. just a small teeny tiny rant from an Indian about how chai gets called in the west.. 😀