Translation guide
A spiced Indian tea drink. In Japanese, it is usually referred to by the borrowed term チャイ (chai) or マサラチャイ (masara chai).
masala chai
Most common term. Use マサラチャイ for emphasis on spices.
I drank chai at an Indian restaurant.
A more specific term, explicitly stating 'masala' (spice mix). Used when you want to emphasize the spiced nature, or in contexts where plain tea might be confused.
Please teach me how to make authentic masala chai.
Literally 'spice chai'. Sometimes used on menus or product labels to clarify that it contains spices.
The spice chai at this cafe has a strong cinnamon flavor.