Rajiv's in Assam. Your Chai Is at Nubian Markets in Roxbury.
Rajiv is in Assam until November 14, visiting tea gardens to find tea samples. While he’s away, the easiest place to get The Real Chai is Nubian Markets in Roxbury: they stock every one of our chai blends and our bottled vegan masala chai, and they’re open every day.
Why Assam, and why now
Every cup we make starts with Assam tea. It’s the strong, malty black tea that stands up to milk, spice and a long simmer, which is why it’s the backbone of masala chai in India.
So Rajiv has gone to the source. He’s visiting tea gardens in Assam to find tea samples. When he’s back, we’ll write up what he learned: how the leaf at the top of the bush differs from the leaf further down, and what the grades you see on tea packs actually mean.
Until then, follow along on Instagram @the.real.chai.
What’s at Nubian Markets
Nubian Markets has plenty of our chai on the shelf right now.
- Bottled masala chai. Our iced chai, ready to drink: organic Assam black tea, spices, oat milk and a hint of jaggery. It’s vegan and has no preservatives. Drink it cold from the bottle or pour it over ice.
- Chai blends. Assam tea with hand-ground spice, to brew at home. One pack makes 20 cups.
If the bottles do sell out before Rajiv is back, that’s the best news we could get. Tell the store you came for it.
Finding Nubian Markets
Nubian Markets, 2565 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119, in the heart of Nubian Square.
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 7 am to 8 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am to 8 pm |
| Sunday | 9 am to 6 pm |
Those are weekday mornings, weekday evenings and both weekend days, so there’s no wrong time to stop by. Our Find Us page has the map and the rest of our spots.
Not near Roxbury? On weekdays our bottled chai is also available at Boston Public Market, through another vendor there, when they’re open. And you can order our blends online for delivery or pickup in the Boston area.
Make it at home while he’s away
A pack of the blend is the closest thing to Rajiv’s pot on the stove.
- One cup at a time: follow our stovetop method. Simmer the tea and spices in water until deep amber, add milk, bring it up once and strain.
- A week’s worth at once: brew the whole pack into chai concentrate. It makes about 8 cups of concentrate, enough for 20 cups of chai, and each cup is just concentrate and warm milk.
- Dairy-free: oat milk works well in hot chai. See our vegan chai guide.
What’s coming after November 14
Rajiv’s coming home with notes from the tea gardens. Next in the Chai Journal: Assam tea explained, from the top leaf to the bottom leaf, and what makes a tea right for masala chai.