What is inside
What is inside Kadak Chai?
Kadak Chai is bold, strong Indian milk tea, brewed slowly with fresh ginger and cardamom. Here is what is inside it, layer by layer, and why each one is there.
From the Tapri Chai kitchen · November 2026 · 2 min read
Layers
5 in all
Key ingredient
Strong black tea
Heat
Gentle ginger
Served
Hot, milky
The 5 layers of Kadak Chai
Kadak Chai is built from 5 parts. They are listed in the order you meet them, and the numbers match the diagram.
The strong black tea
A generous amount of robust, granular black tea, simmered in water until the liquid turns deep brown.
The fresh ginger
Fresh ginger, crushed and added early so its warmth and gentle heat spread through the brew.
The cardamom
Crushed green cardamom pods that add a floral, sweet fragrance.
The milk
Whole milk added to the simmering tea, making it creamy and softening the tea’s edge.
The sugar and the simmer
Sugar for sweetness and a final, slow simmer that develops the colour and body.
01
What it is made of
Kadak chai uses more tea and a longer simmer than a regular milk tea. Ginger and cardamom are the only spices, because the aim is a bold tea with a little warmth, not a spice blend.
- Strong black tea
- Whole milk
- Fresh ginger
- Green cardamom
- Sugar
- Water
02
How the layers work together
Malty, creamy and warming, with a bite from the tea, a gentle heat from ginger and a floral sweetness from cardamom. It is strong enough to taste the tea through the milk.
03
Where it comes from
Kadak chai is the everyday strong tea of Indian tea stalls, where chaiwalas boil the tea, spices and milk together in a large pot. The word kadak means strong, and it is the way many people ask for a bolder cup.
04
Variations and other names
A few variations:
- Masala chai: with a broader mix of spices.
- Adrak chai: with extra ginger.
- Elaichi chai: with cardamom as the main flavour.
- Cutting chai: a half-sized glass, often kadak.
05
How to eat it
Drink it hot, with something to dunk. A bun maska or a samosa is the classic partner.
06
Kadak Chai at Tapri Chai
Kadak Chai is $4.49 CAD on our menu. We make it in a 100% vegetarian kitchen at 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Barrhaven, Ottawa, open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm, closed Mondays.
Questions, answered.
What is Kadak Chai made of?
Kadak Chai is made of strong black tea, whole milk, fresh ginger, green cardamom, sugar and water.
How many layers does Kadak Chai have?
Traditionally 5: the strong black tea, the fresh ginger, the cardamom, the milk and the sugar and the simmer.
Is Kadak Chai vegetarian?
Yes. The traditional recipe is vegetarian, and every dish at Tapri Chai is vegetarian.
Is Kadak Chai spicy?
It has a gentle warmth from ginger. It is not spicy.
Where can I try Kadak Chai in Ottawa?
At Tapri Chai, 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Barrhaven, Ottawa. Kadak Chai is $4.49 CAD on our menu.
At Tapri Chai
Taste it for yourself.
Our kitchen in Barrhaven is 100% vegetarian. 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Ottawa. Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm. Closed Mondays.