Air India is bringing one of India's most familiar tea rituals to the skies with its award-winning Cutting Chai – Masala Flavour, served in First and Business Class on international flights.

Developed in collaboration with Tata Consumer Products Ltd. (TCPL), the specially crafted masala chai draws inspiration from the street-style cutting chai served across India. The offering is part of Air India's wider focus on incorporating distinctive Indian flavours into its international onboard experience.

Cutting chai has long been associated with neighbourhood tea stalls, quick conversations and everyday breaks. Air India's onboard version seeks to translate that familiar experience into a premium cabin setting while retaining elements of its traditional identity.

Bringing Indian Chai Onboard

The masala chai has been developed specifically for Air India, with a flavour profile built around tea and aromatic spices. According to the airline, the beverage is designed to offer a balance of warmth and spice that is familiar to Indian travellers while introducing international guests to a recognisable part of Indian food culture.

The presentation is also designed to reference the traditional cutting chai format. The beverage is served in a compact single-serve portion, echoing the small glasses associated with the street-side version.

Prepared onboard, the chai forms part of the airline's food and beverage offering in its premium international cabins.

From Street-Side Tradition to the Skies

The offering has also received recognition from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX), with Air India's Cutting Chai receiving the Best Onboard Beverage (Hot) award.

The recognition reflects the growing role of food and beverage in shaping the passenger experience, particularly when airlines use familiar local products and culinary traditions to create a stronger sense of place.

For Indian travellers, the beverage offers a familiar taste associated with everyday life. For international passengers, it provides an introduction to an Indian tea tradition that extends beyond the beverage itself.

Indian Hospitality at 35,000 Feet

Air India's Cutting Chai is part of the airline's broader transformation of its onboard experience, which includes changes across cabin interiors, service delivery and food and beverage.

The airline has increasingly focused on incorporating Indian elements into the passenger journey, particularly as it develops its international network and premium travel proposition.

In that context, a simple cup of masala chai becomes more than another beverage option. Its value lies in its ability to connect an everyday Indian experience with an international travel environment.

For passengers accustomed to finding cutting chai at a neighbourhood stall, the experience may offer a familiar taste at cruising altitude. For those experiencing it for the first time, it provides a small introduction to a food and beverage tradition closely associated with everyday Indian life.