Jennifer Skousen Sudweeks • Masala chai in India. Sometimes it's made with just spices, and sometimes it has black tea in it. It's hard to tell because local blends don't have the ingredients on the pouch. You actually buy it from a bulk bin, and they scoop it into a bag for you. Some members avoid masala chai altogether, and some claim they can tell the difference by the smell, which is probably true. White tea is also confusing. It's a different plant altogether from green or black tea here. So some members think it's OK since it's basically herbal tea. Others lump it in with black tea. There are also some who drink green tea because it's not fermented, and that is what they believe is wrong with black tea.