You want to select the type of black tea that holds up well to milk and sugar to balance out the spice flavors.
Part of the benefit of spices is in their aromatic compounds. That is one of the reasons it is recommended you buy the spice seed, and not the ground powder, whenever possible.
Grind the spice seed at home with a mortar and pestle or you can grind them in a coffee bean grinder. Either way, the fresher the spice, the greater the benefit.