Chai... Tea thoughts!!

Have you ever tasted the following…..

The Kolkata Rasgulla!

Kashmiri pilaf…..

Hyderabadhi Biryani!

Mumbai vadapav!

Agra Petha.....

Just like each region in India is famous for a dish each region has their own tea recipes, unique and flabbergasting in taste.

Remember the quote “You’re my cup of tea”!!

But you know what’s the new quote?

You are my cup of tea but…

I drink champagne now!!

Haha…

May be true though….! :-p

Imagine….

You wake up early in the morning just before sunrise!!

Picture Credits: Own.

Either you finish your gym and sit there relaxing and resting everyone in the house isn't awake, yet....

Or You wake up and sit on the bed in peace planning your day ahead, in front of the window, watching the sky changing colors like we change our attire for different tasks in a day!!

Tell me honestly….

Do you crave a cup of tea or a glass of champagne?? (at that point in time)

Well….. you know the answer now, don’t you?

Let me not go international now, but keep it brief to our ‘mother India’!

I believe, that if there is a world out there that you always wanted to explore there is also a world that can take a lifetime to explore inside your country, your state, your house, your room and last but not the least around your loved ones!!

I am the kind of person who agrees with both the statements.... There is the world out there (nature) in which we live in and also there is a world inside us which we create ourselves!

I know, I know…

It’s a bit philosophical… But trust me you agree or not, whether you are a night owl or an early bird the morning routine you develop awakes the philosopher in you and it’s nothing to feel bad about. That’s a good part and you need those deep thoughts in the morning to gain some positivism.

Stop…..

Let's get back to our actual discussion………..

Tea….

Let me introduce you to the world of a few famous Indian teas.

Beginning with... Kolkata street chai – the best Indian street chai!

It is served in a little mud pot.

Ingredients – Milk with decoction, ginger, elaichi, Nutmeg powder, and American saffron.

It is said by experience, that this makes the mind run like mercury!

Come on… try it if you wanna make your mind run too! :-D

Kashmiri kawa... Ingredients – Melon (dosakai & puchakai) seeds, saffron, rose petals, elaichi, cloves, cinnamon and other suitable spices with green tea powder.

Looks so romantic right!

Well… this reduces stress and digestion problems.

Noon chai.....!!

Mild rose in colour!

Ingredients – Tea leaves, baking soda, elaichi powder, milk and a pinch of salt.

This is the best in flavour I can say.

The regions like Ladakh and Tibet in the Himalayas make tea with Tea leaves, a pinch of salt and the butter extracted from domestic Yak’s milk (venna).

This helps not to digest soon for that cool weather.

A little magic can decide if you want a quick digestion or not to feel hungry soon... Interesting rt!!

They serve this Noon chai in very little cups which will be only, two sips.

But the ‘Chaiwala’, over there keeps filling it as soon as you complete drinking.

So nice of them…… :-*

This high-calorie tea not only gives energy to the people over there but also keeps your lips from getting dried up.

Cold weather, you see…..

Now, still, anyone wants to drink champagne?!

Bombay Kating chai:- [the best among the common – by own experience]

In Mumbai, they mix green and black tea leaves in milk along with ginger, elaichi and fennel seeds.

This gives a very different taste. They mix it very well in two glasses and serve it in just half a cup. This is the reason behind the name Kating Chai.

We can find this not only in small roadside tea shops but also in cafes, and restaurants served along with samosa and kara biscuits.

Let me tell you sth….

I can make this tea.

And one fine morning, I was talking to my parents [on a video call] as soon as I woke up making myself some cutting chai!!

Even though am all alone I always pour two glasses or two cups of whatever I drink. [The other cup is for the other person inside me :-p]

I take ages to make tea since I prefer it well brewed!!

Just like the wine left for ages tastes so good I believe the tea brewed well tastes like heaven.

Now don’t estimate we have so much time to dedicate 40 to 50 mins to brew some tea and have it! (I wish we could!)

Although I love tea and the drinking experience, I only make it once in a couple of months. ☹

Fine…. It is only about tea now and not Me!

I will finish it by telling what happened that morning… I was talking to my mom and dad about everything (we talk about almost everything irrespective of what time of the day it is), added almost everything that all my tea wants, poured it into the cups and was mesmerized by its smell only to realize that I forgot to add the main ingredient after adding tea leaves, ‘the ginger’! [Please remember this and we will talk about this again at the end]

Now you name the tea – I made!

Because it tasted so good but different and no one will know that it is missing ginger unless you say so or they are the tea experts!!

So… oshhhh…

Amrutha thulya – the Pune Tea!

This is the name of the tea available in Pune and very wonderful in taste.

Ingredients – Fresh ginger, elaichi powder, and tea leaves brewed in a brass vessel. This taste can’t be expressed in words – says people in Pune, India.

Also in Pune, tea brewed in a very small burnt earthen pot served in mud cups called tandoori chai is becoming popular, nowadays.

Irani chai – Hyderabad special:-

Ingredients – Thick milk in Decoction, malai(kova), sugar.

Most of the people say that there is no other tea tastier than this Irani chai.

It is usually served with the famous Osmania biscuits.

Indian Masala chai – Available in almost all parts of India:-

Ingredients – Milk, tea powder, ginger, black pepper, elaichi, cinnamon, cloves, basil(tulasi leaves) and all other required spices and herbs mixed and brewed.

Everyone shall praise this tea without any regional difference.

Now the final tea quote of the day is “You are not everyone’s cup of tea”.

All these teas are so famous and every tasty brings the best tea-sipping experience. But I am pretty sure that not everyone will like all of them. Each one has their own favorite and you can’t complain or question about their preference!

So people, we are unique and no matter what -strong, hot, cold, flavorful, light, mild, bland, black or with milk, try to brew it right because as I told you in my ‘One Fine Morning’ story, the ingredients don’t matter!

Just brew it right & most importantly

"Love yourself".

You always need a little extra care and self-love.

So signing off this Saturday morning to make some special Masala chai to pamper myself.....

- Milly.

Stay tuned!!

Source @Eenadu newspaper's Sunday magazine (some years ago probably :-D) & Picture credits: From different related websites.