This in response to Esther’s Weekly Word Prompt.
This week’s prompt is : Taste
Chat Over Chai
The first taste that my tongue needs early in the morning is that of chai or cha, as we call it. It’s an elixir – the bridge between the dreamy and awakened self. Without those few sips I cannot function. The golden liquid seeps through and spreads warmth to every cell of my body rejuvenating and making me operable.
I like my chai with milk and sweetener (plant based). Boiled but not too much. Over-boiled tea is not only very strong but its taste borders on the bitter and coarse. Many like their tea with a dash of ginger or cinnamon or cardamom. But tea has a flavour of its own. Adding any other condiment hides its natural fragrance. But at times, I do add a sprig of lemon grass or basil to it.
Inhaling the aroma of a steaming cup gives the senses a tingling wake up call – the day has begun! I like to have my morning chai in silence. That is my peace time – no noise, no hurry and scurry, no activity – just an introspective, meditative stance – me and my chai.
There was a time when I was addicted to this beverage. After the morning cup I needed another as soon as I reached the office. Then in the middle of work to take a break. One break multiplied into several. A time came when I realised excess of anything is bad – even chai. But how to get over it?
It’s easy to get into a habit but not that easy to get out of it. One day I called the pantry boy and told him not to serve me tea even if I asked for it. There were times when I would pick up the intercom, order a cup but it would not be forthcoming. Those obedient boys took better care of me than I could.
When I was posted in Kolkata, staying with my paternal aunt and uncle, I got into the habit of drinking premium Darjeeling tea. My uncle purchased the brand from a particular (well known) shop. Tea making was a ritual with my aunt. The water had to be boiled to a certain degree. Then the measured spoons of tea leaves would be steeped in hot water in a big pot. This would be followed by my aunt sitting at the dining table and humming for a while till the brew was perfect. She would then pour it in cups and serve. She had a wide selection of cups and saucers for tea at different hours of the day and for different guests. Needless to say, the more important ones got bigger cups!! 😂😂
My brother-in-law is again a tea addict and loves to buy various brands online as well as from different stores of different places. If he finds a fresh variety in some place he is visiting he is sure to buy a sample for tasting. He also takes pride in being the tea maker of the family and gets offended if anyone refuses to share a cup with him. Well! In our household it’s not a cup but a tumbler (read big mug) in which chai is served.
Since repeated drinking of boiled tea is unhealthy a way out was found wherein the high consumption could be retained without causing harm to the gut. Thus, green tea got introduced in the household. A new taste all together. Experiments were made with jasmine, chamomile and other fragrances.
My paternal uncle (father’s younger brother who was also my guardian upon my father’s untimely death) loved to have lemon tea. My colleagues, posted in the eastern part of the country, talked a lot about laal cha (red tea) which is caffein rich Assam tea without milk brewed with spices to a reddish brown tinge. There is another variety of tea without milk known as liquor tea – a lighter brew with a golden hue. In the western part of the country (especially, Mumbai) cutting chai is very popular which is a glass of boiled tea with milk, sugar and spices cut or divided in two halves – a quick energy booster – available from street vendors.
My Punjabi friends are all for masala chai. Once, many many years back I had visited a family from South who had offered us big mugs of tea with spices. The unexpected, overpowering taste of the brew had generated in me a forever dislike for spiced tea.
I guess it is during the COVID phase that Kehwa (kehwah – originally from Jammu and Kashmir) drinking became the rage, at least in our office. In every part of our country the taste of chai and chai or tea making is different.
Chai is not just a beverage it’s a ceremony…a ritual…a devotion…an enjoyment of another level. At times I sip it with soft music and often I play this song to myself…
A very detailed post on different types of teas. I like tea with a teabag and some cold milk. Another favorite in Twinings Earl Grey. But I drink all sorts of tea as long as it isn’t very dark or cooked too much.
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Early Grey is good. I too don’t like over cooked or over boiled tea.
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Me neither. Not because of the taste but because it keeps me awake
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Hee…Hee..Just wanted to ramble about my favourite drink. 😆😆
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It sure is our favorite brew.
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First thing in the morning having a cup of tea and reading your “chai” pe charcha. Saying waah “Taj” 😁🍵
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Waah Ustad!! Wah!!
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😁
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A good way to start the day
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Hee…Hee …thank you very much Derrrick. Indians learnt tea making and drinking from the British and now we are left addicted to it. 😆😆
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when it changes from that which drives you(or you drive..🥴lol) to a conquered need that becomes a simple want … its moments made into memories … and the chai tastes tastier too…🙃
🤍🙏
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Conquered need …I’ll remember that phrase! The chai really does taste tastier. Thank you so much 🙏
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my pleasure, GC…🤍🙏
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Such a warm and lovely reflection! ☕✨ You’ve captured how chai is not just a drink, but a ritual, a memory, and a moment of peace. 💛
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Thank you very much 🙏
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Chai for you is comfort in liquid form.
A good habit.
Every sip carries a memory and a pleasant smile. 😄
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Thank you Mr. P. What you say is true.
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Geeta Ji
You made us drink different types of tea,Thanks.
I am also addicted to tea and it is the first thing my brain needs early morning.
Like my father and your brother-in-law,I get offended if anyone refuses to have tea with me.
The best tea I ever had was in Hyderabad,that resembles the ‘lal cha’ you mentioned.
‘Kehwa’has medicinal properties that made it popular during Covid.
If one is suffering from chest congestion or sore throat,add cinnamon to kehwa;for indigestion add lemon juice to kehwa.
Regular Kehwa is made boiling cinnamon,cardamom
and saffron.
And yes I too drink tea in a tumbler and have different sizes of cups directly proportional to the love a guest has for the tea.
सब के गम की दवा लाई हे
गीता जी ने चाय लाई हे
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😆😆😆😆😆😆
Thanks a ton for your detailed comment. It has added a new dimension to my humble post. The kehwa with lemon and cinnamon is something new I learnt and will keep in mind.
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I love a cup of tea. Like you, I find is fascinating all the different kinds of tea you can get, as well as the different methods of making it and flavouring it.
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Chai or tea making is not just a cooking process but an art in itself and some people like my B-I-L and my late aunt elevate it to subliminal level.
Thank you Esther for the wonderful prompt which let me ramble on one of my favourite drinks.
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I thoroughly enjoyed it 😊
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Oh, yes. I do love the comfort of a cup of chai. I’d love to share one with you, Geeta.
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Do come over Mary, anytime. Thank you so much.
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Oh GC, I love chai, but I bet I have not tasted real chai unless I go to India…I get mine at starbucks, I love it hot or iced. X
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Iced tea is refreshing in summer. Carol you are most welcome in India. Come to have varied tastes of chai. Cheerio!!
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Wow! As a fellow tea-drinker, I relished your warm post! Similar to one of the other commenters, I also love Earl Grey! With my lactose intolerance, I stopped having milk tea since the past couple of years.
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Thanks Didi for liking my post Music 🙏🥀
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You are very welcome dear brother
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