Chai ho jaye?
September 2, 2020
Chai ho jaye? Translation: Want tea? . So let me paint you a picture. Picture me sitting on the deck late Saturday afternoon, raking my brain on drink ideas for My Culture Eats collab... and I’m doing this while I’m sipping my afternoon chai (tea). Chai - the quintessential drink of my culture. It’s not one that we make on a special occasion, but it’s made every day (sometimes on the hour) in any home of Indian roots! So, that’s when it dawned on me - CHAI! . Boiling water, black tea leaves, sugar and milk... are the basics of chai. You can make it as basic as that or variate with ginger chai or masala chai. And then there are the regional versions - dhabe wali chai which you sip sitting on a khaat (wood & straw bed frame at a roadside family run restaurant, the miniature khaat featured in my picture), Irani chai and many more. . My chai - I’m a coffee person in the morning, but over the years, thanks to my husband... I’ve taken to my afternoon chai. It’s a sign of me winding down my crazy work day and heading towards a relaxing evening. Our chai starts off with some grated ginger, lemon grass and sugar in boiling water, then go in black tea leaves, bring to a boil, let the tea seep in, top off with milk and bring it to one last boil, before straining it into our cups or kulhads (red clay cups). At times I’ll go with a little touch of masala chai by adding in a couple of cloves, cardamom and fennel seeds (pictured here). . Over the years I’ve come to realize how creative our ancestors were. It’s pure genius to create a beverage so packed with medicinal values (from the masala) and to make it aromatically energetic and tasty. Kudos to them! . This plated expression masala chai was enjoyed with none other than the most loved Parle G biscuits. . Make it. Share it. Tag it #platedexpressions . This is my contribution to the #mycultureeats collab hosted by @nutritionbyphoto . . . . . #masalachai #chai #tea #afternoontea #indiandrink #indianfood #indianfoodtales #indianfoodreview #indianrecipes #foodart #foodartblog #foodphoto #foodphotography #indianroots #onourcreativetable #cuisine_captures #raw_foodie #raw_featuremyfood #artofplating #garamchai #teadrinker #hottea