Being an Indian & drinking Chai
The one tradition that though British given is an Indian essential.
It’s raining. And you choose to sit by the balcony window. Cozy and comfortable. With your favourite novel. Some hot steaming pakoras. And a glass of garam garam chai.
Yes. That’s exactly the relation an average Indian has with Chai.
Diving deep in every Indian’s life, a cup of chai is the first thing to start with. That pairs well with some crispy pages of a newspaper. And powers the day through.
In a research, India has around 8,37,000 tea consumers gulping down their favourite drink, daily. And that’s exactly why chai is special to everyone- transcends all boundaries. Be it an office-goer working or a homemaker, the mixture of milk, sugar & tea leaves works magic for everyone.
Another sweet memory that an Indian has with chai is selling it in railway stations. “Chai Chai” in a loud sonorous tone is what every rail traveller thrives on. Steel kettles filled with hot pipping chai, along with paper cups. That cost a minimal of Rs. 10/- weave memories.
Remembering a meme: If it’s your first date then it’s a coffee date. But if it’s a trip with friends, it’s a chai. And that’s how individuals connect with chai. Simple. Pristine. Evolving.
Foreign travel bloggers, exploring India speak of the varieties of chai they have had. A tea seller in Mumbai speaks of his experience preparing tea, “The times may change. Tall buildings might come up. But the love for chai will never die”. His special technique is that he customizes the spices as needed. It’s either a wholesome masala chai or just a single spiced wali chai. Over the years, permanent customers choose freshly made chai over machine-made/tea bags at the office.
Another addition is ginger. Ginger is commonly used for its tasty zing. That also benefits health. Known to keep the body warm & immune, crushed ginger is added to notch up chai.
Travelling up to Kolkata, tea is a boost during Durga Puja. Shoban’s stall, situated in the heart of Alipore. When asked about his experience, he states, “I usually close my shop at 10:00 pm. During the puja I stay open till 5:00 am. It’s not just earning money, it’s about listening to devotees pray & sip their love, available in a kulhar (mud cup).” Serving customers with eggs, toasts & samosas, Shoban has seen people drinking numerous cups of chai in a single day.
For some, selling tea is a hand-me-down profession. A tea seller named Lalu & his family has been selling tea for three generations. Having his stall on the cremation ghats of Ganga in Varanasi, he sees the proximity of death as a part of his profession. Running around selling cups of chai to the mourning families, Lalu believes that a cup of chai can help reminiscence memories with loved ones.
So be it a new start or the roughest day of your life. Be it a hot roasting summer or a rainy pour or the snowy ground. Be it with your family or your office colleagues or just a self-brainstorming session. Serve yourself an Indian love- a cup of chai.
Insaan ka dil aur chai ka cup, humesha bhare hue hone chahiye. -Anonymous.
