MY GUILTEA- PLEASURE

In the amid of lockdown, there’s one thing that I miss, is the chai tapri near my college. It is an important ritual as an Indian to start our day with, a perfect, steaming cup of tea. Chai tapri isn’t just a place where we drink tea, it’s a place where two people fall in love, strangers become friends, it’s a daily hangout spot with our colleagues and friends. Over that one cup of tea, we discuss friendship, love, politics, and life in general. We all have our favorite nukad around the city.  

Even in a diverse country like ours, ‘chai’ is the most popular and loved drink through its length and breadth of India. It is in our blood, every time we have a guest come over, we greet them with chai. Every kitty party or family gathering is incomplete without tea and some biscuits. The black tea leaves with a mix of some spices and the warm earthy color of Chai helps us bond with people effortlessly and go through our mundane daily affairs. Chai is so calming by its nature. It helps us to deal with stress and is a perfect partner to pull out an all-nighter. It is an integral part of our lives.

I’m a tea person and my love for it, is beyond measures. It's a perfect drink for any kind of weather. Having a plate full of garam pakodas with chai on a raining evening is my ‘guiltea pleasure’. Sitting in my balcony and drinking chai, with my dad, and jamming to good old ’70s is my guiltea pleasure and it is the most favorite part of my day. We have all our ‘guiltea pleasure’ moments in our life’s and that’s what keeps us going.

Tea offers us a sheer amount of variety and never bores us (Chai is kullad than coffee!!!). Did you know, Da-Hong Pao tea is the most expensive tea in the world and costs more than gold? It’s worth is 1.2 million dollars per kilogram, yes you heard that right!! Panda dung tea is also one of the most expensive tea in the world and is made from panda bear droppings. They have a diet of bamboo shoots and tea leaves, later which is extracted from their droppings and it costs $70,000 per kilogram. This tea is perfect for people who are willing to try something new. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind trying it out! 

I feel making tea is an art. Everyone likes their tea in a particular way and if it isn’t the way you like it then, it’s not worth it. Here I’m going to tell you, how I make my perfect cup of tea. How you like your tea is very subjective, you can always alter the ingredients according to your choice. Remember patience is the key here and put all your love while making it!

 MASALA CHAI.

Ingredients: 

1 tbsp Tea leaves. (adjust it according to your preference).

2 tbsp sugar/ jaggery (adjust it according to your preference).

2 to 3 green cardamom.

2 to 3 cloves.

1 inch ginger.                                              

1 tsp fennel seeds.

 ½ inch cinnamon.

 2 to 3 peppercorns.

 3 to 4 strands of saffron.

 2 to 3 Mint leaves or lemongrass.

 2 cups of water.

 ½ cup of milk (you can always adjust the milk according to your taste).

Method:

• Take a nice clean saucepan. Pour water into it and bring it to a boil.
• Crush all the spices in a hand pestle or spice blender. Add it to boiling water along with the crushed ginger and mint leaves or lemongrass.
• Add tea powder and sugar/jaggery. Boil it for good 2 to 3 minutes on medium flame.
• Once all the spices and tea leaves are brewed well, pour milk into it and let it simmer for 2 to 3 mins or until it thickens and darkens in color on medium flame.
• Your masala chai is ready. Filter the chai and serve it hot with some snacks.

Tip: The malai over your chai is as unwanted as people’s opinions about you. Don’t let them bother you. Until then stay safe, stay hydrated.