It’s time to bid adieu to the archetypical masala chai. With the slowly pervading gourmet culture which is sweeping the city, it was only a matter of time before the tradition of a steaming hot glass of chai was challenged by something a little trendier. Now, things are a lot more complex. Will it be a lemon infusion, tulsi tea, bubble tea, or a mint tisane? Seems like I need a tea-ctionary.
Herbal teas have long been hailed for their medicinal properties. This rings a little less true for today’s counterparts; I think the motives behind herbal tea consumption these days are a little more wannabe-ish. I mean, I’m all for the health benefits of real herbal tea, but people here tend to confuse “herbal” with “flavoured”. Sorry, Ms. I-do-2000-crunches-a-day, but the most that that Lipton lemon tea with honey will do is to get rid of your antioxidants and give you some zits.
Tea infusions, too, seem to have gotten lost somewhere along the way. Don’t get me wrong, I love infusions, (try the apple butter tea at Tea Center, Churchgate- it’s divine), but too often have I felt slightly cheated at the more upper end tea bars and cafés, which seem overzealous in their “mildly flavoured” approach. I mean, am I paying Rs. 200 for a single vanilla pod boiled in water?
Let me leave you with a solution, rather than an open ended argument. Check out this recipe for a really good homemade alternative to regular chai, if you’re planning to jump on the bandwagon anytime soon. If you happen to be a brewing a pot one of these days, you know who to call!
Kashmiri Kahva:
Herbal teas have long been hailed for their medicinal properties. This rings a little less true for today’s counterparts; I think the motives behind herbal tea consumption these days are a little more wannabe-ish. I mean, I’m all for the health benefits of real herbal tea, but people here tend to confuse “herbal” with “flavoured”. Sorry, Ms. I-do-2000-crunches-a-day, but the most that that Lipton lemon tea with honey will do is to get rid of your antioxidants and give you some zits.
Tea infusions, too, seem to have gotten lost somewhere along the way. Don’t get me wrong, I love infusions, (try the apple butter tea at Tea Center, Churchgate- it’s divine), but too often have I felt slightly cheated at the more upper end tea bars and cafés, which seem overzealous in their “mildly flavoured” approach. I mean, am I paying Rs. 200 for a single vanilla pod boiled in water?
Let me leave you with a solution, rather than an open ended argument. Check out this recipe for a really good homemade alternative to regular chai, if you’re planning to jump on the bandwagon anytime soon. If you happen to be a brewing a pot one of these days, you know who to call!
Kashmiri Kahva:
- Kashmiri (or any other) tea leaves – 1 tbsp.
- A pinch of saffron strands
- Whole cinnamon (finely chopped), cloves, and cardamom – 2 tbsp.
- A few blanched and chopped almonds
- Demerara / unrefined sugar to taste
Instructions : Gently crush the spices, and add to boiling water. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes, and add sugar as necessary. Serve sprinkled with chopped almonds.
No comments:
Post a Comment