Chai is the word for tea in many countries around the globe. The word chai is Hindi for tea and derives from the mandarin word ch’a. When ordering this tea, you simply ask for chai since its name implies that it is a tea.
In India, masala Chai is the Chai tea beverage we are most familiar in the western world. Thai beverage has been popular for centuries and has uses in Ayurveda traditional medicine.
In Hindi language, chai refers to a beverage that steeps various spices in tea liquids. The spices in chai can change depending on region and culture. In general, the standard chai spices include cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper corns, cloves and ginger.Chai is most commonly blended with milk and honey to play up contrasting sweet and spicy flavors.
In India, Chai is more than just a cup of tea to start the day---the thick sweet drink is an integral part of the rhythm of life.
Everything, from neighbourly gossip to intense political discussions happens over a cup of tea. One of the oldest drinks in history, Chai is also world most popular drink- that consumes a whopping 837,000 tones of tea every year!
Like the history of any famous beverage there are many stories which tell us about this beverage too.
One story goes that chai was developed by accident when a Buddhist monk on his way to china. Observed the local ritual of chewing on a few wild leaves and tried it himself.
Assam has along historical connection with tea. The singphos, believed to be among India’s first tea drinkers, still process tea through the traditional centuries old method dhooan chaang, and the last history of chai is also linked with our respected prime minister of India MR.Narendra Modi too.
The most popular ones being Mumbai’s cutting chai, the rich Irani chai of Hyderabad, the fragrant Darjeeling chai, the mellow Assam chai, the strong masala chai of Gujarat and the delicate pink kashmiri chai.
Today ,no matter where you are in India, Pakistan or any other country you are probably not very far from chai stall, little roadside shacks that go by different names in different parts of the country. The most delicious and the ideal refreshment in every kind of weather. And it is impossible to deny that “chai… chai-garam” has woken up several billion more Indians on Indian railways than “coffee-nescoffee” ever could.
What is chai for an Indian?
Sleepy? Have tea.
Headache? Have tea.
Tired? Have tea.
Mood off? Have tea.
Feeling cold? Have tea.
Want a samosa? Must have tea.
Late night study? Have tea.
Party after tuitions? With tea.
Not well? Have adrakh wali tea.
Zero figure? Have green tea.
Pocket money? Make a tea for your father.
Guests? Make tea.
Waiting for train? Have tea.
Watching T.V? Have tea.
Rainy day: have tea.
Tea is like opium for some peoples. It is impossible to stay without tea or chai in the morning.