I grew up in Delhi and am half Bihari half Bengali. If there is one beverage in my DNA, it is Tea! The strong, brewed and with some milk variety.
‘Regular’ chai is a constant in my house and in the house of everyone I have grown up with. No morning starts without a nice cup of tea. For many, tea is also needed through the day, especially in the afternoon.
One of my favourite versions of chai is the one with ginger – Adrak Chai. Strong, aromatic and slightly spicy. Tea for the soul!
My grandparents used to drink one or two cups every morning and one in the evening, along with their evening snack. My mom wakes up at crazy early hours and the first thing she does is makes herself a cup of tea. Wherever she travels she needs to have a kettle, so she can get her morning chai. My sister is not even awake or communicative without her morning tea. The list of people like this is endless. They need their chai!
Everyone who drinks chai has a very specific way they like their chai. Some like it sweet, some milky, some very strong, some without any spices, some with many spices and so on. It is just one of those things that you like a certain way and want it just that way. The way I like my chai is without sugar (new phenomenon which I am super proud of), strong and with a hint of spice ❤
K is from Tamil Nadu and their go-to beverage is coffee. The good kind – filter coffee. Given how delicious good filter coffee is and that K makes breakfast, I drink coffee in the morning (shocking for many!). I’ve never been one of those who ‘needs’ tea or coffee everyday, but there are times when nothing else but tea will do. Like when you are unwell or homesick. When it is raining or cold. When you are tired and need a warm pick-me-up or something to relax you. Covers most scenarios I guess 🙂
A warm cup of well made tea is enough to soothe your soul or kick you into gear or make you feel happy. Whatever you need!
My friend R recently asked me for a foolproof adrak chai recipe. It made me wonder why I don’t have it on the blog, since it is something I love so much and make fairly often. So here goes!
Go on, make a cup (or two) of this chai. You will thank me for it ❤
Adrak Chai
Ingredients
1.5 cups water
1 inch ginger
2 tsp tea leaves/powder
1/3 cup milk
sugar to taste
Directions
- Peel and slice the ginger. Crush it slightly to release the juices
- Add the water to a saucepan and put the ginger in. Put it on low-medium heat and let it cook for 3-4 minutes till the water starts to get infused with the ginger and the water’s colour darkens slightly (let it boil).
- Add the tea leaves and let it come to a boil. Leave the pan on low-medium heat as it is boiling for 2-3 minutes to extract the colour and flavour from the tea.
- In case you are using sugar, add it now and cook for another minute or so
- Add the milk and mix once (add more milk if you want a less strong tea). Let the liquid come to a boil and switch off the gas.
- Strain into cups and enjoy!
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