Chai

‘Garam garam chai’, that nostalgic early morning wake-up call after an overnight train journey from one Indian city to another, and then the tea boy stops by the window, pouring much-needed boiling hot chai from his shiny aluminium teapot: a shot of ‘karak, garam and meethi’ chai, meaning ‘full-bodied, piping hot and intensely sweet’.

Drinking chai is a ritual in India, in every city, village and home. Each chai wallah will sell chai that varies in its taste, in its blend of masalas, in the strength of the ginger, and the addition of herbs such as lemongrass.