This is my story. I am a tea lover. No. Not Green tea, not Detox tea, not Chai latte, not English Breakfast. I love tea – ginger and cardamom in the carousel in hot water bubbling in a saucepan, black pearls of tea leaves whirling around, sugar crystals and milk giving it colour and sweetness. That’s the tea I like. Simple Kadak Chai. Panchayat’s Butkun style (IYKYK).
Chai and friendships
Its an unsaid truth that I judge people based on their love for chai. As a result, most of my close friends are chai lovers – Alam, Neetu, and Prajakta, along with some of my blogger friends like Janaki. My mom and mother-in-law claim that I am their best chai company. Then comes my soul sister, Chitz, who, albeit having a penchant for coffee, loves socialising with tea, especially with me. We all can have tea at any godly or non-godly hour.
Chai wherever I go, and Parle G!!
Chai is also my accompaniment with lunch (I have gulped down a cup as I type this post). Chai goes with us when we travel to different countries. Pop comes out my little chai ka khazana – Red label tea leaves, strainers, adrak, chai masala, and my favourite cup. No mention of tea can be complete without mentioning Parle G. Have you heard Vir Das’s brilliant description of Parle – G and Tea? I thank god every day for the bulk supply of Parle G in the UK superstores. How would I have survived?
Belief to pass the tea session tradition
I do have my plans about passing down the tea session tradition. Vihaan, my elder one, my chai companion at home. But the tea tradition at home started when Viraaj was born in 2020. Unfortunately, COVID and Viraaj were born together. Lockdown, my maternity leave followed by work-from-home/hybrid working increased the desire to hold such tea sessions. Gradually, Vihaan and I got Viraaj involved in our team tea sessions, so much so that Viaraj is now addicted to the concept of tea. Don’t get me wrong, his tea is quite different from mine. But it is tea after all.
One reason why I connected with Blogchatter is because of Chai. Blogchatter is incomplete without tea – “It’s 4 pm and we are drinking our fourth cup of tea this afternoon…”
How do you like your tea? Black, milky, or green? Do share!!
This post has been written as part of #BlogchatterFoodFest organised by Blogchatter
I like tea but I’m definitely a coffee girl if asked to choose!