Not the English afternoon tea with cucumber sandwiches and tartlets. Not the exotic fruity infusions. Nor the evergreen tea. Simply chai. Boiled to the brim. With milk. Soaked in tea leaves. Strong ginger fumes lingering in the air. The masala chai. Perfectly enjoyed on a cold winter day. Or with the rain relentlessly beating against your window. And with mindless gossip and hearty laughter. And some Parle-G. It's true, India Runs on Chai.
I stopped in my tracks when I was walking past the Trinity Metro station, which now boasts the new chain 'ChaiPoint'. I saw Chai and Biscuits for people on the run. And I regretted having had the buttermilk a few minutes ago. Darn me and my buttermilk obsession. But now I will come back. In the meanwhile, cheers to the new chain. After all, the proliferating cafe's are beguiling. They create a false image of what India really prefers. Even if there is a handful waiting to stand outside a newly-opened Starbucks for hours at an end. Seriously.
It's just reassuring, and lovely. And really, there is nothing like chai. Take it from someone who needs a caffeine fix every morning.
To all the tea fiends, ek chai ho jaye! :)
3 comments:
coffee! it exists. at least in two states. once i saw a costa ad over the indiranagar flyover displaying some arrogance.
" say good bye to mediocre coffee" or some thing like that.
MEDIOCRE COFFEE! saying that to one recognised style of making coffee in south india.
india may run on chai. but i run on coffee.
Ah...on a rainy afternoon your darjeeling and assam just don't do it! You need your fix with the garam masala chai! :D Very well written!
@Jai, I believe you have just confirmed that you are statistically insignificant. :)
@Polo, dankes muchness! :)
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