Tea or chai is the solution to every problem and conflict in a desi household. Don’t take the power of tea lightly.
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Feeling down, have Chai.
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Day was a bust? Chai will end the day on a good note.
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Don’t want to apologise, but end a fight? Serve karak tea without saying a thing – conflict resolved!
That’s the magic of karak tea in a desi household.
Traditionally, karak tea is made with loose tea leaves, which is not the most commonly used form of tea in the west.
However, this should not hold you back from having a well deserved cup of karak tea.
What if I tell you, you can make the perfect karak chai using tea bags?
The word ‘Karak’ translates to “strong” or “intense.” This is a fitting way to describe the tea, which is prepared by adding milk and water to a boiling pot of black tea, sugar, and spices.
The outcome is a potent, fragrant tea that pleases the senses and warms the spirit!
Karak Tea: The Perks with A Divine Tasting Tea
The following are the advantages that come with a cup of karak tea:
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A Kick of Refreshment
Karak Tea is famous for its amazing flavour and fragrance. People who work long hours enjoy drinking it frequently because it provides an instant kick of caffeine.
Unlike coffee, several cups of tea wouldn’t leave you jittery like a coffee would.
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Great for Your Health
Sometimes, karak chai is made by cooking tea leaves in milk, water, and sugar. Otherwise, you can always add cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and black pepper to make a variation of Karak Tea.
Regular consumption enhances the digestive process and maintains the health of your gut.
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Working Out & Diet Perks
Karak tea's composition includes caffeine, which acts as a stimulant to increase concentration. It also speeds up metabolism.
It ends up helping you burn a few extra calories per day (if consumed without sugar), a delight for those on a calorie-deficient diet trying to lose weight! Because karak tea contains polyphenols and catechins, it can also accelerate the healing process following intense exercise.
How to Master the Art of Making Karak Tea
Ingredients required:
- 4 cups of water
- 6 tea bags – 1½ tea bags for each cup
- 4 tbsp of sugar
- 2/3 cup evaporated milk
- 6 full cardamom pods
- 3 whole cloves
- 3 thin slices of ginger root
- Sprinkle of saffron threads (about 5–6)
Serves: 4
Instructions:
- Measure four cups of water and bring it to a boil in a kettle or a pot.
- Add sugar if you like your tea sweet. It would dissolve as you cook other contents.
- Stir in the ginger, the tea from tea bags, and all the spices. Bring this mixture to a boil and simmer until aromatic. It should take about 5 to 7 minutes.
- When the tea begins to somewhat reduce and thicken, add the milk and boil on high heat.
- As the tea cooks, you will see it change colour.
- You can serve the tea at this stage if you like it mild.
- If you like strong tea, let it cook some more. If you prefer a more rich taste, try and aerate the tea several times.
- Continue aerating and cooking the tea for around five minutes, or until the desired shade of caramel colour appears.
- Pour the karak tea into mugs using a tea strainer.
Serving Tea
In a desi household, karak tea is served with a side of savoury delights. You can also serve tea with Turkish biscuits or tea biscuits, loaf cake, cookies, muffins, or banana bread.
If you plan to serve it with sweet delights, it is best to reduce or skip the sugar entirely (depending on preference).
Karak Chai is also fantastic with fried delicacies like sweet or savoury dumplings, doughnuts, and samosas.
And most importantly, Karak Chai is one of the most important elements of a desi breakfast.
Parting Thoughts
Karak tea is proof of the strength of custom and the timeless allure of a straightforward, tasty beverage.
Millions of people continue to enjoy karak tea everyday throughout the region of the Middle East and South Asia, and it is still a treasured representation of friendliness, hospitality, and cultural identity.
The next time you have a hot serving of this fragrant drink, keep in mind that you are participating in a passed-down tradition!
