The importance of chai

Posted on by A. Rinum in Blog

People drink alcohol to get drunk, I drink chai (tea). I’m not the only one though. Chai has a very important significance in our culture. I’m from Pakistan by the way.

Chai is a way of bonding. A way of letting go of grudges and anger. It’s a way of putting your heart and mind at ease.

I remember reading a book once, “The three cups of tea”, which said something like this. “The first time you share tea you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family.”

I couldn’t agree more.

In Pakistan whenever a guest goes to someone’s house, they honor their guests with chai and appetizers. Even after dinner chai is a must. Breakfast and lunch too. If you’re gossiping you need chai. If you’re staying up late you need chai. If you want to sleep you need chai. If you have a headache, or the flu you need chai. You’re dying you need chai.

For us Pakistanis, chai runs in our blood. Literally. We can’t donate blood, but we can donate chai.

I remember when we went to Pakistan, every house I went too offered us chai and the most beautiful thing about chai is that it’s never the same. Everyone has their own way of making it which makes it a hundred times more desirable.

There are different types of chai.  There is Kashmiri chai (which is pink). Masala chai, doodh pati, adrak wali chai- just to name a few.

But every chai is unique depending on the person making it. My mother-in-law adds more water. My mom adds equal parts water and milk. I add more milk.

But the point I’m trying to make is that chai is a really strong symbol of forgiveness and unity in Pakistan. It’s a way of connecting people. The more love you put in while making chai, the better it’ll taste.

This is how I make my chai.

I boil 1/4 cup water and add lipton tea. Then I add one cardamom and 1/4th tea spoon of fennel seeds. When the water comes to boil, I add in 1 cup milk. I let it simmer for a good 5-10 minutes. That’s how I like my chai.

But if you ask another person how to make chai, they’ll tell you a completely different recipe. That is the Beauty of chai.

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Published by A. Rinum

I was born in Pakistan, and I moved to the US when I was four years old. From the rural villages of Pakistan to the buildings of New York. Come take a glimpse into my life.

9 thoughts on “The importance of chai”

  1. The English, including myself, have tea at every occasion be it joyful or tragic. Here in American they don’t understand about a proper cup of tea. I get proper tea and use boiling water. In an American restaurant they give you an insipid tea bag and a cup of luke warm water. Of course there are herbal teas but that is a different drink. The kind of tea you are talking of, chai is a whole other thing and I can appreciate that everyone has their own recipe. I remember noticing how everyone in Pakistan always seemed to have a chai on the go. Nice to “see’ you agin by the way!

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    1. That’s so true. Some people make it with milk: others add half milk and half water. Some add fennel seed and cardamom. Some even add ginger. You will never taste the same tea twice. And that’s what makes it beautiful!

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  4. I love your post. I am also Pakistani (albeit British too) and I agree with all your thoughts about chai. I like mine strong with a splash of milk in the morning. But later on towards the evening, I love having doodh pati with honey. I also love it with cardamom and fennel as you describe. I’m going to make that version right now! 🙂

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