My journey from coffee to chai

Literally brewing a storm in a tea cup Make everything simple. I still weed out the condensed milk that settles on top of the freshly brewed hot tea, as I did during my childhood. had a health problem—could not tolerate milk—it was filter coffee for me or nothing—no sugar, no chicory, no milk—pure filter coffee made in South Indian style—the aroma was heavenly—it wafted around every corner of the house—the taste was male, brutal—the effect—all senses fired on all cylinders. The taste and the aftereffects were so addictive that I was sometimes ready to sacrifice my night's sleep after a nice post dinner cuppa . My health got back to normal, and I tried to venture nimbly into the substances I had omitted during my illness—tea and milk. My journey with tea began with the herbal, green, and infusion teas; it required an acquired taste; it was horrible; if you do not want a guest to come back again, it is the best tea to serve; and I have doubts about the healthy benefits that they claim. Then I tried Assam tea. The fragrance was heavenly. At first, I was confused with which flushes to buy, but for a novice like me, all flushes seemed the same. It had a British stiff upper lip preparation method: how much time to boil water, how much time to steep the leaves. A mild deviation in the right amount spoiled the taste, but the aroma was fantastic. --the taste and smell of a perfectly brewed Assam or Darjeeling tea serenaded in perfect combination. Then one day after my morning walk, I happened to stop by a roadside tea shop, which did not have any of these fancy teas and coffees. The caramel coated milk pan had boiling milk, and he poured tea leaves , some elaichi, and sugar, and served it in an earthen kulhar. It tasted like the 'amrit churned out on "Samudra " manthan". I got hooked and sank hook, line, and sinker. As I searched Amazon for elaichi chai, cutting chai, masala chai, ginger chai, etc., I realised I had been missing out on life. The package was ordered, delivered, and the chai journey began. It was so simple—you needed no measurement, no steeping , no flushes. Boil your milk and add the amount of tea leaves according to your taste—you like it strong or light—sift it, and there you have a tea that has the taste of Bharat. A taste that I could relate to—elaichi, ginger with a little inherent sweetness—and now it gives a kick and happiness more than my filter coffee.

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