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I had my first sip of masala chai in India. Specifically, I was exploring the streets of Manali, a bustling stopover town in Himachal Pradesh popular with trekkers on their way to the Himalayas. This group of men were hanging about, directly in my path along the roadside. As I got off the kerb to go around them, I noticed they were waiting outside a doorway.
Just within, a man stood brewing tea at the stove. He poured some of the brew into a small blackened pot, adding milk, a healthy dose of spices and ginger. He allowed the mix to come to a boil, threatening to bubble over but removed from the heat in the nick of time. The air was infused with this heady aroma as the tea was poured through a sieve into a tray of mugs. A young assistant quickly whipped the tray away scuttling to and fro the waiting customers.
I was suddenly hungry and thirsty and in no mind to turn down a mug when it came around to me. Well, when in Rome, do as the Romans. I found myself an empty spot on the kerb and sat down by the dusty roadside to enjoy my chai. A deep warmth enveloped me with the first sip. I was hooked.
The masala chai has since become my comfort drink. My favourite cuppa to raise the spirits on a cold day, a hot day, a rainy day, any day!
Since I now make my own chai, finding the perfect blend of masala has become a continuing quest. What I have so far is not bad but I haven't been able to replicate my first mug with success yet. I'm thinking I need to take my drink outside and find me a spot to sip chai and go "aaahhh" as I watch the world go by.
Note: Photo of my masala blend - cardamom, cloves, star anise, pepper, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg. What did I miss?
Postscript added on 10 Oct 2023: Note: Thank you to those who have written to let me know you enjoy reading my column but daren't take a lesson because there are parts you don't really understand. I assure you we'll always speak at a level which suits you so that we can enjoy a casual conversation. Also, we can go through words and sentences that are difficult so that we learn together. Perhaps, they will be easy then and we'll always have something to talk about. No stress!
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