My Morning Cup of Masala Chai

Of morning rituals, being alone and being content.

“Let it …bloow, let it… bloow….”

“Or let it bubble a little mooore…”

Am belting out tonelessly, to Disney’s actual “Let it Go” as it plays on my portable speaker.

(Yes. I am a 30-something woman, who still listens to Disney...occasionally!)

I’m entirely alone, in my teeny-tiny kitchen of the otherwise massive three-bedroom rented DDA flat, on a warm summer morning.

Well, I say morning but that is a loose definition.

Time flows a bit differently when you have been in absolute isolation for 86 days straight as a consequence of an unprecedented nation-wide lockdown. In real time, perhaps it is approaching noon and I am yet to have my chai.

Silence is also a sound. I have learned this well. And for the desi soul that I am – without the white noise of the humdrum and chaos that is typical of any Indian city, the extended silence is rather unsettling.

I find myself laughing at my own improvised lyrics, even as I concentratedly stare at the pan that has my chai brewing. I can see the mint leaves, ginger and crushed peppercorns dancing around, and am delighted that the pinch of Everest Tea Masala and a teaspoon of sugar has brought out the vibrant Cider-red colour that I love. I stand still and deeply inhale that rich aroma of mint and ginger along with the smidgeon of spiciness in the fumes. A minute or two later, I add some milk and give it a stir until the chai becomes that perfect tawny shade and is simmering away.

Any chai lover will tell you - it is those critical three seconds when your perfectly blended chai will bubble and rise, and you must know the precise moment to turn off the stove’s knob.

Any chai lover will tell you – every person, habitually, has their tailored blend of spices and ingredients. When you have a guest over, and they sip your blend of chai that is unlike their own; a conversation shall ensue. Minor quarrels may follow. Recipes will be traded. But there will always be smiles. Chai is that great equaliser – each to their own and yet there will be acceptance.

Any chai lover will tell you – this ubiquitous beverage is for all seasons, for all your moods and for all life’s ups-and-downs. Most importantly, Chai conveys a very important attitude: when it all becomes too much, take a break and have some chai!

It is an unwritten bye-law in my own tale, that I shall now codify:

Tenet for lifelong serenity- Everything looks better after a strong cup of masala chai.

Note to Self: Everything looks better after a strong cup of Masala Chai!

My chai is now ready. I strain it and ceremoniously pour it into a colourful steel jar that has an elephant and jungle pattern, hand painted on it. I saunter over to my cabinet to pick out a wide-rimmed mug. There are about 12 of them. Too many for a lone woman?

Nope. I could argue with you fervently, on why it is not so!

Because it is not just about its invigorating taste, but how I have my chai that is imperative. Depending on the context, it will preset, ascertain, or simply reset my mood. What I see first thing in the morning and how I feel during my chai-time is the self care ritual that centres my solitary self.

When my ex-husband and I separated back in June 2019 (the divorce came through a few months later) the curtain closed on an eight-year long relationship. The first thing that I did was to rid myself of all the chai mugs we used back then. They were all his. His alumni gathering, souvenirs of his business conferences and startup conventions.

Then I went online and cherry picked some mugs.

Each mug is special. Some are a montage depicting the quirks of my favourite cities – Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Pune respectively. One keenly reminds me of the subtle and not-so-subtle perks of being single. One has my favourite actor (Tom Hiddleston) dancing his signature move. One has a sage profoundly declaring – Sab Moh Maya Hai [Rough translation: Nothing is quite real, but rather how people perceive it]. One is an ode to colouring and art. One celebrates Travel and Scrabble…

These mugs are my proper-tea! ;-)

You get the picture – all these mugs epitomise a few of my favourite things.

And then to pour my chai into my mood mug-of-the-day, and sit down in a cushioned corner and take that first sip – that is utter bliss.

When the Great lockdown of 2020 ended – it marked over 100 days of my being utterly alone. My mother was genuinely a bit concerned for my sanity. After all, my being this alone was relatively recent as I had just quit a full-time job in anticipation of a big move, a new mode of work and many, many travel plans.

Life hit a giant “Pause” button on all of that – not just for me, but everybody. I found solace in that so many people were alone together and was abundantly grateful for the home I was seemingly stranded in.

I learned a few things about kindness too, and met someone who embodied it– Raju bhaiya, the designated vegetable vendor of my housing society. By the time he would come around to my flat’s corner, half the good produce was gone, but he always kept a fresh bundle of mint leaves aside for me, every other day.

When my mother and I were finally reunited, she admitted to being rather taken aback at my capacity to stay mostly functional and cheerful all through.

We laughed after I let her in on the little ‘big secret’.

Getafix, the druid, brewed the Magic Potion for Asterisk and Obelix that gave the Gaulish warriors superhuman strength every time they faced the Romans in battle.

I found my own magic formula – my chai, a workable daily routine and all of my favourite things that powers me through the pithiest of moments and the longest of days.

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Thank you for reading! With each essay - I learn, unlearn or relearn something from an entirely different perspective. I now invite you to wonder and ponder away with me.

Fellow chai-lovers, perhaps these linked recommendations below are just your cup of tea!

• Tea’s origin story is a rather fascinating tale. Watch this charming Ted-Ed Animation – The History of Tea – Shunan Teng created by Steff Lee that captures the older Chinese myths and the relatively modern history of Tea that outlines how Tea has become the second most consumed beverage in the world (after water!).

• Or you could watch this compelling video called History of Tea in India via the YouTube channel About Our Time which traces the origins of Tea into India. The narrator spills the tea on how ‘Tea’ became ‘chai’ and so much more. This video is seriously underrated as I found it to be simultaneously informative and entertaining!

• For that weekend read which has all the juicy details, facts, figures and dates – How chai arrived in India 170 years ago (Aug 2018) by Arup Chatterjee is an utter delight.

• The Great British Tea Heist by Sarah Rose is the ultimate tale for all the chai and tea lovers out there! This is an excerpt published in the Smithsonian Magazine of Sarah Rose’s storytelling masterpiece For All the Tea in China: How England Stole the World’s Favorite Drink and Changed History. It is the story of one man – a Scottish botanist named Robert Fortune who committed espionage, stole trade secrets and changed empires, a lot of intrigue … really it had me wondering why or how this wasn’t a blockbuster movie production!

• Finally, for that heavy dose of nostalgia – Ek Kali Do Pattiyan by the legendary Bhupen Hazarika was my favourite song when I was seven years old. The melody and the lyrics will transport you right to the tea gardens of Assam. Warning – this song is an ear-worm. Have your chai ready and give it a listen!

Do you have some Chai/Tea stories or of your own? Any morning rituals that you cannot do without? Am all ears and very keen to hear from you! Let me know in the comments below...