A piping hot cup of chai is an emotion. The legendary concoction of the right amount of milk, with tea leaves, a little bit of adrak, and a pinch of elaichi can evoke the best version of you. On the most hectic days, the only thing that works is a well-made cup of tea, and in case you're a true-blue chaivinist, you know what we're talking about. However, if you're game for some experimentation, we've curated a list of some atrangi chais that you might consider trying (We did and we can't pick our favorite) Keep it handy!
Dose Of PositiviTea: Chaivinists, Experiment With These Unique Tea Flavours Under INR 50
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Lemongrass Tea-Abir Chaiwala
This popular chaiwala in Matunga sells his regular adrak ki chai like hot cakes. But what we’d like you to try here are two of his specialiTeas- the masala tea and the oh-so-soothing lemongrass tea. He has potted his own plants around the stall and plucks fresh lemongrass every morning to whip up this chai for everyone. The stall's near Ruia College in Matunga and you have to cross the road and walk to the left until you reach his stall.
Timings: 4:30 AM to 9 PM
Price: INR 7 for adrak chai, INR 10 for masala tea and lemongrass tea
Cocktail Chai-Ashish Soni Tea Stall
Ever heard of a cocktail chai? Neither had we, but apparently that’s one of the teas offered at Ashish Soni’s Tea Stall (minus any alcohol.) It’s a mix of many things-ginger, lemongrass, and mint. Apart from this concoction, he serves his regular adrak waali chai, cutting chai, and on special demand, makes lemongrass tea, mint tea, and lemon tea for you (He's so good we're craving it while recommending this to you.)
Timings: 5 AM to 9:30 PM
Price: INR 6 for cutting chai, INR 15 for all his special teas.
Tandoori Chai-Sai Tandoori Chai
Tandoori chai is literally a trend now. And for all the right reasons. When has the aroma of anything tandoori NOT been awesome? And when chai and tandoor go hand in hand, it only gets better. This tiny restaurant in Chembur is packed with people all throughout the day, and is mostly known for its special Royal Tandoori Chai (with and without milk.)
Timings: 9 AM to 10:30 PM
Price: INR 25 for the Royal Tandoori Chai
Pushkar Chai- Shree Gangour Sweets
Get a little bit of pushkar in your tea cup at Shree Gangour Sweets near Girgaum Chowpatty. And if you're wondering what that is, let's break it to you. This shop has been selling a healthy cup of tea with flavours of Rajasthan in it. The chi is legit made using jadi bootis! There's an old man outside the sweet shop who mixes your normal milk tea with Gando Bawal's bark. Gando is a tree usually found in certain areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is addressed as a 'Bawal' because it ends up randomly growing anywhere. However, its bark has nutritional values. It is scraped from the tree and put right into your tea. Interesting, isn't it?
Timings: 11 AM to 9:30 PM
Price: INR 42 for a cup.
Suleimani Chai-Prithvi Cafe
This one's a classic. And do anything but do not leave the cafe without trying their Suleimani Chai. It's a healthy amalgamation of tea leaves, tulsi, mint leaves, and lemon, and is SO comforting to the soul on a rainy (or even sunny) afternoon. Its served in small cutting chai glasses and and looks pretty Instagrammy too. While you're at it, let us tell you that one glass won't be enough.
Timings: 9 AM to 9 PM
Price: INR 27 for a glass.
Sukoon Ki Chai-Chai Pe Charcha
For some inner peace, head to Chai Pe Charcha and get your hands on their Sukoon Ki Chai, mixed with Saunf and Dalchini. We'd highly recommend this, because it literally teleports you to zen mode. Club it with some pyaaz ke pakode and life will suddenly make sense. Also, while you're here, try their Hajmola tea too. It works really well for digestion.
Timings: 9 AM to 10:30 PM
Price: INR 40 for Sukoon Ki Chai and INR 55 for Hajmola Tea
Kolkata Special Kesariya Chai-Chaos Control Cafe
Kesar makes everything better. And chai served with kesar in a kulhad is a bonus. This small cafe right below Crystal Tower in Parel serves this special Kolkata wali kesariya chai and makes us fall in love with it every single time we're there. And the best part is that most of the things in this cafe is under INR 30. Pair your chai with their iconic Varanasi sugar toast, and thank us later.
Timings: 10 AM to 11:30 PM
Price: INR 30 for Kesariya chai.