Chai culture

Dawn.com Published February 2, 2011
Noora tea stall situation in Iqbal market (Bolton Market) is another good place to enjoy tea. The hotel lacks a sitting area but compensates for that by delivering cups of tea to hundreds of shops in the market.
Noora tea stall situation in Iqbal market (Bolton Market) is another good place to enjoy tea. The hotel lacks a sitting area but compensates for that by delivering cups of tea to hundreds of shops in the market.
The famous tea of Waheed Hotel in Ramaswami area attracts a huge number of tea addicts. The shop also offers various types of tea, for instance, tea with a tinge of coffee. However, its most famous product is ?Adhiya? (half). Adhiya as the name suggests, is half a cup of tea with a blend of pure milk.
The famous tea of Waheed Hotel in Ramaswami area attracts a huge number of tea addicts. The shop also offers various types of tea, for instance, tea with a tinge of coffee. However, its most famous product is ?Adhiya? (half). Adhiya as the name suggests, is half a cup of tea with a blend of pure milk.
Noora tea stall also offers a tea named ?Tukrha? (half), which is made without water. It is ?doodh patti? tea, which means that only tea leaves are boiled in milk. This drink has an excessive taste of milk as opposed to a strong tea flavour. ?Cutting? is the name of a simple tea offered at Noora tea stall, which is the most popular blend here.
Noora tea stall also offers a tea named ?Tukrha? (half), which is made without water. It is ?doodh patti? tea, which means that only tea leaves are boiled in milk. This drink has an excessive taste of milk as opposed to a strong tea flavour. ?Cutting? is the name of a simple tea offered at Noora tea stall, which is the most popular blend here.
Caf? Piyala in Gulberg area offers fine tea to its customers.
Caf? Piyala in Gulberg area offers fine tea to its customers.
Caf? Piyala prides itself in serving 100 per cent pure milk and special tea leaves from Kenya.
Caf? Piyala prides itself in serving 100 per cent pure milk and special tea leaves from Kenya.
At the city railway station in Karachi, Riaz Tea Stall is a small shop but famed for its offerings. People from other areas come to the stall for their daily dose of hot pipping tea, which is made from special leaves worth Rs. 500 per kg.
At the city railway station in Karachi, Riaz Tea Stall is a small shop but famed for its offerings. People from other areas come to the stall for their daily dose of hot pipping tea, which is made from special leaves worth Rs. 500 per kg.

Tea remains undoubtedly the most popular drink in Pakistan. Whether it is being served in our personal drawing rooms or fresh at a roadside dhabba – there remains a close cultural bond associated with chai.

Dawn.com ventured out into the streets of Karachi to find out a bit more about the popular variations and spots where one can find the best chai in the city. – Photos by Raheel Qureshi and Text by Suhail Yusuf/Dawn.com

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Comments (19) Closed
Mehdi Ali
Feb 02, 2011 12:33pm
Wonderful pictures ....... GREAT ... and ya doodh pati chaii , suleimani chai ... KARACHI is same as it was before ... feels like taking a flight and coming back KARACHI ... GOOD WORK guys@ DAWN.COM
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shoaib
Feb 02, 2011 12:34pm
i have been to piyala hotel its good!
Recommend 0
Zia Ansari
Feb 02, 2011 03:08pm
The pictures remind me of my days in Karachi in the sixties of the last century. Two places photographed here are so familier to me! As per my family tradition, I became a tea lover (should I say addict) since my early days. My mom used to drink at least 10-12 cups of tea everyday, besides her paan.
Recommend 0
Mubarak
Feb 02, 2011 06:25pm
wonderful. I look forward to these pictures on the media gallery. Thanks for a wonderful job depicting the various cultures in Karachi. Also enjoyed the Bhori Bazar pictures. Good perspectives. Kudos.
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Shah Hussain Hussain
Feb 02, 2011 06:42pm
This wonderfull picture reminds me of when I was in beautifull city of Karachi. when I was in Karachi,I used to drink tea at least twelve cups in a day,but now adays I am in Kabul, Afghanistan and I am missing very very muck that beautifull moments.
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S.w
Feb 02, 2011 10:14pm
Nice pictures, but this is one of the main reasons for the spread of Hepatitus viruses in Pakistan. The dhabas and restaurants clean the cups and utensils in same dirty water throughout the day. Innocent people who just stopped by to get a cup of tea or have a meal, get a Hepatitus virus free without even knowing about it. This is the time the city governments should step in and introduce and implement hygene laws. I hope many would agree with me. Thanks and regards, S.Wahocho
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Ali Qazi
Feb 02, 2011 10:25pm
Heart warming pictures of Pax Pakistana! So good to see the REAL deep down culture of Pakistan. I wish we promote this homegrown culture more than importing starbucks and other foriegn brands. This is Pakistan! Love it.
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Ghulam Hussain
Feb 02, 2011 11:01pm
When in Karachi I used to enjoy doodh patti tea in Saddar where I used to visit my friend. In Canada me and my dad have tried many blends and recepies making the similar doodh patti tea back home; but to no avail. Miss that unique taste and enviornment.
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BRR
Feb 02, 2011 11:34pm
Funny how in South Asia, the term "hotel" is used for what is termed "restaurants" in most other places. Hotels are places where people stay - such as a "lodging". Places where people eat are not hotels ;-) This is a misnomer, quite common in India, and, now I realize, in Pakistan too.
Recommend 0
Hamid
Feb 03, 2011 01:52am
But have you seen the hygienic condition at the stall.
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Ghulam
Feb 03, 2011 03:46am
Thanks for the article. Brings back memories of the 70's , when i was a college student in Karachi . I wish , Pakistan would be , what it was then . I am afraid to visit the country that was my home.
Recommend 0
Sachin
Feb 03, 2011 02:24pm
This place looks so dirty, and the man is sweating all over, yaakkksss.. i won't drink this tea even if its free.
Recommend 0
waqar
Feb 03, 2011 05:24pm
thanks for the bohri bazar and chai articles and photographs. it looks like only yesterday i was there, but i am now in ksa for the past 20years.cannot match and produce markets like bohri bazaar or the foumous teastalls.keep it up and add life.
Recommend 0
Shujahat
Feb 03, 2011 06:50pm
Cant believe ppl are saying this is "wonderful" and "cultural"...cant anyone see the hygiene here ? its sick !...i hope we dont promote this !
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David Salmon
Feb 03, 2011 11:12pm
It does bring back good memories. But a chai culture without women?
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Vittal
Feb 04, 2011 09:09am
There is nothng like Chai at a dhaba. I am currently in India from US and cannot have enough of it. True, the dhabas are dirty but the chai is made in in your presence from boiling water. If you have it in a paper cup ( a compromise to compensate for the unhygenic conditions) then you have the best of both worlds. What Pakistan, What India (Kya Pakistan, Kya India) Chai is one of many thungs that bind us together.
Recommend 0
Mr.Babar ali Gujjar
Feb 04, 2011 09:59am
tea culture is a nost important
Recommend 0
Shahid Rehman
Feb 04, 2011 10:10pm
LOVELY TEA.
Recommend 0
shahid
Feb 05, 2011 11:46am
g8 fun to have a cup of tea it will remind u ur passed moments
Recommend 0

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