Chai or cricket brings Paksitani people together. But everyone loves their tea in their unique style and blend. Here we are not trying to list all kinds of tea that exist but the ones that will get to taste when you are in Pakistan. This is will help to know what is in each and which one you will want to order.
Pakistani people love mixed teas and that is how they brew it at home. So most of these are prepared by boiling ingredients in a pan altogether.
Separate Tea: You might come across this type of tea as Pakistani refer to English style tea as separate since the milk is not mixed and boiled with the water and tea leaves.
Mixed Tea/Chai: Pakistani people boil water and tea leaves and add milk which is further boiled with the tea leaves to make mixed chai/tea. People use loose tea leaves to make mixed tea. Sugar is added in pan but people also leave out the sugar so you can add it according to your taste.
Doodh Patti Chai
The basic ingredient of tea remains the same but the milk to water ratio changes. Doodh Patti literally means milk and tea leaves. So this type of tea as more milk. a very small ratio of water is used to brew the tea and then a lot of milk is poured and boiled with the tea leaves. Add sugar and many people add cardamon as well. You have to try it to know if this kind of tea is for you or not.
Karak chai
This household blend called Karak chai is a popular drink. The basic ingredient remains the same but it has a stronger taste of the tea leaves. It is a stronger mix than its many counterparts, with a strong dose of loose tea leaves blended with evaporated milk to create a cup-like no other. It serves as more caffeine and less milky taste. Sugar is usually added to it in tea shops but you can request to not add sugar so you can add it to your taste.
Kashmiri Chai
The Kashmiri Chai forms a significant part of the Kashmiri people and people know it for the vibrant pink color. It has a sweet and salty taste. The tea gets pink colour from the baking soda reacting with the tea leaves. Dry fruits saffron and some other spices are also added. In cities, pink tea gets really popular during the winters.
Masala Chai
Pakistani people couldn’t resist adding spices to tea and they did not stop at cardamon. They are popular drinks and have recently become a national favorite. The tea is usually served in clay pots.
Masala Chai has many types of spices including black pepper, ginger powder, green cardamom, cinnamon, green tea leaves, sugar, tea, milk, and water. Just grind all the spices and add the freshly ground masala and tea leaves to the boiling water. Add ginger powder is added to the milk before pouring everything together in your cup. This tea is sweet so expect a sweet drink floured with aromatic and tasty spices.
Kahwa:
Kahwa is a traditional style of green tea most popular in Peshawar and Kashmir. It is the type of green tea that is easy to make and refreshes your mind in a minute! There is a different variety but are made with loose herbal tea leaves along with some spice blend that is not too overpowering but soothing. People take it when sugar or honey to sweeten it.
Butter Tea:
Butter Tea is one of the classic varieties of tea. As the name suggests it has butter in it. This kind of tea is famous for its unique taste. It is a traditional tea made in the Baltistan region and the tea is cooked for several hours. It is salty and not sweet tea. You can only get a taste of this tea when you visit the region and ask someone (a local) to make it for you.
Tandoori Chai
Tandoori chai is a spectacle and became a tea trend in the recent year especially during winters. It is a regular sweet tea with some spices (usually cardamom). The fascinating part is when the clay cup is cooked over the flames and then dipped in the tea pan to get tea. Tea sizzles in the hot cup froths over. Then this chai is poured into another clay cup and served.
Herbal Tea
Herbal tea is the only tea that does not contain any leaves from the Camellia plant family. It can be of three types: rooibos tea, mate tea, or herbal infusions. Herbal infusions consist of pure herbs, flowers, and fruits.
Cinnamon Chai
A small piece of Cinnamon bark into the boiling water, and voila! Here is the perfect herbal treatment.
Tumuru Tea
Tumuru tea is a herbal tea of Gilgit Baltistan. the herb grows wild and only in the areas with high altitude. These herbs are collected and boiled with water to make herbal tea. It is soothing and relaxes you instantly. The smell and flavour are very unique and is a must-try.
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