Chai Girl in Spice Land
Namaste!
She’s Shopping India:
Indian food is full of rich colors, tastes and scents. Cardamom, anise, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, ginger, tumeric and nutmeg: an enticing blend.
And while Starbucks has not yet broken into India, Moi has no problem finding a chai latte, extra hot. Chai is the Hindi word for tea, and while shopping for silks, pashminas or gemstones, vendors offer a cup of chai, milky and steaming hot, typically served in small clay cups. I prefer the masala chai, spicy and slightly sweet, over the strong black chai.
The street bazaars are crammed with spice vendors, pungent kernels brimming in baskets overflowing with color and scent, or in large glass canisters displaying the many choices.
After dining, you are traditionally served a small box or bowl of anise seed (sof) to freshen the breath and aide digestion. The anise can be served alone, or beside a bowl of sugar crystals to add sweetness to the spice. But Moi favorite is the colorful anise and sugar blend, already mixed, with added flavors such as coconut, beetle nuts, peppermint or rose.
Moi tip: Tourist shops sell the anise mixture for as much as 200 rupees ($4), which doesn’t sound like much. But the same small packets can be found in the bazaars for 25 rupees, plus alot more fun selecting your favorite anise blend from the 4 or 5 offered.
2 comments
Love the “Moi Tip” – Hoping Mrs Claus will be putting some of this in my Chicago stocking this year!
Great minds think alike…we’re sympatico!
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