Tea for two, all for tea: UAE's love for 'chai'

Brew a kettle of tea and you are sure to find friends. This humble agent of social interaction can be found in little shops all around the UAE.

Run by expatriates, mostly from the Indian subcontinent, the little tea shops are taking on the task of bridging an intensely multi-cultural society, and apparently doing a good job at that.

One such cafeteria is the Modern Coffee shop in Hor Al Anz area in Dubai. People are guided through the maze-like streets by the sheer popularity of the beverage.

The shop reportedly sells at least 1,600 cups of tea a day and starts brewing as early as 6am, to cater to the early birds.

Syed Maqbool, a 42-year-old Indian expatriate, is a regular customer and is overawed by the diverse clientele of the little tea house.

He said: "It is amazing to see people rolling in their luxury cars and asking for a 'doodh kadak' [or strong milk tea]."

The multi-cultural regulars do not need to worry about a language barrier. Fingers play the role of words and smiles add the niceties.

Maqbool felt the shop's popularity was mainly due to the volume of tea sold.

He said: "At an average cafeteria, a single kettle of tea would last for hours, making it stale. Here, fresh tea is brewed all the time, drawing people from all over the country."

The cafeteria caters to customers mainly from Dubai, but others also drive in from Sharjah, Ajman and even Ras Al Khaimah. 

Another popular tea shop is the Al Taher Restaurant, in Deira, Dubai.

Gulfaraz Khan Chauhan, the owner of the restaurant, said that with the influx of different nationalities into the business hub, the restaurant also witnesses the multi-cultural mix that chai can attract.

He said: "The reason people enjoy spending time here is because of our staff. They are extremely friendly, and never fail to share a joke."

Jayant Sathe, an Indian expatriate, works close to the restaurant and has met people of diverse ethnicities there. He said: "Once I asked an old man if I could sit with him, only to later find out that he was a famous political writer from Yemen!"

The consequent conversation was extremely memorable for this 42-year-old project manager, as he learnt the importance of contemplation, penning down one's thoughts and the magic a single cup of tea could create. "I also once met a GCC national, who was staying at a posh hotel in the area. However, he preferred to have tea at this restaurant, as making the tea in his hotel room took too much time and did not taste the same," he said.

Additionally, the restaurant's 'tea boy' is something of a legend. Lovingly known as 'chacha' OR uncle in Hindi, by most customers, he is given orders for varying styles of tea based on individual preferences.

"Time is changing and so are people. But what remains unchanged is my love for tea, the tea shop which I visit and chacha, the brand ambassador for the shop," Sathe said.

Gulf News readers seem to be taken in by another variation of tea - the 'zaffrani chai' or milk tea with saffron.

When asked about their favourite chai place, several Gulf News readers voted for Filli cafeteria, located in Al Mamzar area, Dubai. This cafeteria has managed to pull crowds from all over the country. 

Ashim, an Indian expatriate, has been working at the cafeteria for two years and loves every minute of it.

He said: "When I first arrived in Dubai, it was hard for me to communicate with people due to a language barrier."

"But, over time, I have learnt Arabic, Hindi and English, thanks to the multi-cultural customers."

According to him, the cafeteria manages to sell at least 4,000 cups of tea in a day, most of which are zaffrani chai.

He said: "Emirati, Australian, American and South Asian customers come from different parts of the UAE and ask for the special cup of zaffrani chai. Most of them have heard about the tea through word of mouth."

Rehan Khalid, a Pakistani expatriate, has several good memories attached to this specific cafeteria.

He said: "My friends and I get together at Filli cafeteria, since they have the best tea. Recently, we all gathered at the cafeteria and chatted till the wee hours of the night. Finally, the cafeteria staff had to ask us to leave, as they had to close for the day!"

The neighbouring emirate of Sharjah has its fair share of tea lovers, too, and a variety of cafeterias cater to various tastes. Al Hirah Cafeteria, located in Al Fisht area, has proven to be amongst the most popular locations for 'kadak chai' or strong milk tea. 

At any time of the day, the parking area around the shop is filled with cars, with some of them double parked on the main street causing traffic congestion.

Abdullah Kunhi, the owner of the shop, is fascinated by the residents' love for the drink.

He said: "We manage to sell at least 1,000 cups of kadak chai in a day. We have to prepare several kettles during the day, since it is the most popular type of tea amongst Emirati customers. There are several families from different cultural backgrounds living nearby and they come to our shop for tea."

Similar stories continue to be shared in the other parts of the country, as the humble chai, ever so quietly, brings us all together."

Quest for tea

Staying away from home introduced Gulf News reader Milind Tikhe to several kinds of tea. 

A 56-year-old Indian expatriate, Tikhe said: "Necessity is the mother of invention and to satisfy my craving for homemade tea, I kept trying different mixtures looking for the best one."

Travelling several kilometres for tea has never been an issue for Tikhe. As his search continued, he started preparing some at home as he learned recipes.

He said: "I came across small tea shops in India that would offer different flavours of tea, like ginger, almond, spice, rose and jasmine. I then found similar flavours that were being sold in packets at the local supermarkets. All I had to do was add a pinch of the 'masala' [or spice mix] to the tea and enjoy it in the comfort of my home."

After moving to the UAE, Tikhe was introduced to sulaimani or mint tea. This was new to him.

He said: "It was obvious that tea without milk and sugar was good for people cautious about their weight."

History over a cup

We have been hooked to the steaming cup of tea for the past 5,000 years and the relationship does not seem to be ending anytime soon.

In 2,737 BC, a dried leaf from a wild tea bush fell into a boiling pot of water and formed a mixture that is probably the most popular drink in the UAE today - tea.

Shen Nung, a Chinese emperor, would ask for his drinking water to be boiled for hygienic reasons.

During one of his trips, a tea leaf fell in the water.

The emperor enjoyed its pleasant aroma and refreshing taste and this is the day that tea was born. Historically, the use of tea as a drink for staying awake seemed unclear. However, in 1827, caffeine was discovered in tea, which is a factor that counteracts fatigue and restores energy levels. It might also delay the onset of sleep.

The preparation of the beverage has been altered over the years and the style available today is very different from its original recipe.

Tea leaves were compressed to form blocks of tea, which were added to large kettles of boiling water to prepare the drink. The concept of tea bags was introduced in 1904.

Tea time quickly expanded in range and brought with it social gatherings and casual meals. People would meet to discuss daily activities and issues, and several cups of tea were consumed in the process.

The journey continues as tea works to bridge cultures and bring people together.

Health benefits

"Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one.", says a Chinese proverb.

1) Caffeine helps you stay awake.

2) A cup of tea has at least 30 per cent less caffeine than coffee.

3) Green tea helps in losing weight.

4) It has anti-carcinogenic properties.

5) Tea does not dehydrate, contrary to popular belief.

6) Helps fight heart diseases.

7) Theanine, found in tea leaves, helps boost the immune system.

8) Polyphenols inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath.

Do you like tea? Is there a story you would like to share about your favourite cuppa? Write to us on food@gulfnews.com

NOTE: This story was originally published in July, 2009. Some of the coffee shops might have relocated or closed.