one word · a hundred recipes · every region its own idea of tea.
Every Indian chai is some ratio of water, milk, black tea, sugar, and spice. But the proportions — and the additions — change the drink entirely. Street chai in Kolkata in a kulhar (clay cup) is a totally different drink from the cardamom-heavy masala chai at a Mumbai dhaba, which is again different from kahwa served in Srinagar. Below: the major styles.