From Sweet to Savory: the Ultimate Snacks to Pair with your Chai
Chai is not just something you drink, it's an EMOTION.
There are SO MANY WAYS you can make your tea time more pleasurable, including a good snack to pair it up with.
Choosing the right snack is CRUCIAL to go along with your chai. A good snack can alter the experience of drinking chai in many ways.
In this article, I emphasized Indian snacks. Indian snacks range from namkeen, to sweet.
what is namkeen, you may ask?
in India, namkeen refers to a variety of salty snacks. This includes samosas, vadas, pakoras, aloo bhujia, chivda, sev, and much more.
what better way to enhance this experience than by pairing it with some delicious snacks to enjoy?
depending on your taste buds and preference, here are a list of things you can pair YOUR delicious garma-garam chai with:-
1. Biscuits-
Chai-biscuit is by far the best combination you can imagine.
It is a true match made in heaven.
Whether you prefer the classic simplicity of Parle-G, milk bikis, or the creamy delicacy of jim-jams or bourbon biscuits, there’s a perfect biscuit to pair with your chai.
Don’t limit yourself to these biscuits. There are PLENTY of biscuits to choose from to pair with chai.
Tip- Fresh biscuits from your local bakery are a must-try.
2. Toast-
There are several types of toasts you get in the market.
From freshly baked milk rusks to Brittan toast teas.
Crispy toast dipped in chai is the most desi yet wholesome way to start your day.
3. Bun Maska-
If you haven’t tried this combination yet,
what are you even doing?
You don’t need to visit an irani cafe daily to relish on bun maska. It is easily possible to bring the irani cafe breakfast at home.
Grab a packet of fruit bun from your local grocery store, spread butter inside the bun and you’ve whipped yourself a homestyle irani bun maska to perfectly pair along with your chai.
4. Pakoras-
There is no denying in the fact that,
garam-garam pakoras with chai during monsoons is a whole MOOD.
The range of namkeen pakoras are plenty-
from aloo pakoras, dal pakoras, bread pakoras, methi pakoras, the list just keeps going.
While pakoras in street foods areas around India(khau gallis) are quite mouth-watering, you surely cannot compare them to the freshly-prepared home-made (ghar ka) pakoras.
5. Samosas
Samosa and chai is a deadly combination, where namkeen meets meetha.
If you live in Mumbai, you must have eaten samosa at least once in your life, especially samosa pav.
Samosas are crispy, delicious, filled with blends of different masalas which pair well with chai.
6. Fruits and Nuts:
Looking for something healthy?
Try pairing your chai with fresh fruits or almonds.
Sliced apples with peanut butter, bananas, or a handful of almonds, walnuts or cashews offer a nutritious accompaniment to your cup of chai, while simultaneously providing you with a plethora of health benefits.
Best of both words!
Next time you make your fresh cup of chai (hopefully soon), be sure to keep these snacks I just mentioned in mind to elevate your chai-drinking experience. Whether you are looking for some solitude time with yourself, or out with a group of friends,
good food is a good mood.
What comes to YOUR mind when you think of chai? Comment down below.
Don’t forget to check out my Podcast, ‘All Is Well with Haaniya Syal’ on Spotify, and stay updated whenever I post a new episode. The link to one of my episodes is down below!
