Have you tasted Karak tea?
I have been a UAE expat for 18 years. When you have lived in a foreign country for such a long time, you tend to notice new changes taking place. Recently I have seen how many Tea shops have popped up in the Capital, Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi is known for a diverse amount of restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops. I’m not surprised by this tea-drinking trend that not everyone is familiar with, except the Indian, Pakistani and Arab nationalities that hoot their horns for a delicious 1 Dirham drink.
The UAE is well known for welcoming foreigners and providing everyone an opportunity to inject a bit of their home country into this land of endless possibilities.
Since moving here in 2002, I have become an experienced expat and can certainly recommend a list of places to enjoy a meal, coffee, or dessert.
So whats Karak tea? Why has this tea become a popular drink for expats?
Firstly, its cheap and packed with the rich flavors of India.
Secondly, you can buy it everywhere.
Karak tea has gained so much popularity that you can now get a cup in the local small grocery shop, called Baqala or in the numerous small Tea Cafe’s that serve delicious affordable meals.
Karak tea reminds me of my favorite Chai tea. This inexpensive tea has become a strong competitor among the well-established coffee/Tea franchises in Abu Dhabi, such as Costa, Starbucks, Gloria Jeans, to name a few. Karak tea has traveled with its pioneers from India and Pakistan and has now claimed its rightful place in the company of those who seek to have a hot affordable beverage on the go.
This tea has finally become part of the expat lifestyle and continues to create a profit for those selling it. A cup of tea costs 1 Dirham. Not bad for a tea made with spices and boiled to perfection.
If you thought life in the UAE is expensive, think again. It is still possible to eat a meal under 10 Dirham. All you have to do is stay on top of the street food trends. I suggest a cup of tea when you in town. Not far from the little Tea cafe there will be other cheap and affordable places to eat that will certainly keep you on budget to enjoy the rest of Abu Dhabi.
But let’s not take the glory away from the Karak Tea!
If you on the go and you have no time to prepare it at home, take your flask to the local Tea shop and fill it up. I guarantee you that it will cost no more than 10 Dirhams for a liter of tea.
If you can’t handle so much Karak tea, a small cup for 1 Dirham will surely satisfy your taste buds.
Many Emirati and Expat homes will enjoy serving you a cup of tea. Hosting visitors is a big part of life in the UAE and Karak tea has made many visits memorable.
Where is Karak tea from?
Well known to Indians and Pakistanis as Masala Chai, the tea is a common household drink. It owes its name to the rich spices that is used to make it. A very well known hot drink in South Asia where tea is enjoyed after a delicious curry or rice dish.
Is Karak tea good for you?
There are many spices used to make the tea which have health benefits such as Ginger, Cardamon, Cinnamon and Cloves. If you want to get more health benefits from drinking Karak tea, I suggest using fresh ginger and avoiding sugar.
Karak Tea Recipe – Serves 4 people – Preparation Time – 5 minutes
2 tablespoon of loose black tea- I prefer Lipton tea or 4 Ceylon tea bags
2 tablespoon sugar- You can omit it for health purposes or adjust the sweetness to your preference
3 cups of water
1/2 piece of fresh ginger- I usually grate the ginger before adding it to the water
1 stick cinnamon
3 pods green cardamom
3 black cloves
1 small tin evaporated milk
Method
Boil water and add loose tea.
Add all spices and sugar to the pot.
Simmer tea for 2 minutes before adding milk.
Turn off the stove and allow the tea to infuse with the milk for 5 minutes.
Strain tea into cups and serve hot.
Karak Tea fuels the UAE!!
Enjoy
Superlady!
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