when you open your eyes and the world already feels like
itās running faster than you?
For me, chai is the only thing that slows it down. Not the fancy kind where you take out the saucepan, add ginger, boil milk and all that dramaābecause honestly,
who has time at 7:30 a.m. when the phone is buzzing with office messages?
These days Iāve fallen in love with tea premix. Just hot water, stir, and that first sip feels like home.
I still remember when I first tried an instant tea premix. I was at railway station waiting for the train, tired after a long journey. The small stall guy handed me a paper cup and said, āDidi, try this.ā I thought it would taste synthetic, you know, like those vending machine coffees. But one sip and I was likeāarre, yeh toh asli chai hai! Since then, my bag always has a couple of sachets tucked away.
In our house, evenings are sacred. 6:30 sharp, my father wants chai, my mother wants something light to munch, and my brotherāwell, he just wants Wi-Fi. Earlier, I would run to the kitchen, peel ginger, crush cardamom, and do the whole routine. Now, I keep a jar of flavored tea premix. Sometimes masala, sometimes elaichi. My father complains at first, āItās not like your dadiās chai.ā But after two sips, he quietly finishes the cup. Mothers, of course, notice the time I save and give me that look of approval without saying anything.
The best part? You can buy tea premix online so easily now. I usually add a box when Iām ordering groceries. Itās become a habitālike people stock Maggi for emergencies, I stock chai premix. And trust me, it has saved me many times. Especially during those unplanned guest visits. You know how in India people donāt always call before dropping by. Suddenly, thereās a cousin at the door. What do you do? Boil water, add premix, smile. Within two minutes everyone is sipping hot tea and nobody even realises you didnāt slog in the kitchen,
eg.TATA TEA PREMIUM,WAGHBAKRI CHAI
And oh, flavored tea has its own charm. Lemon tea in the afternoons when I feel too heavy after lunch. Masala tea on rainy days when pakoras are sizzling in the kadhai.
Sometimes I even carry a sachet to office. While others wait in the pantry queue, I just grab hot water from the dispenser and Iām sorted. Little joys, na?
Life honestly feels too rushed already. If a simple instant tea can make things lighter, warmer, and keep traditions alive in a modern way, why not? It may not replace the slow ritual of chai made on the stove, but it surely brings comfort when you need it most.
