In the land of 'white revolution' the favourite drink is tea

09 February, 2013

Although famous for being the birth place of the white revolution in India, Gujarat has another drink, which is very famous in every household. So much so that even when a person goes to a shop to buy some sarees, the first thing he/ she is offered is a cup of hot steaming 'kadak chai.'

The reason for this addiction in the state, which also wants to declare tea as the national drink, is unknown but one can assume that since alcohol is prohibited, they have chosen the next best option.

All Gujaratis love chai is a generalization but one that has few exceptions. Rakhi Kane, a potter who grew up in Gujarat, tries to explain this Gujarati connection. “Having chai is a social event in Gujarat. The conversation starts with chai and it ends with the same. Chai is a major factor in any social gathering. All Gujaratis love chai and they drink very kadak chai over the day many a times in small quantities,” says Rakhi, reported Red Bangle television production house. She also adds that tea cups came in India after the British but even now if one visits some rural village wedding, people are served tea in saucers and the drink it directly out of it.

Gujarat is also known to be one of the largest markets for Assamese tea. It is said that when a person offers Assamese tea to a guest, he is immediately seen in a new light.