As the streets of Sydney’s Little India start to shimmer with Diwali lights, the air carries extra than simply the scent of sweets, spices and marigolds – it carries that unmistakable aroma of freshly brewed chai. It’s the season when each nook buzzes with laughter, each store window glows in gold, and each sip of chai seems like a tiny celebration in itself.
Welcome to a chai crawl by way of Harris Park, Sydney’s very personal Little India, the place spicy chai brews and crunchy snacks come collectively in probably the most scrumptious manner. Whether you are a die-hard chai lover or a curious first-timer, that is going to be the tastiest stroll of your week. You’ll discover every part from smoky tandoori pours to Irani chai, all paired with snacks that crunch.
It’s the right time to affix within the Diwali festivities with a cup of chai. Chai is greater than a behavior! For us, it is an emotion – a ritual of togetherness, a pause, a consolation that hugs your soul.
It’s the acquainted clink of cups, the swirl of steam that carries tales, and the heat that someway tastes like residence. For Indians, chai isn’t simply a part of the day, it’s a part of our rhythm, woven into celebrations, conversations, and quiet moments alike.
And Diwali at all times glows just a little brighter when shared over chai. Let the chai-venture start with three killer chais of Harris Park.
First Stop: Indo-Chainese – The Tandoori Chai Experience
Home to Harris Park’s most dramatic cup of tea – the tandoori chai at Indo-Chainese. This isn’t your common chai. This is chai with theatrics. The clay kulhad is first fired in a blazing tandoor till it’s scorching scorching, after which steaming masala chai is poured into it.
Steaming masala chai is poured right into a clay kulhad, that has been fired in a blazing tandoor.
The end result? A smoky burst of flavour that hits the senses earlier than the primary sip. Infused with the earthy char of the clay kulhad, this chai carries a deep, toasted heat that lingers lengthy after. Velvety in texture, daring and spiced generously with cardamom and cloves, it’s a cup that’s as dramatic in style as it’s in its making.
There are pairings, after which there are rituals. And chai with samosa or bhajiya is the latter – a cult favorite in Indian meals tradition. These are chai combos made in heaven. The final chai-snack mixture that simply goes collectively and turns it into pure indulgence.
SECOND STOP: Chilli Bites – Kulhad Wali Chai
Next, make your solution to Chilli Bitesa spot that doesn’t simply serve basic Indian chai, it serves nostalgia in a cup. Here, it’s all about honouring custom. This is And kulhad wali chai in its most genuine type.
Classic Indian chai, brewed with crushed ginger and cardamom.
Brewed with beneficiant handfuls of crushed ginger and cardamom, that is the sort of chai you’ll discover simmering on stovetops of all tea stalls throughout North India. This is the true chai that’s fragrant, spiced, and lovingly made. The kulhad, that basic clay cup, doesn’t simply maintain the tea, it transforms it, including a delicate earthiness and grounding heat that no different mug can provide.
What to pair it with? Try their dal kachori, one more OG chai combo. Crispy on the surface and filled with spicy lentils inside, put kachoris are served with spicy mint and tamarind chutneysand sprinkled with some crunchy sev. It’s the right snack to nibble on between sips of chai.
And for those who like one thing candy with chai, their house-made Indian-style cream rolls are a basic favorite — crispy, flaky, evenly candy, and completely addictive. It’s principally the chai equal of a espresso and croissant combo.
Last Stop: Hyderabad House – Irani Chai
Harris Park’s chai crawl wouldn’t be full with out a cease for the legendary Irani chai at Hyderabad House. Hyderabad’s beloved Irani chai has a attraction of its personal. It’s brewed in another way, with the tea and milk boiled individually and slow-brewed for longer earlier than being blended collectively to perfection. That’s what provides it that deep caramel color, wealthy texture, and daring, fragrant flavour that lingers lengthy after the final sip. It’s easy, creamy, and barely candy, with a energy that warms you from inside.
Brewed in another way, Irani chai has a daring, fragrant flavour that may have you ever coming again for extra.
One sip, and also you’ll perceive why folks say there’s no going again when you’ve tried Irani chai. And in fact, it’s finest loved the Hyderabadi manner with Osmania biscuits or just by itself.
This Diwali, it’s chai time in Harris Park! Follow the path of steaming chai and festive cheer. After all, each celebration feels hotter with a cup of chai.
