Move over “Chai Tea Latte”!
It’s time to learn what really makes a proper cup of Chai.
In the last few years corporate chains and trendy cafés have taken the complex flavours and aromatic spices of Indian “Chai” and marketed them into a mainstream, worldwide phenomenon. But along the way they’ve lost sight of the deep roots and remarkable diversity of tea as it is enjoyed in India. Born as an act of revolt against colonial arm twisting, this delicious, storied beverage is complex in flavour and rich in history. And there are a million and one ways to make it! Every region in India has its own special way; each with slight changes in the spice mix, brewing technique and use of sweeteners.
Join chai fanatic and enthusiastic culinary historian Malav Naik for a tea party like no other: a deep dive into the history of chai and its customs. You’ll discover a variety of easy ways to make delicious, fresh, authentic chai at home! The workshop will also feature tutorials on how to make some popular, traditional chai time snacks. Along with the hands-on tutorial, you will also get a chai making kit to take home and a compilation of delicious recipes.
Intro to Chai
What is Chai? • History of Chai • Chai in contemporary South Asia • Chai in Indian pop culture
SNACK BREAK!
Chai Making 101: Introduction to the Chai Flowchart
Advanced Chai Making Tutorial: Ginger & Lemongrass Chai • Irani Chai • Iced Chai
Group Activity • Q & A
SNACK BREAK!
Introduction to chai snacks
Recipe demonstration • Q & A • Chai Kit distribution
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SNACKS
Butter Biscuits – crisp, buttery cookies with a signature flaky texture and rich, savory flavor.
Chai Rusks – crisp, twice-baked bread slices perfect for dunking, with a light, crunchy texture and a subtle sweetness.
Mawa Cake – Mawa Cake is a rich, cardamom-scented tea cake with a dense, buttery crumb made from reduced milk.
All the biscuits (cookies) and cakes mentioned here are some of the bestsellers at Dotiwala Bakery, a Surat institution with a 200 year history. I grew up eating these, especially with chai. My family would always have a jar of Dotiwala cookies or cakes in the pantry that was enjoyed with afternoon chai. Dotiwala Bakery was started by a Parsi family who took it over from the Dutch. It has a rich history of inventing unqiue baked goods that are famous worldwide.
Maska Bun & Bombay Grilled Sandwich
Maska Bun — a soft, fluffy bun slathered with rich butter — is synonymous with the ‘kitli’ culture of Ahemdabad, Gujarat. ‘Kitli’ or ‘Chai Kitli’ are roadside tea stalls that are omnipresent in the city of Ahemdabad. Each street has one or sometimes multiple kitlis that serve piping hot chai all day long. Along with chai, they also have other snacks and often sell loose cigarettes as well!
The Bombay Grilled Sandwich is a grilled, buttery toastie is layered with spiced potatoes, chutney, veggies, and melted cheese; it is not always a chai time snack but extremely popular and loved nonetheless!
Garam Nashto
Handwo is a savory, spiced Gujarati cake made from fermented lentil and rice batter, with a crispy crust and soft, flavourful interior. Gujaratis love their tea time snacks, a mark of the famed Gujju hospitality. Whenever we would have guests over, my mother would insist on making some ‘garam nashto‘ for them with chai. Literally translated, it means ‘fresh hot snacks’. She’d make the distinction as she wouldn’t want to serve readymade biscuits from the market with her chai… that’s way too basic 😉
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$79 +HST
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Malav Naik is a marketing strategist, artist and activist based in Toronto, ON. Growing up in the food-obsessed city of Surat has shaped their hedonistic outlook towards cooking and eating. They are also a food history enthusiast, always finding ways to impart cultural and historical knowledge with every dish they serve. @the_khalnaik
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The Depanneur is where Interesting Food Things happen. For more than a decade The Dep has been showcasing Toronto’s remarkable culinary diversity by hosting unique food events.
@thedepanneur
