At 4 pm, every desi household knows its chai time. Someone says, “Chai banayein?” and suddenly the kitchen comes alive. There are snacks on the table, usually biscuits and sometimes samosas or bread pakoras. It’s the moment everyone takes a break, sits together, and chats.
Furthermore, calling people over for chai is a true desi ritual, whether you live in India, abroad, or even in a Thai-Indian home.
But did you know that tea wasn’t always India’s drink of choice? A century ago, people were suspicious of it and preferred their traditional beverages. What started as a British import would slowly transform into chai, one of the most beloved parts of Indian life.
Tea was first cultivated in Assam, Darjeeling, and the Nilgiris during colonial times, mainly for export to Europe. To break China’s monopoly, the British established vast plantations across India in the 19th century.
Indian labourers were working in harsh conditions, producing tea that was shipped to London to fuel Britain’s booming tea culture.
For decades, India remained only a supplier. At home, many locals avoided tea because of the belief that “chai peene se rang kaala ho jaata hai,” or drinking tea would darken the skin. In a society where fair skin was highly prized, this superstition kept tea from becoming part of daily Indian life.
However, everything began to change in the 1920s and 30s. When the Great Depression hit, the global demand for tea collapsed. Facing losses, the British Tea Association turned to India itself as a potential market. Aggressive campaigns were launched to promote tea drinking among Indians.
Posters were put up at busy railway stations, advertisements filled newspapers, and even vans shaped like kettles drove through towns demonstrating how to brew tea safely by boiling it. Tea was presented as a healthy, energising drink for the modern Indian. Slowly, curiosity began to overcome suspicion.
Despite the growing interest in tea consumption, Indians did not embrace tea in its British form. They wanted it in their own style. Instead of drinking it black, they added milk, sugar, and spices like ginger, cardamom, and cloves.
This turned tea into India's comfort drink, and as a result, masala chai was born. By the 1940s, tea had spread across cities, villages, and railway platforms.
Chai stalls, or tapris, started rising and became a gathering spot for people to take a break and chit chat. People from all walks of life showed up not just for a hot cup, but for company. Chai stalls brought people together, again and again, until chai became not just a habit but a shared ritual.
In just a few decades, tea travelled from colonial plantations to the heart of Indian culture. What began as a strategy to boost British trade grew into a symbol of connection and comfort for millions. Today, chai is enjoyed at home, on street corners, and in cafés around the world.
Its journey from British tea to Indian chai is a story of adaptation, resilience, and identity. A proof that India doesn’t just adopt influences, it transforms them into something its own.
Looking for healthy snacks to enjoy with your chai? Check out the link below for guilt-free Indian snacks that pair perfectly with chai.