Last updated on October 1st, 2019
Cutting chai from the streets of Mumbai– a delicious, soothing and refreshing tea or chai that os famous all over Mumbai. Cutting chai just means half serving of chai and it is always served in tea glasses rather than cups. Commonly known as cutting in Mumbai, it is a great emotion all over Mumbai. During winters you can make yourself a cup of very strong cutting to pick yourself up. Here is how to make perfect cutting chai at home just like te ones from Mumbai.
Cutting Chai- A Mumbai Special!
During my short stay in Mumbai for an official training I got all hooked by the street food culture there. I literally lived on pav bhaji, vada pao, pav sandwich, bombay sandwich, samosa and washed it down with glasses after glasses of cutting chai.
While the office had a posh cafeteria we favored this cutting chai especially from a small tea sop outside what was called tapri. You will find these tapris buzzing with life and sending out hundreds of cutting chai every day.
The other favorite hangout place for us were those small Irani cafes where we would have delicious mawa cake, bun maska, khari chai, veg puffs etc.
Once I moved out of Mumbai I have been making cutting chai at home. It is very simple and easy recipe, more of just a way of serving :). It is a very strong and flavorful tea that just a cutting or half serving keeps you going.
Whenever I make this at home I have full serving as it is so refreshing and flavorful.
Serve cutting chai with evening snacks like bun maska, cutlet, pakora, paneer tikki, veg rolls, roasted makhana or with breakfast like aloo paratha, poha, pav bhaji dosa.
This Cutting Chai Recipe Is
Just like the ones from streets of Mumbai
Delicious, flavorful and strong
Simple & easy recipe
Refreshing & soothing winter beverage
Vegetarian & glutenManage free
Make it vegan by replacing dairy milk with non dairy milk.
To make cutting chai use very good quality loose tea leaves. I do not recommend tea bags for making cutting chai. This tea is meant to be very strong so that you can make do with a very small quantity. Also the this tea should have pronounced flavor of ginger and cardamom.
The recipe of this tea is very similar to adrak chai just that this tea is more strong.
How To Make Cutting Chai
Crush peeled ginger and 2-3 cardamom pods well in a mortar and pestle.
Add the crushed cardamom and ginger to 3/4 cup of water.
Boil well for 3-4 minutes.
Add 2 teaspoons tea leaves or tea powder.
Simmer and brew the tea for 5-8 minutes depending on how strong you want your tea.
Now add 1/2 cup milk.
Simmer for 2 minutes.
Strain the tea and add required sugar. Mix well.
Serve cutting chai immediately.
Tips For Making Cutting Chai
This chai or tea is meant to be strong so brew the tea at least 5 minutes. You can brew for 7 minutes for very strong tea.
Add sugar as per taste.
For vegan cutting chai use almond or soy milk. After adding non dairy milk just simmer the tea for 2 minutes
More tea recipes
I hope you will try this enjoy as much as we did. P
Cutting Chai Recipe
Cutting Chai Recipe (Mumbai Cutting Chai)
Ingredients
- 1/2 inch peeled ginger
- 2 green cardamom pods
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 teaspoon tea leaves or tea powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- sugar to taste
Instructions
- Crush peeled ginger and 2-3 cardamom pods well in a mortar and pestle.
- Add the crushed cardamom and ginger to 3/4 cup of water.
- Boil well for 3-4 minutes.
- Add 2 teaspoons tea leaves or tea powder.
- Simmer and brew the tea for 5-8 minutes depending on how strong you want your tea.
- Now add 1/2 cup milk.
- Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Strain the tea and add required sugar. Mix well.
- Serve cutting chai immediately.
Notes
- You can double the recipe or triple it
- For vegan chai use non dairy milk like almond milk.
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