If you have spent any time in Hyderabad, you have had Irani chai at a café near Charminar or in Secunderabad, served in a small cup with Osmania biscuits. When we opened Chai & Co. in our lobby, we wanted to serve it the same way, even though it is slower than making ordinary tea.
Two pots, not one
Irani chai is made in two parts. In one pot, full-fat milk is simmered slowly until it thickens and turns slightly sweet. In the other, strong tea leaves steep in water for a long time, with the lid on. The two only meet in the cup, in roughly equal measure. Our first batch is started at 6 am. The milk pot needs about forty minutes before it is ready.
What to have with it
- Osmania biscuits. Slightly sweet and slightly salty. Baked in our own kitchen.
- Bun maska. A soft bun with plenty of butter, made for dipping.
- Khara biscuits and lukhmi. Savoury options for the 5 pm hunger that hits after a long meeting.
If chai is not your drink
Chai & Co. also serves South Indian filter coffee, espresso-based drinks, fresh juices and a few cold drinks for the afternoons. There are sandwiches and salads at lunch, and the café keeps a small stock of cakes from our pastry kitchen.
A meeting place
The café is open from 6.30 am to 10 pm every day. Many guests use it for informal meetings because it is quieter than a restaurant and less formal than a boardroom. There are sockets under most tables and the Wi-Fi is the same as in the rooms.
Come down for a cup before your first meeting. If you are staying in the Garden Wing, ask for it in your room. We will send it in a flask so it stays hot all the way.