Cutting Chai Recipe | Mumbai Cutting Tea Recipe

Cutting Chai Recipe | Mumbai Cutting Tea Recipe | How to Make Cutting Chai with detailed photo and video recipe. A flavored mixed spiced tea hot beverage prepared by boiling black tea, spices, and full cream milk. It is typically served as a refreshment during during morning with breakfast or with snacks in the evening. It hails its origin from the busy streets of Mumbai where it is served as half in quantity.

Cutting Chai Recipe | Mumbai Cutting Tea Recipe | How to Make Cutting Chai with step-by-step photo and video recipe. A popular refreshing beverage prepared from tea powder/leaves with a concoction of milk, sugar, ginger, and cardamom. Cutting Chai originated from Mumbai, Maharashtra which means half chai in quantity and price for it. It is typically served with simple biscuits and a spicy mixture, but optional.

Traditionally, chai or tea was served in 2 steel cups in India. This eventually got replaced with glass or ceramic cups. These steel cups were placed one over the other and optionally the chai could be split into 2 cups. So that it could be easily enjoyed by 2 people. Perhaps, this act of sharing the chai gave its name to cutting chai. Moreover, local street vendors of Mumbais saw this as an opportunity and started to serve half a cup of chai at a reduced price. In addition, there is another theory that says cutting chai got its name because of the strong flavor it has to offer in a small quantity. Whatever the theory, at the end of the day, cutting chai has become the pride of Mumbai city.

Furthermore, here are some important tips while preparing Masala Chai or Cutting Chai. The quantity of milk is completely open-ended and you can add as per your taste and preference. I prefer to have my chai on a thicker end hence I have added a 1:1 ratio of milk and water. Secondly, the chai prepared has basic spices and herb flavor. However, you can add chai masala to spice it up further. Lastly, you can even prepare the chai with just milk to have creamy cutting chai. But be sure to serve this in glass cups, to get the authentic and original feeling.

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About Cutting Chai

It is a simple and popular hot beverage from the bustling city of Mumbai. Cutting Chai means ginger and spice-infused milk tea served in small, purpose-based glass tea cups. It is also known as cutting which means half or a small amount of tea served in small batches. Due to the small quantity of tea served, it is affordable economical, yet the flavored refreshments can be enjoyed.

There are many types and variations to the popular Cutting Chai Recipe. The variations are mainly applied to the tea or chai recipe. So in other words, any customization to the tea can be happily applied to this tea. Moreover, you may generously add tea masala powder while making this tea for spicy masala cutting chai. In addition, the tea also can be made with sugar less, so that you can enjoy the tea flavor.

Video Recipe

Recipe Card for Mumbai Cutting Chai

How to Make Masala Cutting Chai with step-by-step photos

1. Firstly, in a mortar pestle take 1 inch ginger, 3 pods cardamom, 4 cloves, ½ tsp pepper, and ½ inch cinnamon.
   
2. Gently pound the pestle into the mortar to help masala release its flavors. Keep aside.
   
3. In a saucepan take 3 cup water and warm it on medium flame.
   
4. Once the water is hot enough, add prepared chai masala and boil for 3 minutes or until the flavors are infused in water.
   
5. Now add 3 tsp tea powder and boil for 2 minutes.
   
6. Once the tea flavors are infused in water, add 3 tsp sugar and boil until the sugar is melted.
   
7. Further, add 1 cup of milk and get to a boil.
   
8. Just mix it and boil for 2 minutes for the aroma to be absorbed by the chai.
   
9. Finally, filter out the chai and serve Cutting Chai with biscuits.
   

Notes

• Firstly, if you are looking for kadak chai then boil the tea decoction a little more.
• Also, adjust the amount the sugar depending on your sweet tooth.
• Additionally, before adding milk, boil the tea leaves in water for more flavor.
• Finally, do not skip ginger as the ginger gives flavor and warmth to the Cutting Chai.