Mumbai Cutting chai recipe with step by step photos. There would be nobody in Mumbai who would not know Mumbai’s cutting chai . Lemme explain for people who don’t know chai is tea and cutting means one cup is divided into 2 , sometimes even into 3 in the special tea glass which you could see in the pic below.. I take this opportunity to share the Mumbai Cutting Chai Recipe or masala chai recipe from the stalls of Mumbai.
Quite nostalgic about cutting chai as I used to have them quite often in college with friends. Especially in monsoon it’s great fun to sip on hot chai. We used to club snacks like mumbai masala toast sandwiches, vada pav etc to eat along chai. Other place we used to hang around was the irani bakery where we used to have bun maska with chai.
I quite miss mumbai cutting chai hence make them home everyday. However it’s different fun to have them on tapri (stall) with friends 🙂 🙂
The mumbai masala chai is quite strong tea and mainly cardamom, ginger goes in making this special tea. Further the tea is brewed / cooked for a long time to get the strong flavor in the chai.
Chai is also offered to our guests irrespective of weather constraints. Chai has a special place in the heart of many Indian’s
Mumbai Cutting Chai Recipe follows:
- 2 cups of water
- ½ cup of milk
- 2 t/s strong chai / tea powder (I use society brand)
- 1 tsp or 2-3 cardamom freshly pounded or crushed (elaichi)
- ½ inch ginger grated or crushed (adrak)
- 2 tbsp sugar or as required
- Pour water in wok / tea vessel.
- Place on high heat add grated or crushed ginger, crushed cardamom and sugar.
- Boil for 3-4 mins on high heat.
- Once it starts bubbling add tea powder.
- Allow the tea to boil on medium heat for 4-5 mins. Ensure tea doesn't overflow.
- Time to add milk and boil again on medium heat for 2 mins.
- Switch off the gas and strain the tea with a strainer.
- Serve mumbai cutting chai with bun maska, vada pav or biscuit.
2.Grated ginger gives more flavor from ginger then the crushed ones.
Khadar pasha says
I want to start a tea stall. And introduce to customers cutting chai. Which is the best tea dust or leaf? And how to make it?
maria says
Khadar I always purchase from outside but don’t make them home. I love Society brand which are small sized leaf. I don’t prefer dust for cutting chai. All the best but check with your fellow tea vendors as to what brand they use??
Khadar pasha says
Thank u for ur valuble suggestion. I think it’s helpfull me. Bye.
maria says
You are welcome and all the best 🙂
Khadar pasha says
Hi! This is khadar pasha from andhra pradesh. I want make cutting chai. Which can use tea dust or leaf? Can u help me. Where it available in andhra pradesh?
maria says
Khadar Pasha you could use Society Tea Brand the plain ones. It should be easily available at any leading hyper market or super markets. If Society Brand isn’t available then use any good brand like Brooke Bond Taaza or Girnar Tea.
Luke says
Hi. I wanted to ask isn’t it usually made with evaporated or condensed milk? I have seen them putting that in the pot after the tea. Are you familiar with that? Let me know 🙂
maria says
Luke this tea recipe is made with milk and not with condensed milk, cream or evaporated milk.
Luke says
Yes, I can see that from reading your recipe. My question was are there other versions of cutting chai with different milks, or is the one I saw on the street everywhere just a different type of masala chai entirely?
maria says
Luke mainly milk is used for making any tea in Mumbai or India. But the masalas differ some use fresh ginger, some use dried ginger powder, some use tea masala which comprises of spices like cardamom, dry ginger, cloves, etc. Check these links for masala tea and lemongrass tea. Hope this helps you 🙂
Arlette Fernandes says
Very good tea Maria.I just loved it.Keep it up.
maria says
Thanks Arlette 🙂
Reshma says
Hi there,
I tried ur cutting chay(tea). And I like that taste.
maria says
Thankyou Reshma for trying and I am happy you liked the cutting chai taste 🙂
Vanita says
Got Quite nostalgic about cutting chai. Born & Bought up in Mumbai, now in Bangalore. Missing all the wonderful things in Mumbai. Chaats, Vada Pav Pav bhaji etc etc. Thks Maria for this wonderful Post. Will be going this May. 🙂 Take care.
maria says
You are welcome Vanita 🙂 do eat all chaats and tapri wala chai for sure and also vada pav 🙂