Hyderabad, also called the City of Nizams and The City of Pearls, is famous far and wide for its distinctive cuisine and it’s Mughal influenced culture. Home to stunning landmarks like the Charminar, the Golconda fort, the Mecca Masjid, Salar Jung Museum et cetera, this city is an exhibition of the Medieval, Mughal and European architectural styles.
THE IRANI CHAI
Among the rich cornucopia of Biryanis, forts, palaces, bangles and textiles is the outstanding Irani Chai. A result of the Persian immigration to India and subsequently to Hyderabad via Mumbai and Pune, the Irani Chai soon became a part of the identity of Hyderabad. A cup of Irani Chai is guaranteed to wipe out stress after a long day of work, and surely enough, by the end of the 20th century, this reinvigorating delicacy had sprung up all over the city of Nizams.
HOW IT MADE ITS WAY TO OUR CITY
The Irani chai feels like walking down the streets of Iran, whiffing the history of cuisine that made its way across borders. Iranians who migrated to India in the last 150 years began setting up chai cafes. Having made the journey to look for a better life, they began selling the beverage of their national identity- the Irani chai that now Hyderabad boasts of.
THE ROMANCE OF THE IRANI CHAI AND THE OSMANIAN BISCUITS
Best accompanied with Osmanian Biscuits,this easy to make Irani Chai is the pivot of Hyderabad’s café culture, and has evolved over time in its process of preparation and in terms of ingredients used. Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and pepper find their way in the hot pot of this famous beverage.
Particularly in the Old City, it can be found all over the city, like places near The Mecca Masjid, Farasha Irani Café, Shahrah Café, Garden Café and various other places. The Chai is facing stiff competition from the modern Cafés like the Barista and Cafe Coffee Day, but it is still very solidly ingrained in the lives of the residents of Hyderabad, a day in whose lives is incomplete without a cup of Irani Chai and a few Osmanian Biscuits.
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