PATNA: The popular ‘
sheer chai
’ stalls at Sabzibagh are recording footfall of at least 3,500 people who throng the locality after breaking their fast during the holy month of
Ramzan.
‘Sheer chai’, also known as ‘noon chai’, ‘gulabi chai’ or Kashmiri tea is a traditional beverage originating from the Kashmir valley. The tea, which is made with grains of gunpowder tea, milk and baking soda, is the first choice of ‘rozedars’ during their ‘
iftar
(evening meal)’.
Sabzibagh tea stall owner Mohd Haider Shahi has been making ‘sheer chai’ for the last three decades. “The tea needs to be stirred for hours to bring out the perfect taste. I start the preparation from 8am and serve it after 8pm till midnight,” Shahi said.
Another tea stall owner, Mohd Imraan, has three makeshift stalls — one for tea and two for ‘sewai’ and ‘lachcha’ — in Sabzibagh. He said, “Kashmiri tea is the most delicious but one needs a lot of patience to prepare it.”
Mohd Nizam Khan, who also sells tea in the same area for past 25 years, said, “One cup of tea costs Rs 15. ‘Sheer chai’ is available only during Ramzan.”
However, some people consider ‘sheer chai’ as a sweet dish because it does not taste like regular tea. A Parasganj resident, Hosman Fridosh, said, “Kashmiri tea is my most favourite and I have it with my friends daily after the night prayer.”
Mohd Husain, a social activist, breaks his ‘roza’ (fast) with ‘sheer chai’ along with dates, watermelon and dry fruits.