The first cup of tea sets my mood for the day: Kinjal Rajpriya

The first cup of tea is very personal to me,” says Kinjal Rajpriya, a “paaki chaa lover”. On International Tea Day, the Behrupiyo actress joins us for a quiet, cosy shoot over her favourite cup of chai, opening up about why good tea is the perfect way to begin the day, her fondness for herbal blends, and more. Excerpts:


‘Lemongrass is my favourite addition to tea’ I love beginning my mornings with a cup of tea brewed just the way I like it—it instantly puts me in a positive mood for the rest of the day. However, my workdays can be quite unpredictable, so I have learned to adapt to whatever environment I am in and enjoy whatever chai is offered. When I make it myself, lemongrass is my favourite addition. Lili chaa jaisa kuch nahi–it is just so refreshing! I also change my ingredients depending on the season. I avoid using too much ginger during summer, opting for fresh lemongrass and pudina instead to keep things light and refreshing in the heat.



‘I love pairing my tea with bakery treats’ I have a lot of favourite tea pairings! I absolutely love the bhakri or gehu ki masala puri that my mum makes. On days when I am not watching my weight, bread and butter, a standard paratha, or Surti butter biscuits work equally well. Salted biscuits, along with chai and mamra, are my ultimate go-to combinations to satisfy any hunger pangs. In fact, I often say, “Bakery ane cha etle best sukh”—because for me, nothing defines happiness better than tea paired with delicious bakery treats.



‘My jhula is my fave place to have tea’ There’s a special spot in my house where I love sipping my chai—on the jhula, surrounded by nature. My house has a lot of greenery around, lots of plants that are our babies. I love sipping chai on what I fondly call my “Sita van” balcony or verandah. There are many spots in town where I go for tea, but I never tell anyone about them. I like to keep those chai moments undisturbed and entirely to myself. Any tapri or kitli that brews chai fresh and lets me customise it with ingredients of my choice is impossible for me to resist — I’ll always stop for a cup. That’s pretty much how I discover new tea joints. On set or while working, I’m fortunate to have a team that instinctively knows when I need a cup of chai — sometimes even before I realise it myself (smiles).



‘Herbal tea helps detoxify the body’ Herbal teas are a fantastic choice for a healthy routine, as they naturally help detoxify the body. Being genuinely inclined towards a wholesome lifestyle, I have been drinking herbal chai since I was a little girl. While growing up, my favourite magazine was Prevention, which educated me immensely about good health and well-being. Regarding the current matcha trend, I actually discovered it way back in 2009 during a trip to Japan, where I experienced an authentic tea ceremony. Tea is a quintessential part of my life, serving as both a medicinal and soulful practice that allows me to relish natural flavours. Among my favourites are hibiscus, tulsi, and Moroccan mint, all of which boost my energy levels and metabolism without the guilt of loading up on caffeine.


Kinjal adds, "I haven’t tried any weird tea experiments yet, so it wouldn’t be fair for me to comment on them. But I would choose an authentic serve over those bizarre creations any day. I firmly believe that ‘chaa ne chaa ni jem pivaay, eni bhel na banavay’ (tea should be enjoyed as tea, not turned into bhel) (laughs)."