What’s your cuppa: Kadak or subtle?

When it comes to tea, everyone has their own preferences. Ahead of International Tea Day on May 21, we ask some Delhiites about their kind of chai – if they prefer a kadak chai ki pyali or a more subtle brew.
‘Will always prefer masala chai’
Karan Vohra, Hunar Gandhi and Prachi Tehlan
Prachi Tehlan, actress
In Delhi, it’s an evening routine to have kadak adrakwali masala chai with Parle G biscuits or rusk.I also love to try tea from famous roadside stalls when I travel to different states. Rustic tea jaisa maza kahin nahi hai.
Hunar Gandhi, actress
Masala tea has always been my love. On the first shoot day of every show, I make my own tea with ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, lemongrass on the set so that the spot dada knows how I like my tea.
Karan Vohra, actor
I love cutting chai from tapris. I prefer my tea doodh kam, paani zyada and kadak. I like very strong chai and it is usually my evening drink.
‘In love with flavoured brew’
Rina Dhaka and Sonalika Sahay
Sonalika Sahay, supermodel
I love having Earl Grey and jasmine tea. I end up having at least six cups of tea each day. I prefer starting my day with two-three cups of jasmine tea and have it again in the afternoon and evening. At night I prefer chamomile tea.
Rina Dhaka, fashion designer
For many years, I loved having adrak, elaichi, tulsi chai, boiled to perfection and kadak. But in the last few years I have switched to having green tea and hibiscus tea. I love trying different infusions, and ginger tea is the best remedy for a bad throat.
Sanjay Singh and Palash Sen
Sanjay Singh, Special CP, Delhi Police
I only drink green tea, with a dash of lime. It has been over five years and I haven’t had any other tea, neither masala nor any flavoured tea.
Palash Sen, singer
I have always been a coffee drinker, with an occasional cup of green tea. The moment I discovered matcha green tea, there was no going back. I need my daily fix and can't do without it. Desi milk tea is something I just can't have as I am lactose intolerant.

For the love of kahwa
Shivani Wazir Pasrich, Sunil Sethi and Ashwath Bhatt
Ashwath Bhatt, actor
I need my kahwa in the morning and evening. Wherever I travel, I always carry my tea box with me. In fact, kahwa leaves is one thing that I always purchase during my Kashmir trips. I have a specific way in which I like it prepared – with green elaichi and almonds. I always advise my friends to avoid buying kahwa mixture and instead prepare it with leaves.
Shivani Wazir Pasrich, actor, educationist and Odissi dancer
I absolutely adore kahwa. I come from Kashmir and kahwa is a very important part of our lives. Real kahwa is made by boiling saffron for 15 minutes, and then what you get is naturally sweet and flavourful, which is just another experience altogether.
Sunil Sethi, Chairman, Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI)
In winter months, the only form of tea which I like having is kahwa. I get ingredients from different people in Kashmir and get my kahwa made at home. I think it is the best drink for winters.