Kulhad Chai and Kahwa Set #4

Please note: Shipping is an estimation and I refund any shipping overage charges. If you are outside the U.S., I may need to contact you after the sale if shipping costs are significantly above the estimates. At that point, you are welcome to pay the overage or cancel your order for a refund.

This set provides the tools to enable you to take a few moments and enjoy a warm and spicy, delicious escape from your day…. Authentic Indian, Kadak Masala Chai and Kashmiri Kahwa teas with a sweet cup or mug and a “standard issue”, “necessary and proper” Indian tea strainer for filling your cup/mug with the heady scents and tastes of India.

Each set contains:
* A 10-12 oz. Kulhad cup or mug of your choice (295-350 ml)
* 50g Seven Essence Tea Kashmiri Kahwa tea
* 50g Kadak Masala Chai, specially selected by Bubble with Seven Essence tea
* A very sturdy, stainless steel sieve for straining Chai into your cup, approved by Bubble and well-tested for slamming to clear spice and tea bits during cleanup
* And, a guide on how to brew, steep, and enjoy each tea!

Background:
Bubble from Seven Essence tea sent me a chai sample. We got to chatting and I learned of the traditional Kulhad cup for Chai. Bubble sent me a few models cuz my curiosity got the best of me.

The Cup/Mug:
Kulhads are typically disposable, terracotta-type, handless, small, 3 ounces-ish (90 ml) cups that, I have on good authority (Bubble at Seven Essence Tea) instills an earthy taste to the spicy concoction.

After spending some time with the forms used for Kulhads, I’ve designed a series of handled and handless, 10 to 12 ounce for U.S. "Big Gulp" versions in 3 shapes. They are hand-thrown, hand-stamped, and hand-signed using a very fine-grained red clay produced in Canada. I added surface designs and glazed them, so they will be durable and long-lasting.

The Kadak Masala Chai tea:
Behind the scenes, Bubble and I kept chatting about proper brewing and steeping, milk vs. water, sweetness, and the most necessary tool... A very sturdy sieve that can handle the most violent banging to get all the tea and spice bits out while cleaning. I envisioned people all over India taking out their daily frustrations when cleaning up after Chai.

So, fast forward... I am in possession of a Kadak Masala Chai tea, specially selected and procured by Bubble, shipped to me from India, to go with each purchase of a Kulhad Chai and Kahwa tea set.

“Kadak” means bold, strong, robust, rich in flavor
“Masala” means spice

Even though this Chai is considered Kadak or bold, it is so balanced in aroma and flavors. Most Chai I have tasted in the States seems to lean on 1 or 2 intense spices for flavor and aroma, cinnamon, black pepper, clove, ginger, cardamom, etc.

This Chai comes from the region of Dooars or Duars. Dooars Tea is the essence of the ideal chai flavor that all chai lovers in India prefer. It has the perfect balance of strong taste and balanced aroma that the majority of chai lovers prefer in their everyday ‘kadak’ chai.

The Dooars-Terai region sits below the Darjeeling belt, bordering Assam, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. The region’s terrain of Himalayan foothills and flatlands gives its tea a unique character.

This Kadak Masala Chai tea presents all the spices as a melody where each essence plays its part while offering equal billing to all the other flavors and aromas in the mix. A symphony of India for you to try.

As Bubble and his brother, Abijeet describe chai, it is a CTC Tea mixed with traditional Indian spices which is consumed with milk in India. The ‘Go-To’ tea when you want to get things done! Nothing mild about this one! We’d go so far as to say “Red, Arrogant & Indulgent!” to describe it’s Brewing and Taste. You can experiment as much as you want with this one, till you own it. You can brew it without milk but we suggest to use Milk, Sugar, plenty of Tea – The ‘Dhaba’ Style.

The Indian ‘Dhabas’ are the roadside tea stalls and restaurants along the highways. Chai is a customizable tea! Once you have tried a cup, then flirt away all you want with this one, add more spice, try different sweeteners and milks, and you’re bound to develop a relationship. Indians swear by it.

The Kashmiri Kahwa:
Although I have never been to India, this tea's aromas and tastes are what I imagine India is like... spices, heady aromas, sweet sweet treats... sipping it gets my head spinning with images of indigo dyed clothe, wisps of incense, heat rising in the distance, mangoes on the trees, and tea!

As described on their website...
Rooted in traditions of Kashmir, the Kahwa is essentially a blend of green tea with Indian Spices – consumed not only for its health benefits but also to stay warm in Kashmiri temperatures. It is an unmistakable aromatic delight to say the least.

This particular Kahwa is a blend of Darjeeling First Flush Green Tea mixed with Rose petals, Cloves, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Saffron and Almonds. The First Flush Green Tea is mildly astringent and brings out a balance of fruity – vegetal notes before the spices take you over on an aromatic journey. It is a very soothing, warm and relaxing tea.

Adding honey... as Bubble says... "Alot of honey" lifts all the spices, florals, and fruit forward. It is a complete experience from the first sip to the last steep! I can see this is going to be a goto, warming steep on those cold, spring mornings and those rainy spring days!

The Strainer:
The strainer is a stainless steel, Indian tea strainer with a fine net basket. Its volume is large enough to catch all the spices and tea from your chai brewing pot, yet narrow at the bottom to sit, balanced in your Kulhad as your pour from your pan.

It has a sturdy construction, so that you can knock the strainer to clear the herb and tea bits from the basket before cleaning.

I create in small batches. Each piece is thrown in the likeness of the next, hand-crafted, and with hand-brushed glazing. I hope you’ll agree variations in color, small marks from the minerals and stone in the clay, or slight sways in design resulting from working with natural materials create the charm expected and treasured in handmade pottery.

Food-safe materials. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

Cup/Mug Dimensions:
Top Diameter: 3" (7.6 cm)
Height: 3.75" (9.5 cm)