What is karak chai made of?

Strong black tea, evaporated milk, cardamom and sugar, served hot. At Cha Cha Chai the tea is Assam, brewed strong with evaporated milk and cardamom. Ginger, masala and saffron are the variants.

What does karak mean?

Karak comes from the Hindi and Urdu word for strong. It names the character of the tea: brewed hard, sweet and milky, not a light cup.

Is karak the same as masala chai?

No. Masala chai is the spiced Indian milk tea. Karak is the Gulf favourite, stronger, sweeter and thicker. At Cha Cha Chai the Masala Karak is karak with a garam masala kick, AED 14.

What is the difference between masala, ginger and saffron karak?

Masala Karak adds a garam masala kick and Ginger Karak adds fresh ginger warmth, both AED 14. The CCC Special Karak, AED 16, is the house blend where saffron meets masala. Saffron Chai (Zafrani), AED 20, is made with real saffron strands.

Can I make karak at home?

Yes. The general idea is strong tea brewed with evaporated milk and cardamom, sweetened and simmered, then adjusted to your taste. Our exact blend, ratios and timings are our own and are not published.

How much does karak cost at Cha Cha Chai?

AED 14 for Karak Chai, Masala Karak and Ginger Karak, AED 16 for the CCC Special Karak and AED 20 for Saffron Chai (Zafrani), dine-in. Delivery prices vary slightly on the apps.

from pot to glass

How karak chai is made: the method and the variants

Karak chai is made by brewing strong black tea, Assam at Cha Cha Chai, with evaporated milk and cardamom, then sweetening it and letting it simmer, never rushed, until it is strong, milky and aromatic, and pouring it hot in small glasses. The word karak comes from the Hindi and Urdu word for strong. We pour it as Karak Chai, Masala Karak and Ginger Karak at AED 14, CCC Special Karak at AED 16 and Saffron Chai (Zafrani) at AED 20.

A plain-words guide to the general method, what makes karak strong, the masala, ginger and saffron variants we serve, and the difference between a pot at home and a glass at the counter.

Menu prices as published on our menu, 10 October 2026. This is the general method; our own blend, ratios and timings are not published.

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Six quick answers

What is karak chai made of?: Strong black tea, evaporated milk, cardamom and sugar, served hot. At Cha Cha Chai the tea is Assam, brewed strong with evaporated milk and cardamom. Ginger, masala and saffron are the variants.
What does karak mean?: Karak comes from the Hindi and Urdu word for strong. It names the character of the tea: brewed hard, sweet and milky, not a light cup.
Is karak the same as masala chai?: No. Masala chai is the spiced Indian milk tea. Karak is the Gulf favourite, stronger, sweeter and thicker. At Cha Cha Chai the Masala Karak is karak with a garam masala kick, AED 14.
What is the difference between masala, ginger and saffron karak?: Masala Karak adds a garam masala kick and Ginger Karak adds fresh ginger warmth, both AED 14. The CCC Special Karak, AED 16, is the house blend where saffron meets masala. Saffron Chai (Zafrani), AED 20, is made with real saffron strands.
Can I make karak at home?: Yes. The general idea is strong tea brewed with evaporated milk and cardamom, sweetened and simmered, then adjusted to your taste. Our exact blend, ratios and timings are our own and are not published.
How much does karak cost at Cha Cha Chai?: AED 14 for Karak Chai, Masala Karak and Ginger Karak, AED 16 for the CCC Special Karak and AED 20 for Saffron Chai (Zafrani), dine-in. Delivery prices vary slightly on the apps.

The method, in five steps

1. Strong tea

Karak begins with black tea brewed strong. We use Assam, a tea known for a bold, malty body. A light cup would disappear in the milk, so the tea has to be strong from the start.

2. Evaporated milk

Evaporated milk goes in with the tea. It gives karak its thick, milky body and a gentle sweetness before any sugar is added.

3. Cardamom

Cardamom is the spice most closely tied to karak. The other variants build on it.

4. Sweeten and simmer

The pot is sweetened and left to simmer so the tea, milk and spice come together. Our menu line for it is "brewed, never rushed". This is what separates karak from tea with milk poured in at the end.

5. Pour it hot

Karak is served hot, in small glasses, and is meant to be sipped.

This is the general method. Our own blend, ratios and timings are our own and we do not publish them.

What makes karak strong

The strength comes from three plain things. First, the tea is brewed hard, so there is a lot of tea in the pot. Second, it is brewed together with the milk rather than steeped in water and diluted afterwards. Third, it is given time: karak is brewed, never rushed.

That is also why karak and masala chai are not the same drink. Masala chai leans on a blend of spices; karak leans on strong tea, thick milk and cardamom. Spices such as ginger, masala or saffron are then added to change the glass, not to replace the tea.

The variants we serve

Karak variants at Cha Cha Chai (dine-in prices in AED)
Glass	What changes	AED
Karak Chai	The plain original: strong, sweet and milky	14
Masala Karak	A garam masala kick	14
Ginger Karak	Fresh ginger warmth	14
CCC Special Karak	The house blend: saffron meets masala	16
Saffron Chai (Zafrani)	Made with real saffron strands	20

New to karak? Start with the plain Karak Chai, then move up a step. More in what to order.

A pot at home or a glass at the counter

Home brew and the café, side by side
	At home	At the counter
Strength	You choose it, and it takes a few tries to get right	A house blend, so you know what you are ordering
Spices	Whatever is in your cupboard	Plain, masala, ginger, the CCC Special or saffron
Time	Yours, on the stove	Ready to pour when you walk up, at Deira and Dubai Silicon Oasis at any hour
Cost	Your own groceries	From AED 14 a glass, dine-in

Making it at home is a good way to learn what you like. When you want it ready, or for a whole office, we do the pot for you: a 1L karak flask (about 6 cups) is AED 40 and a 10-cup tray starts from AED 250, ex 5% VAT.