By Aditi Saraswat
April 21, 2026
From strong cutting chai to light kahwa, the taste of tea in India varies with every region. This National Tea Day, know how different parts of the country brew and enjoy their everyday cup of tea.
In Mumbai, cutting chai is brewed strong, sweet, and served in small glasses, called cutting glasses. People often enjoy it by standing at roadside stalls, sip by sip.
Kahwa hails from Kashmir and is light and fragrant, prepared by brewing green tea, saffron, and nuts. It feels soothing in every sip and is enjoyed particularly in cold weather.
Kolkata’s lebu cha is a refreshing black tea that is seasoned with lemon and a hint of spice. The taste is tangy, soft, and often served in small clay cups.
Gujarati chai is milky, a bit spiced, and often a bit sweeter. It is brewed for a long time with ginger, cardamom, and sometimes lemongrass, which makes it rich and satisfying.
Irani chai is creamy and a bit thicker than other regular chai and is paired with biscuits. It’s brewed a bit differently, having a strong decoction that is mixed into sweet, milky tea.
Assam is famous for its bold, strong, and full-bodied tea that is often brewed with milk and sugar. It has a deep colour and a rich, flavour.