Hot Karak tea a ‘winter delight’ for locals and expats in Bahrain
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Reported by Zahra Ayaz
Winter is a season when both locals and expatriates in Bahrain seek solace in a hot cup of tea. Tea shops have become favourite gathering spots for friends and families in the kingdom.
Karak tea shops, with a large number of outlets spread across different parts of the country, have made it convenient for everyone to indulge in their beloved hot beverage. Karak tea is both flavourful and convenient, allowing customers to drive up to the shops and have their tea served to them without leaving their vehicles.
The Daily Tribune interviewed several customers who were seen enjoying their Karak tea. Vivek Santhosh praised Karak tea shops for their consistency in serving freshly brewed tea at any time of the day.
He also mentioned that the shops remain open even late into the night, catering to those who crave a cup of tea during odd hours. Roshan J pointed out that while the shops’ popularity can lead to heavy traffic and limited parking, customers can easily place their orders using hand signals.
For example, showing one finger indicates a request for a single serving of Karak tea, simplifying the ordering process. Kashif Hussein, originally from India, visits Karak tea shops daily after work.
As tea-drinking is a common practice in his home country, he finds solace in the various tea options offered by Karak tea shops, such as Masala tea, green tea, and other hot beverages like Horlicks and Boost Badham milk. He emphasises that during the winter season, it is particularly comforting to warm oneself up with a cup of tea.
Originating from the South Asian tradition of ‘Kadak Chai,’ meaning ‘strong tea,’ this hot beverage made its way to Arab culture back in the 1950s, thanks to South Asian labourers. Various Karak tea shops have successfully adapted this recipe, which consists of a delightful blend of dark tea, sugar, cardamom, and milk.
Growing demand
Recognising the growing demand for Karak tea, Dallaspresso, a local producer of compressed coffee and tea capsules, expanded its manufacturing facility in Sitra, Bahrain, last year.
Founded in 2016 by Ali Mohsen, Dallaspresso introduced the first Arabic and Turkish coffee capsules along with the local Karak tea, embracing global trends while preserving a local flavour.
The company now produces over one million Karak tea capsules and offers a range of more than 21 different tea and coffee varieties. Dallaspresso’s products have gained popularity not only in Bahrain but also in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Jordan, with the support of Export Bahrain.
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