A National Institution

If you've spent any time in India, you know chai (what we Americans call tea) plays a role in Indian culture unlike any drink we have at home. Yeah, we drink coffee or Coke to get our caffeine but, like most things in the US, the process is more about convenience and speed. In India, getting and drinking a tea is a time-honored process that takes a skilled preparer and a patient...but entertained...customer.

We went to this guy every morning in the Tamil Nadu city of Pondicherry. He worked at a corner stall on the street and you COULD NOT walk past without stopping to watch his act. All the chai guys put on a show and this guy's was as good as any. His chai was excellent, too.

Get the milk boiling and swirl in the tea leaves...

Run the brew through a sock strainer...

Add a little sugar...

Give it a vigorous mixing....

And pour without looking.....

Edible artistry.