Chai and lactose intolerance.

jwitt · Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:25

I'll be arriving in India in about 3 weeks. I've heard and read so much about chai. I've had versions here in the States with rice or soy milk which I'm told are nothing like the real thing. I'm picturing in my mind chai stands on every corner from the streets of Bangalore to the Himalayan mountains, all driving me crazy because I must abstain. As you might guess, I'm a huge foodie. Have pity on me!

Now that I think of it, I tried those lactaid pills years ago but remember them making me sicker than milk does. At least I can indulge in the mango lassies.

SANJAY_DEL · Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:27

You could carry soy milk and have your chai made to order. No sweat.

jwitt · Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:31

Really? I have been picturing huge vats of chai ready made, swirling around as cup after cup is poured for passersby. Is soy/rice milk available in shops?

SANJAY_DEL · Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:35

Tins are available in stores in the cities.
You carry your own soy milk (powder).
Ask any chai wallah to make a cup of chai specially for you.
You don't always have to have mass produced tea or coffee.

machadinha · Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:42

If you have lactose intolerance you may have trouble with the utensils having been used with milk before. Also, soy products may be available in the big cities but I have my doubts about other places, and carrying a big jar all over the place doesn't seem very practical to me. Not to mention getting the wallah to do anything with it for you if you don't speak whatever language he happens to speak.

I have no advice for you. Just that the above advice looks rather silly and unrealistic to me.

Nick-H · Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:50

I have never yet failed to get accross the message 'one' or 'two' teas at a Chennai teashop...

But "please mix your tea with this much of this powder" --- I seriously doubt it!

jwitt · Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:51

No worries, I posted this a bit tongue in cheek. My intolerance is bad enough that a cup of milk equals a few hours of toilet time but I don't think a few drops from a wet spoon would matter much as I do occasionally indulge in a cappuccino or ice cream with only minor discomfort. Time will tell, as always. With four months of drooling temptation might get the better of me.

lol Nick-H!

mt.kailash · Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:57

Go to a reataurant and order "tray tea".This means you get a pot of tea with the milk and sugar separate. (this ia also advisable for diabetics)
This is much the best way.If you saw the rag the chaiwallah strained the chai through you probably wouldn't drink it.

jwitt · Jan 2nd, 2007, 11:01

But isn't there some secret way of cooking the tea, milk, water, and spices together to get the perfect, heavenly blend?

machadinha · Jan 2nd, 2007, 11:05

Hm well heavenly is a matter of taste. Sworn tea drinkers tend to think it's barbarian

The tray tea (or set tea, whatever it's called) could be a solution really. A problem will be that chai is readily and universally available as a cheap, safe, refreshing drink. I guess you'll manage without it though.

mt.kailash · Jan 2nd, 2007, 11:38

I believe the recipe is.....
Check to see if yesterday's tealeaves are still in the kettle. Boil them with more water .Add 300gms sugar and some toned milk.Boil until tea totally stewed-add more sugar.Serve ,strained through sieve reinforced with old teeshirt.
On request for spiced tea add semi chewed cardamom pod from pan box .Charge Rs5 extra.

Nick-H · Jan 2nd, 2007, 18:43

I read that as yesterday's relatives

Any tea store here making tea like that would be out of business by the end of the day I'm glad to say

The worst tea you'll get, by far, is in the trendy expensive places: they think they're making English tea (or something, I'm not sure what), serve it with a small amount of hot milk, and it is disgusting.

LuAnnandJawahar · Jan 2nd, 2007, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by mt.kailash

If you saw the rag the chaiwallah strained the chai through you probably wouldn't drink it.

OR the way he conscientiously wipes the rim of your glass with his right thumb and forefinger to "clean" it.

machadinha · Jan 2nd, 2007, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by mt.kailash

Go to a reataurant and order "tray tea".This means you get a pot of tea with the milk and sugar separate. (this ia also advisable for diabetics)

I think, or am pretty sure rather, that asking for "chini ney" (no sugar) is also pretty reliable. This may well be an entirely primitive expression (Me Tarzan etc.) but will be understood in any case. Ask for "toda toda chini" if you want little sugar, commonly understood to mean not an acute overdose. These are (supposed to be) Hindi terms btw, but I got by on it all over the place I think, presumably because of their primitiveness

Come to think of it, might "dudh ney" (no milk) work then? I don't know, probably the chai is so commonly made with milk that it won't be understood.

ps It should be clear that this tray tea is not sold on the streets I think.

cyberhippie · Jan 2nd, 2007, 22:37

In all honesty I think your chai drinking will largely remain in the realms of personal fantasy!!

You might get one or two to clean all their utensild and make special soya chai as Sanjay said but to be honest why bother, "real Chai" requires buffelo milk. No quiblles!!

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings but there you are. On the upside there just about a million other things that will keep you happy, fed and interested!!

Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:25	#1
jwitt Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 52	Chai and lactose intolerance. I'll be arriving in India in about 3 weeks. I've heard and read so much about chai. I've had versions here in the States with rice or soy milk which I'm told are nothing like the real thing. I'm picturing in my mind chai stands on every corner from the streets of Bangalore to the Himalayan mountains, all driving me crazy because I must abstain. As you might guess, I'm a huge foodie. Have pity on me! Now that I think of it, I tried those lactaid pills years ago but remember them making me sicker than milk does. At least I can indulge in the mango lassies.

Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:42	#5
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,450	If you have lactose intolerance you may have trouble with the utensils having been used with milk before. Also, soy products may be available in the big cities but I have my doubts about other places, and carrying a big jar all over the place doesn't seem very practical to me. Not to mention getting the wallah to do anything with it for you if you don't speak whatever language he happens to speak. I have no advice for you. Just that the above advice looks rather silly and unrealistic to me. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links Last edited by machadinha : Jan 2nd, 2007 at 22:27.

Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:50	#6
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,654	I have never yet failed to get accross the message 'one' or 'two' teas at a Chennai teashop... But "please mix your tea with this much of this powder" --- I seriously doubt it! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Lactose intolerance in India?	oneiota	Health and Well Being in India	12	Aug 26th, 2005 08:54
my first chai	Kanbe	Indian Cooking and Cuisine	2	Feb 23rd, 2005 17:42
chai	yogivivek	Health and Well Being in India	5	Oct 5th, 2004 04:20
Anybody want chai?	anonymous	Chai and Chat	3	Jul 8th, 2003 19:23
Chai	Annie_T	Indian Recipes	1	Sep 6th, 2001 16:25

Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:27	#2
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,353	You could carry soy milk and have your chai made to order. No sweat.

Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:31	#3
jwitt Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 52	Really? I have been picturing huge vats of chai ready made, swirling around as cup after cup is poured for passersby. Is soy/rice milk available in shops?

Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:35	#4
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,353	Tins are available in stores in the cities. You carry your own soy milk (powder). Ask any chai wallah to make a cup of chai specially for you. You don't always have to have mass produced tea or coffee.

Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:51	#7
jwitt Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 52	No worries, I posted this a bit tongue in cheek. My intolerance is bad enough that a cup of milk equals a few hours of toilet time but I don't think a few drops from a wet spoon would matter much as I do occasionally indulge in a cappuccino or ice cream with only minor discomfort. Time will tell, as always. With four months of drooling temptation might get the better of me. lol Nick-H!

Jan 2nd, 2007, 10:57	#8
mt.kailash Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: hurn Posts: 99	Go to a reataurant and order "tray tea".This means you get a pot of tea with the milk and sugar separate. (this ia also advisable for diabetics) This is much the best way.If you saw the rag the chaiwallah strained the chai through you probably wouldn't drink it.

Jan 2nd, 2007, 11:01	#9
jwitt Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 52	But isn't there some secret way of cooking the tea, milk, water, and spices together to get the perfect, heavenly blend?

Jan 2nd, 2007, 11:05	#10
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,450	Hm well heavenly is a matter of taste. Sworn tea drinkers tend to think it's barbarian The tray tea (or set tea, whatever it's called) could be a solution really. A problem will be that chai is readily and universally available as a cheap, safe, refreshing drink. I guess you'll manage without it though.

Jan 2nd, 2007, 11:38	#11
mt.kailash Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: hurn Posts: 99	I believe the recipe is..... Check to see if yesterday's tealeaves are still in the kettle. Boil them with more water .Add 300gms sugar and some toned milk.Boil until tea totally stewed-add more sugar.Serve ,strained through sieve reinforced with old teeshirt. On request for spiced tea add semi chewed cardamom pod from pan box .Charge Rs5 extra.

Jan 2nd, 2007, 18:43	#12
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,654	I read that as yesterday's relatives Any tea store here making tea like that would be out of business by the end of the day I'm glad to say The worst tea you'll get, by far, is in the trendy expensive places: they think they're making English tea (or something, I'm not sure what), serve it with a small amount of hot milk, and it is disgusting.

Jan 2nd, 2007, 22:37	#15
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,014	In all honesty I think your chai drinking will largely remain in the realms of personal fantasy!! You might get one or two to clean all their utensild and make special soya chai as Sanjay said but to be honest why bother, "real Chai" requires buffelo milk. No quiblles!! Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings but there you are. On the upside there just about a million other things that will keep you happy, fed and interested!!

User Name		Remember Me?
Password