Tandoori chai trend heats up in Hyderabad’s Old City as youth embrace smoky kulhad brew

Hyderabad’s Old City is witnessing a chai revolution with the rise of tandoori chai, a smoky, flavorful beverage served in kulhads. Priced at Rs. 25, it’s especially popular among youngsters, fueling dozens of new stalls across the area.

Hyderabad: While Biryani and chai, have been an all time favourite for the Hyderabadis, tandoori chai, also known as kulhad chai, is the latest beverage, in vogue these days.

Mohd Rasheed, who started a beverage shop at Misrigunj said says a tandoor is set up and mud matkas are arranged in it for a few hours. “The masala chai with extra milk, is poured into the red hot matkha and allowed to boil. The beverage is then poured in kulhad (mud glass) and served to the people,” he says.

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“People are loving the tandoor chai, particularly the youngsters. Due to the demand, many individuals are learning up the process of tandoor chai making and setting up chai stalls,” said Mohd Muneer, another stall owner at Vattepally.
In the last few months at least 40 tandoor chai stalls have been set up in different areas of the old city. “A khulad of tandoori chai is priced at Rs. 25. The khulad itself cost Rs. 2.50 and maintaining the tandoor is also a costly affair,” said Moiz Khan, a stall owner.