Karak, Kashmiri and masala chai: what's the difference?

Ask for “a chai” in most of London and you will be handed a latte with a pump of spiced syrup in it. Ask for one on Belsize Road and we will ask you which one you mean. We make three, and they are about as similar as an espresso and a pot of filter coffee.

Karak: the strong one

Karak comes from kadak, the Hindi and Urdu word for strong. It is the tea of roadside stalls from Karachi to Doha, where it became the everyday drink of the Gulf. Black tea is boiled hard with milk, sugar and crushed cardamom, then boiled again, until the milk has caramelised a little and the tea is the colour of toffee.

It is short, sweet and intense. If you drink your builder’s tea strong enough to stand a spoon in, this is the one for you.

Kashmiri chai: the pink one

Kashmiri chai, also called noon chai or pink tea, is the odd one out because it starts with green tea, not black. The leaves are boiled for a long time with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda, then aerated by pouring and ladling until the liquor turns a deep red. Milk goes in last, and the colour turns to the soft pink it is known for.

In Kashmir it is traditionally salted (noon means salt), and that is how we make ours: lightly salted, slow brewed and finished with crushed pistachio and almond. It is creamy and gentle, and it tastes more like a treat than a cup of tea. Because of the nuts, it is not one for anyone with a nut allergy.

Masala chai: the spiced one

Masala just means a mix of spices. Masala chai is black tea simmered with milk and whole spices, so the flavour comes from the pan rather than a bottle. Every family has its own blend. Ours is cardamom, ginger and cinnamon: warming, a little sharp from the ginger, and not too sweet.

We also make a vegan masala chai with oat milk. Oat holds the spice well, and plenty of regulars order it whether they are vegan or not.

So which should you order?

• Want a kick? Karak. It is the boldest thing on the chai board.
• Want something soft and a bit special? Kashmiri. Have it slowly, with something sweet from the counter.
• Cold day, long walk? Masala. It is the one that warms you up.

Still not sure? Tell whoever is on the bar what you usually drink. We are happy to talk you through it, and every chai comes in a regular or a large.

Chai and the club

If chai is your daily drink rather than coffee, the Priory Coffee Club still works for you. The weekly drink covers anything on the chai board at the regular size, and the free Neighbour stamp card counts every chai you buy towards a free one.