In Thathri, Noon Chai (also known as Namkeen Chai in Hindi) or Pink Tea is a popular beverage. Villagers who work in Thathri begin their day in Thathri with a cup of pink tea at one of Thathri’s Noon Chai hotels. When the morning in Thathri began after the Muslim prayer, a large number of people swarmed the market, which is largely occupied by Noon Chai hotels.
Until 10:00 a.m., the hotels were completely filled. After that, people begin working in their respective fields. Drinking “Noon Chai” (noon-salt, chai-tea) 23 times a day with traditional Kashmiri breads and pastries such lavasa, sheermaal, kandir tchot, bakarkhani, and kulcha is a part of Kashmiri culture. Traditional noon chai is brewed with specific tea leaves, milk, and salt and cooked in a samavar. To assist give it a more noticeable pink colour, a pinch of baking soda is added. Although sugar is included in a newer version of this tea, it is not traditionally drunk in Kashmir. This well-known tea has a flavour that makes people use it as a habitat or as a substitute for cigarettes.
The Chenab Times News Desk