Roots South Asia

My time in South Asia was punctuated by sweat, chai, and mangos. Upon entering any city in India in the summertime, the humidity and heat become the first noticeable features. But take heart; there is more to celebrate than meets the eye. As my friends and I walked around the city, our gaze was caught again and again by tea stalls on nearly every corner, generally surrounded by a chattering crowd of men. In a swampy, sweaty existence, the refreshment of choice is always a steaming hot cup of chai, boiled in front of the salivating customer with a liberal amount of milk and sugar, and served in a tiny clay cup that adds an earthy flavor to an already grounding beverage. As unintuitive as it may seem, the sugar boost from this scalding beverage is surprisingly refreshing after a long walk in the heat, and the added shade and conversation on a wooden bench by the roadside creates an experience not easily disappointed.

Not only did my friends and I discover the refreshing nature of chai (we ordered it almost every night at our hotel), but we also discovered the incredible opportunity to meet interesting and friendly local people through stopping at a variety of tea stalls. The gentlemen who run these stalls are the purveyors of conversation and welcome. They are the neighborhood mayors, the ones who are appointed to welcome new people to their streets and begin the first conversations that lead to deeper relationships and understanding than can be encountered in a carefully air-conditioned cafe. Stop at a chai stall with an open mind and a mouth full of questions, and you will find the most knowledgeable and fascinating conversations about local food, culture, and neighborhoods that you will possibly encounter in your entire trip to South Asia.