12 Indian Chai Varieties Every Tea Lover Needs

6. Assam Kadak Chai (Strong Assam Chai)

Assam kadak chai celebrates Assam’s bold, malty black tea. This style is made with robust Assam leaves, longer simmering, and a milk-forward ratio to match the tea’s strength. Use 1 cup water : 1 cup milk and increase tea to 1.5 teaspoons per cup if you like a heavy brew. Simmer tea leaves 4–5 minutes to coax out the malty, brisk flavors; strain and sweeten to taste. The result is a hearty cup that stands up well to milk and sugar. Assam kadak chai is a common morning choice where a strong wake-up cup is preferred. It pairs well with buttery parathas, fried snacks, and hearty breakfasts because the tea’s body matches rich foods. For a powerful grind, many tea stalls and homes use CTC (crush-tear-curl) Assam tea, which extracts fast and yields that classic deep color and brisk finish.