My First Post

This is my first attempt at blogging and before I begin, I'd like to clarify why chai&qahwa?! Its quite simple, my husband is addicted to tea (chai) and I to qahwa (black unsweetened coffee)! Since most of my photographic and travel experiences are with him, I decided to name the blog on the two beverages that we both love. 

Chai

Chai, Cha or Tea is a simple mix of leaves and water found in all parts of the world. However, in our home, chai specifically means 'masala chai'. There's many variations of masala chai, but I like to keep mine simple with some strong loose tea leaves (Safari Tea, a Kenyan tea) some crushed cardamon and milk (Rainbow Evaporated). I bring the tea leaves to boil with some water and sugar and add the milk gradually until the color seems right (not too milky, not too light). I let the tea boil again and its ready to serve. 

To be honest, although the English claim to know how to enjoy their 'High Tea', I find the combination of hot water, a fancy branded tea bag, cold milk, and sugar seriously unappetizing. In fact, most people I know who go for 'High Tea' prefer the yummy bites, rather than the watery tea itself. 

Turkey - A Tea Vendor in Cappadocia

Qahwa

The name Coffee derives from the Arabic word Qahwa. Evidence indicates that the origins of coffee began in Ethiopia and were gradually bought to Yemen and spread to the Middle East. Soon coffee houses mushroomed in Cairo and Mecca, until the beverage because a passion rather than a stimulant.

It is clear, that the most addicted people in the world to Coffee are surely the Arabs. Its simply not possible to go to any Arab home whether in the Middle East, in East Africa or in the middle or Europe, and not experience the taste of Qahwa. In Turkey Kahwe is served EXTREMELY strong with or without sugar (my preference is without sugar, so you can make the most of the baklava served with it). In the Gulf, Qahwa is a blend of freshly ground coffee beans, rose water and cardamon, making a light coffee which is served in little cups with dates. 

In Tanzania, due to the early colonization of the Omani Arabs and their influence on the Swahili Coast, we find Qahawa readily sold in and around the streets of Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar; usually accompanied by delicious diagonally cut sweets called Kashata (made from sugar and crushed peanuts). The experience is always worrying since the cups are simply washed repeatedly in the same water over and over again, but the end result never seems to disappoint me!

Zanzibar - Qahawa being served in Stone Town