Where to have a cup of piping hot tea in the city

FiLLi's, a tea joint known for its Zafran tea

The sound of bubbling water, the dissolving of (an extra spoon) sugar, the aroma of tea leaves, and the warmth of the cup in our hands - ask the 'desis' (a term used to refer Indian-Pakistani expats) to describe what a cup of hot tea means to them and watch them get emotional. For, tea is not a mere beverage for them. Interestingly, lately, the good ol' cuppa prepared with ginger, extra milk or a blend of spices has become popular with many Dubai teaholics. On a tea recee, we enjoyed a few piping hot cups of tea.
The regulars at FiLLi's (across 20 locations in Dubai, with a new outlet in Abu Dhabi now) suggest you order a cup (or two) of the FiLLi Tea (Dh4 for a small cup, Dh6 for large) or FiLLi Tea Zafran (Dh6 for a small cup, Dh10 for large) or both. The teashop is known to be selling 6,000 cups a day! If samosas and parathas are your favourite tea companions, then you are at the right place. Fillets, wraps and burgers are on the menu too. Cha Cha Chai (across eight locations in Dubai) is another favourite with city's chai lovers. If you are from Mumbai, you will definitely enjoy the Vada Pav and Mumbai Maska Bun here. Karak Chai combos with omelette/ samosa/roll/sandwich will please your taste buds and pocket (priced between Dh8 and Dh16).
At the recently concluded Dubai Food Festival, a food kiosk that stood out was Project Chaiwala. Their tea-vendor with his chant of 'Chai, Chai.' was an Instagram hit. On offer were choices like Karak, Zafran, Masala, and Suleimani. Can't imagine a cup of chai without sheesha? Head to Tea Junction Café & Lounge (across three locations in Dubai).  Here's how their tea menu looks like - Cutting, Kesari, and Sulemani Chai; Assam, Darjeeling, and Kashmiri Tea; and a Special Chai Latte (priced between Dh6 and Dh20) too. We recommend the Rose Blend Tea. At Desi Adda (042753169), Al Quasis, you can order for a Karak Tea with 'Biscoot' for just Dh2!
Do remember, these tea joints are always packed to capacity. After all, conversations over tea do last long.
purva@khaleejtimes.com