Even as the world around us changes, some things have remained constant such as the crispy crunch of Indian tea-time snacks accompanying a cup of steaming hot tea. A tradition that has been passed down through generations. The art of making these treats at home is usually guarded by secret family recipes, whispered from one kitchen to another, kept intact like precious family heirlooms. As you take a bite of a perfectly spiced pakora or a flaky bhakri you become a part of this timeless tradition, savouring the same flavours that have delighted taste buds for centuries.
So, grab your apron, brew a pot of tea, as the tea connoisseurs of Wagh Bakri are all set to explore some mouthwatering tea time snacks that will bring smiles to your faces!
Table of contents
1) History of tea time snacking
2) Popular Indian tea time snacks recipes
3) Munching options available on buytea.com
History of tea time snacking
Tea time snacking has a long history rooted in various cultures. In China, small snacks accompanied tea drinking during the Tang dynasty. In Japan, traditional tea ceremonies were focused on the tea itself, but casual tea gatherings often included sweet wagashi confectioneries. In England, the tradition of afternoon tea emerged in the 19th century, where light refreshments were served between lunch and dinner.
The British introduced tea to India during the colonial era and it quickly became a beloved beverage. In India, tea time snacking is a popular tradition that has been influenced by the country's diverse culinary heritage. Indian tea time snacks, known as "chai-time" snacks, vary across different regions but often include savoury treats like samosas pakoras and biscuits. These snacks are enjoyed alongside a steaming cup of masala chai, a spiced tea made with milk, tea leaves and a blend of aromatic spices like cardamom, ginger and cloves. The combination of flavourful snacks and a hot cup of tea creates a delightful family bonding experience in India.
Popular Indian tea time snacks recipes
1) Bhajis
This is the easiest recipe of all Indian tea time snacks ever made! To make bhajis, start by mixing together 1 cup of chickpea flour, 1/4 cup of rice flour, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, cumin seeds, garam masala and salt in a bowl. Add sliced onions, grated potato, grated carrot, chopped spinach, green chilli (if desired) and ginger-garlic paste to the flour mixture. Gradually add water to create a thick batter. Heat oil in a pan and drop spoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil.
Fry until the bhajis turn golden brown and crispy. Take them out on a plate and drain excess oil on a paper towel. Serve hot! Bhajis can be served with tomato ketchup, mint chutney, tomato onion chutney or coconut chutney. However, they are paired best with a hot steaming cup of chai!
You can buy Indian tea online at buytea.com to pair it with this mouth-watering recipe.
2) Poha chivda
A popular pick among Indian tea-time snacks that can be made in a few minutes, poha chivda is a crowd-pleaser! Start by dry roasting 2 cups of thick poha (flattened rice) in a large pan until they turn crisp. Set them aside. In the same pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, peanuts and curry leaves.
Fry until the peanuts turn golden brown, then add roasted chana dal and spices like turmeric powder, red chilli powder, chaat masala and salt. Mix well and add the roasted poha back into the pan. Cook for a few more minutes to combine the flavours. Let the poha chivda cool down and if desired, add optional toppings like roasted cashews, raisins or grated coconut. This recipe results in a crispy and flavourful snack that pairs well with a hot cup of tea.
Poha chivda can also be carried as a travel companion to satisfy your hunger pangs. It tastes delicious with an instant cup of tea. If you're looking to have tea while travelling, you can buy instant tea online from buytea.com.
3) Chilli cheese toast
Chilli cheese toast is a street food in India but is also just a snack found in many restaurants. The combination of spicy cheese and crispy toast is a perfect option for Indian tea time snacks paired wonderfully with the subtle sweetness of tea and can be made in under 15 minutes by anyone.
To make chilli cheese toast, mix grated cheese (can use regular or fresh mozzarella cheese) with finely chopped onions, capsicum, green chillies, coriander leaves, red chilli flakes (optional) and salt. Next, lightly toast the bread slices on both sides using a toaster or on a griddle. Once toasted, spread butter on one side of each slice. Spread a generous amount of the cheese topping mixture evenly on the buttered side of each slice and bake until the cheese melts and turns golden.
To make this recipe on a pan, heat it for about 2 minutes and place the bread slices on it. Then, cover it with a lid and let the cheese melt and the bottom side of the bread toast for another minute or two. Once the cheese has melted and the bottom side is toasted, carefully remove the chilli cheese toast from the pan and place it on a serving plate.
Cheese chilli toast also tastes extremely good with a glass of iced tea on a sunny afternoon! You can buy ice tea online at buytea.com to enjoy this unique combo and take your taste buds for a dive.
4) Rava upma
A popular South Indian breakfast and everyone’s favourite among various Indian tea time snacks it goes really well with a cup of chai on a lazy evening. To make rava upma, heat oil or ghee in a pan. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, chopped onions, green chillies, and optional vegetables. Roast suji separately till it turns golden and gives off a nutty aroma and then add water to the pan with vegetables.
Slowly add the roasted suji to the pan with vegetables, stirring continuously to avoid lumps and cook until it thickens. Season with salt, cover and let it cook until fluffy. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with a steaming cup of adrak chai or as a side dish with a cup of green tea.
You can buy online green tea from buytea.com!
5) Bread upma
A quick and delicious option among Indian tea time snacks that pairs perfectly with a cup of chai. To make it, heat oil or ghee in a pan and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, chopped onion, green chilli and curry leaves. Sauté until the onion turns brown and then add turmeric powder and salt.
Toss in small pieces of bread and cook until they are crispy and coated with the spices. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and enjoy!
6) Tea sandwiches
To make lip-smacking classic tea sandwiches, start by spreading butter or cream cheese on one side of each bread slice. Layer thinly sliced cucumber, tomato and fresh lettuce leaves on one bread slice and season with salt and pepper.
You can also add sliced radishes or sprouts for extra flavour and texture. Place the other bread slice on top, press gently and optionally trim the crusts off the sandwich.
Cut into smaller shapes like triangles or squares and serve on a platter alongside a cup of tea. These tea sandwiches would work wonders when served with rose blush tea, tranquil berry tea or any exotic gourmet tea! You can buy gourmet tea online at buytea.com!
Tea time munchies available on Buytea.com
Feeling really lazy and don’t feel like putting in the effort to make anything for your tea time? Don’t worry we got your back!
Although there are various ready-made Indian tea time snacks that are easily available some of the popular ones on buytea.com are bhakri, chips and flavourful nuts.
Conclusion
From delicate vegetable sandwiches to warm and comforting bhajis, there's a snack for every taste and preference. These recipes not only tantalise the taste buds but are also easy to make and can be enjoyed all year round!
Apart from these recipes, you can also choose from ready-to-eat snacks available on buytea.com. So, let's embrace the joy of tea time with our loved ones and savour these delightful snacks.
1) Bhakri - Our bhakri is a classic non-fried snack that comes in three different variants: bajri-methi dry bhakri, garlic dry bhakri and plain bhakri.
2) Chips - We have introduced unique flavours of chips that are vegan-friendly and made from 100% vegetables. These vacuum-cooked crunchies are perfect for tea breaks. They are available in ripe jackfruit flavour, sweet potato, sweet beetroot and herbed taro options.
3) Nuts - Nuts are a perfect choice for Indian tea-time snacks due to their delicious taste and easy availability. Our nutting options include Lemon chilli cilantro corn nuts, coated green peas in a hot and spicy flavour and herb and pepper roasted cashews.
FAQ’s
1) What is the wholesome snack with tea?
Some healthy snack options during tea time are oats cookies, ragi cookies and suji besan cheela. Although these are healthy snack options they should be eaten in controlled portions and not too much.
2) What are some Indian tea time snacks?
Tea time snacks refer to a variety of small, delicious treats that are enjoyed alongside a cup of tea. They can include both sweet and savoury options.
3) What is a good tea-time snack?
A good tea time snack can vary depending on personal preferences, but some popular options include biscuits or cookies, sandwiches, samosas, pakoras, muffins or even a slice of cake.
4) What should you eat with Indian tea?
When enjoying Indian tea, popular snacks to pair with it include biscuits, namkeen (savoury snacks), samosas and pakoras. Biscuits provide a simple and buttery accompaniment, while namkeen offers crunchy and spiced options. Samosas and pakoras are delicious deep-fried pastries and fritters, respectively, filled with flavourful ingredients. These snacks enhance the tea-drinking experience with their complementary flavours and textures.
5) What should we eat for evening snacks in India?
In India, popular choices for evening snacks include chaat (pani puri, bhel puri), pakoras (vegetable fritters) and vada pav (spiced potato fritter in a bun). Indulge in the diverse and delicious world of Indian street food for your evening snacking pleasure.
