ISLAMABAD: Whether it is hot summer afternoons or chilly autumn evenings, residents of Islamabad will always crave a good cup of strong, hot tea and one can see people talking over cups of tea in kiosks in the Marghazar Zoo, at the foot of the Margalla Hills where the walking trails are, in upscale dhabas in the city or the many cafe’s across the city.

Nothing beats a delicious golden brown paratha or a stuffed, crunchy samosa coupled with a hot cup of tea, preferably outdoors in this weather.

This October, Chikachino opened its doors to all chai lovers in F-7, just opposite the flower market.

The restaurant has an outdoor seating for 50 people, which remains busy well into the night. The menu is just one page for now and contains two types of tea including Peshawari kehwa and the signature Chikachino tea, two types of samosas including aloo and cheese and seven different parathas and bun kababs to choose from.

“This is just 10pc of the menu and in a month’s time, we will add to it so it is a booklet. We are still operating on a trial basis but we are amazed at the response we have gotten,” said Dr Aamir Rasheed, the owner of the outlet.

He said tea is an excuse for reunions between families, friends and even colleagues.

He said many tea houses in Karachi and Lahore have hosted prominent literary figures and are open late into the night, with waiters bringing tea around to the tables all night long. Tea is part of our culture as well as an excuse to get together, Dr Rasheed said.

Chikachino sells tea for Rs100 per cup but Dr Rasheed promises to bring down the price to Rs60. The tea comes in a small 200ml glass and without exaggeration, it is addictive. Cooked in a fiery cauldron, it takes 10 minutes to cook and the drink is laced with cardamom and a dash of ginger. Just one cup of the drink is not enough if you are there for an hour.

The food items on the menu are also worth checking out. As after as the stuffing is concerned, the creamy mashed potatoes in the samosas, with just the right balance of spices, is very much up to the standard but the samosa is over cooked so it is almost burnt. The pizza paratha, which is loaded with cheese, cherry tomatoes and bell peppers, is a better choice.

The pizzas and parathas are best had fresh or they lose their texture. The pakoras are just the right serving if you are in the mood to snack and are accompanied by mint chutney.

Dr Rasheed said he plans to also include a variety of street foods on the menu including a section which will contain items of 500 calories or less as well as ten types of tea such as zafrani, desi, Morrocan, Kashmiri and Sulemani.

There is no replacement for tea in our part of the world and Chikachino knows that very well as between 500 and 700 cups of tea are ordered at the restaurant from noon till midnight every day.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2017