Chai
What is kadak chai?
Kadak chai is the strong, bold way to drink Indian tea: simmered long enough to turn deep amber, rich with milk, and sharp enough to wake you up.
From the Tapri Chai kitchen · November 2026 · 2 min read
Kadak means
Strong, sharp
Colour
Deep amber
Best for
Mornings, rainy days
Goes with
Bun maska, samosa
01
What “kadak” means
Kadak is a Hindi word for hard, crisp or strong. When someone orders a kadak chai they are asking for a cup with real presence, where the tea has not been watered down by too much milk or too short a brew.
It is a description of character rather than a fixed recipe, which is why every tea stall and every home has its own idea of how kadak a cup should be.
02
What makes it kadak
Three things push a chai towards kadak: more tea leaf for the same amount of liquid, a longer simmer, and a leaf that is robust enough to survive both. Granular Assam-style black tea is the usual choice because it gives colour and body quickly.
Ginger is the most common spice, because its heat matches the tea’s edge. Cardamom adds fragrance, but the point of a kadak chai is that you can still taste the tea.
03
How it tastes
Think robust and creamy at the same time. The first sip is malty and slightly astringent, the milk softens the finish, and ginger leaves a gentle warmth. It is sweet, but not dessert-sweet.
People who find a typical tea bag cup thin often fall for kadak chai, because it has the depth they were missing.
04
When people drink it
Kadak chai is the cup for early mornings, long afternoons and cold or rainy weather. At a roadside tapri it is served fast and hot in a small cup, often next to something to dunk: a plain biscuit, a buttered bun or a fried snack.
- Bun maska: a soft buttered bun, made for dipping.
- Samosa: salty, crisp and spiced, the classic fried partner.
- Anything fried or flaky: the tea cuts through the oil.
05
Kadak chai at Tapri Chai
Kadak Chai is our signature house chai: bold, milky and brewed slowly with fresh ginger and cardamom. It is $4.49 at our cafe at 200 Kennevale Dr in Barrhaven, Ottawa.
Order it with a Bun Maska ($3.49) or a pair of Samosas ($4.99). We are open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm, and the whole kitchen is vegetarian.
Questions, answered.
What does kadak mean in chai?
Kadak means strong or sharp in Hindi. A kadak chai is a bold cup with a pronounced tea flavour rather than a mild one.
Is kadak chai the same as masala chai?
Not exactly. Masala describes spices and kadak describes strength. A cup can be both, but one does not guarantee the other.
How do you make chai kadak?
Use more tea leaf, simmer longer and use a robust black tea. Many cooks also let the tea boil in water first and add milk afterwards so the leaf develops fully.
Is kadak chai bitter?
It can taste slightly astringent, but a well-made cup balances that with milk and sugar. If it is bitter, the tea has usually been over-boiled.
How much is kadak chai at Tapri Chai?
Kadak Chai is $4.49 CAD at Tapri Chai in Barrhaven, Ottawa.
At Tapri Chai
Taste it for yourself.
Our kitchen in Barrhaven is 100% vegetarian. 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Ottawa. Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm. Closed Mondays.