It’s chai time!

Pallavi Nigam Sahay has compiled over 60 snack recipes

When it comes to beverages, Indians love their chai! And their beloved ‘sham ki chai' is incomplete without a snack. Chef Pallavi Nigam Sahay's latest book titled A Sip in Time, (Hachette India) is a compilation of over 60 recipes such as cakes, puffs, biscuits and sandwiches to breads, cookies, chaats and muffins, which can be paired perfectly with a warm cup of tea. These recipes make for perfect evening snacks.

"The book is for the people who more than anything look forward to their morning cup of chai, shared over conversations with their family. For the people who at the end of the day, just want to sit down and unwind over a hot cup of chai with their partner. It's also for those people who love to invite friends over for some chai and light snacks," says Sahay.

The collection of recipes in the book have been sourced from family and friends and during the author's travels. "One of my favourite aspects of the book is my visit to the tea-making ethnic minorities in the remote interiors of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Singphos and Aadi tribes have been making tea since the dawn of time." She has shared these experiences in the chapters titled Phalap and Alle Saang.

Sahay adds, "In the beginning, when I started penning down my thoughts, I thought it would be a good idea to know the tea a bit better so I joined a sommelier course in Guwahati. It was an interesting course as it answered a lot of my questions about the various varieties, the difference between CTC and full leaf teas and how it became such a beloved beverage in India. The book is a travelogue on every tea-growing state in India."

Available in leading bookstores
Price: Rs 799