SPILLING
text & photos by maya mukherjee & arati periyannan
Who has the best chai in Palo Alto?
what is chai? noun. A type of Indian tea, made especially by boiling the tea leaves with milk, sugar, and cardamom.
arati: Summer is coming up and what better
season is there for a nice, cold iced chai? Since before I can even remember, I’ve loved chai. I grew up drinking a fresh cup each morning and afternoon at my grandparents house over summer breaks. Now, on the other side of the world, chai remains a part of my everyday life. Whether it’s a homemade chai that I made in a rush on my way out the door, or one from a local cafe, I like to always have a chai in hand. As the weather warms up and summer starts, we wanted to look for the best chai in Palo Alto: here’s what we think.
maya: I had never had chai until this past
summer, a fact that shocked Arati. I didn’t grow up with it, and I only (somewhat) recently learned that saying “chai tea” is redundant. But when we went to a summer program in Boston and I began stealing sips from Arati, and the drink won me over. Now, it’s my go-to order at any coffee shop and I’ve discovered that my ability to focus on studying grows exponentially when I have a chai to sip on. My passion for chai is still growing to its fullest potential, so we went to several places in Palo Alto to find the absolute best.
zareens 365 california ave
arati: If you’re looking for real chai, this is the place to go. Unlike other places that charge you more than $5 for a watered down drink, Zareen’s is only $1. And if you follow their Instagram, it’s free! The spices blend perfectly together, creating a real authentic experience when paired with their food — the paneer tikka masala thali is my favorite. The downside is their drink is only served hot, so if you’re looking for iced chai this isn’t the place to go. However, even on a hot day, I’d recommend a cup of Zareen’s chai. (10/10)
maya: This drink is different from the
others, and seems much more authentic. It’s from a Pakistani/Indian restaurant, only costs $1 (in comparison to $5 to $6 at other places), and is significantly less photogenic than the others. While the others are more sweet, the spices in Zareen’s chai make it more savory. It pairs nicely with the spicy food at the restaurant (my favorites are the naan wrap with beef gola or the palak methi paneer thali), and is a need-to-try at Zareen’s. (8/10)
24 summer 2023