A Karak Adventure

While Dubai may be a city of many cultures, there is one thing that unites the city, and that is the people’s love for karak. A true classic in every sense, this tiny little drink has been fueling people from all walks of life. It doesn’t matter if you’re a CEO or a regular blue-collar worker; unwinding with a hot karak after a day's work is equally soothing to all.

Tea is a widely consumed drink globally but holds a special place in Asia. In Emirati culture, it has long been a staple gesture of hospitality for any guests. As the U.A.E, and specifically Dubai, began opening its borders for globalization, other varieties of tea started making their way into people’s homes. Karak chai quickly stole the hearts of many.

The drink is fairly simple; it's just a strongly brewed tea mixed with evaporated milk instead of your usual milk. The drink was first brought over from India in the late '60s and, since then, has been a strong favorite among the local population.

It is also a very cheap wake-me-up, priced between 1-2 dirhams based on the area you go to. While Dubai may be an ever-growing city with new buildings popping up every week, karak holds a special place for those like me who have grown up here. I look around today, and all I see are changes in this city.

That’s a good thing; we do need change. But sometimes I am left wondering what happened to the Dubai I grew up with. All I need is a sip of karak, and I am transported back to the time of me bunking school with some friends and spending all day at a small cafeteria talking about football.

The drink serves as a time machine to a time forgotten, a much-needed emotion in a city that I might find unrecognizable soon.