Indian snacks that pair perfectly with tea are currently the only thing keeping me sane in this freezing American November, no cap. Like, it’s 8 a.m., I’m still in yesterday’s hoodie, my living room smells like deep-fried guilt and cardamom, and I’m on my third cup of chai because the group chat back home is sending pics of actual winter sun while I’m staring at gray slush outside my window in Jersey. Anyway.
I didn’t grow up with this stuff, obviously. I’m just your regular white-ish American who fell stupidly hard for Indian food after one random Uber driver in 2018 handed me a samosa “because you look sad, madam.” Been chasing that high ever since. Now my pantry looks like I’m running a tiny import business and my credit card cries every time Patel Brothers has a sale.
Why Indian Snacks That Pair Perfectly with Tea Hit Different in America
Here’s the thing nobody tells you: tea in the US is… fine. Lipton. Whatever. But when you brew proper masala chai—milk boiling over, elaichi cracking, that whole dramatic performance—and pair it with the right Indian snack? Bro, it’s a teleportation device. One bite of something spicy-crunchy-slightly-oily and suddenly I’m not freezing my ass off in a strip-mall apartment, I’m… somewhere warmer. Emotionally, at least.
My Holy Trinity of Indian Snacks That Pair Perfectly with Tea (current ranking, changes daily)
- Samosa (obviously) Look, I burned an entire batch last week because I was doom-scrolling and forgot they were in the air fryer. Still ate three of the least charred ones dipped in Imli sauce while crying over the smoke alarm. 10/10, would inhale lung-damaging samosa again.
- Chakli / Murukku These crunchy rice-flour spirals are low-key my emotional support snack. I keep a giant dabba on my coffee table and just… zone out twisting them off and dipping in chai. My Indian friends say I’m committing a crime by not eating them with coffee filter kaapi, but whatever, this is America, we dunk everything.
- Mathri (or mathi, I still don’t know) Salty, flaky, kinda hard—like desi biscotti that slaps you in the face. I discovered these at a Diwali party in Edison and immediately stole an entire ziplock bag when nobody was looking. Don’t judge me, the auntie had like eight trays.
Random Indian Snacks That Pair Perfectly with Tea and Surprised Me
- Khasta kachori – I thought it was just a dry puri situation. Then I bit into one from a random truck in Journal Square and actual tears. The spicy dal filling + hot chai on a rainy day? Illegal levels of comfort.
- That weird neon orange sev – I don’t even know the real name, but the $2 bag from the discount aisle is embarrassingly 40% of my personality right now.
- Baked bhakarwadi (trying to be healthy, failed) – Still good with tea, still made me eat 17 in one sitting.
Pro Tip from Someone Who Definitely Overdoes It
If you’re in the US and your local Indian store is closed (because of course it closes at 8 p.m. on a Saturday), frozen section samosas from Trader Joe’s or Costco are… acceptable in a pinch. Heat them in the air fryer at 400 for 9 minutes, flip once, pretend you made them from scratch. I won’t tell the aunties.
Also, invest in a good kettle. My electric one with the temperature settings changed my life. 95°C for black tea, 100°C when I’m feeling dramatic and want the milk to properly freak out.
The One Indian Snack That Pairs Perfectly with Tea but I’m Too Scared to Try Again
Goa’s beef cutlet from some auntie’s house once. Amazing. Life-changing. Then I remembered I live alone and nobody would find my body if the spice killed me. So… sticking to veg for now.
Anyway, I’m rambling. Point is: if you’re cold, lonely, or just bored on a Tuesday night in America, order some Indian snacks that pair perfectly with tea, brew the strongest chai you can handle, and let the carbs fix what therapy can’t.
What’s your go-to combo? Drop it below so I can waste more money, pls. I’m not even sorry anymore.
(References for the real ones:
- Patel Brothers – my dealer
- Serious Eats guide to masala chai – because I still can’t make it like the pros
- Swasthi’s Recipes – where I pretend I’m going to cook from scratch someday)
