Soaked in controversial criticism, a “make-at-home” video of a tea-based drink famously called the “Chai Latte” went viral after an American publication – WebMD – posted it on Twitter.
Titled “How to make chai latte at home”, the do-it-yourself (DIY) video takes viewers through the steps of whipping up the beverage using black tea bags, cardamom, cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, ginger, maple syrup and coconut milk all boiled together in water, then strained into a cup and served with a cinnamon stick.
Now, even though ingredients like cloves, cardamom and ginger are used to prepare different kinds of teas in India, they are hardly ever put together. Indians use elements of these spices together only in their world-famous lip-smacking gravies and curries. Also, Indians never put maple syrup in their "chai".
Indian netizens who came across the video couldn’t help but notice how “ridiculous” this video was. Some even called out the American publication for testifying to being "cultural appropriation at its lowest". Seemingly disgusted at a “chai” made by infusing all the ingredients in coconut milk and water, netizens schooled the publication with sharp sarcasm.
The video has garnered thousands of likes, comments and re-tweets on twitter.