Make it stand out.

The most unique (and ironic) part of the Chai “High Tea” theme is enjoying and learning about the history of Chai and the British Raj’s role in it. At home, we always serve masala chai with snacks. We call it chai pani (literally translates to ‘chai water’) and it’s also called chai shai. Whether you want to prepare some snacks on your own or need some guidance before checking out your local South Asian grocery store (e.g. Patel Brothers), we’ve got you covered!

A cake stand prepared for afternoon tea generally will include sweets on the top tier and savory items on the bottom. If you have a cakestand kit, I recommend building it at least the night before to allow the glue to set. If you don’t you can still set up a dessert plate and a plate of savory snacks if you’d like! For some cake stand ideas check out our infographic on this page. Below I’ve included a roundup of some of my favorite recipes from South Asian bloggers I admire, as well as some of my own. Some are traditional or inspired by traditional South Asian snacks, and some are not. But ALL of them look great on a cake stand! Feel free to e-mail us at hello@thetiffinkitchen.com with any questions!

Dessert Recipes

For an easy 2-ingredient chocolate truffle, try Dixya’s recipe here from Food Pleasure & Health. She also has a vegan version, and you can sub any kind of tea. If cupcakes are your jam, try Milk & Cardamom’s Cardamom Saffron cupcakes which pair great with our chai masala. For a more traditional dessert, her Kaju Katli is a delicious cashew-based dessert. And if you want to get REALLY fancy, try her peda bark recipe with edible flowers!

Savory Recipes

For savory sandwich options, try our green chutney recipe and make a chutney sandwich! You basically just mix the coriander-lime chutney with softened butter to make a spread (2 parts butter, 1 part chutney). The sandwich is simply this chutney butter, sliced cucumbers, sliced tomatoes, and cheese slices with a sprinkle of either sandwich masala or black salt (pictured on the cake stand above). For a fancier sandwich option, try our Instant Pot Sweet Potato Dabeli.

Suggestions for the South Asian Grocery Store

I’m mentioning Patel Brother’s because they have locations in most major cities in the USA, but any South Asian grocery store should have these items. If you decide to make a trip to one of these stores, I highly recommend getting something to dunk in your chai such as a Parle-G biscuit or a rusk biscuit. Samosas are also always a safe bet. If you’re making the chutney sandwich, you can get black salt or sandwich masala to sprinkle on top. For sweets, check out the many varieties of burfi like this almond-based one, jalebi and ladoo

In the end, just have fun with it, and don’t forget to tag @afternoonchai_ on Instagram with your setup!