What is Karak Chai? The cup Dubai runs on

Karak chai is a strong, sweet, spiced milk tea popular across the UAE: black tea brewed hard with evaporated milk, sugar and cardamom, served hot in small glasses. At ROAST × Cha Cha Chai a glass starts at AED 14, and Dubai offices can order flasks.

Order a karak anywhere in the UAE and you get a small glass of something strong, sweet, spiced and milky: the unofficial fuel of Dubai's caféterias, majlis tables and late-night drives. This guide explains what karak chai is, how it differs from other chai, where to get it and how to order it for a team.

Prices as published on this page on 12 October 2026. Café prices are dine-in; flasks, trays and stations are quoted per order.

What is karak chai?

Karak comes from the Hindi and Urdu word for ‘strong’. It is a robust milk tea: black tea brewed hard, sweetened generously and enriched with evaporated milk until it is thick and amber. It is served piping hot in small glasses, and it is built for a quick, intense hit rather than a slow sip.

Today you will find karak in tiny cafeterias and in polished cafés across the UAE, and almost everyone has a favourite place and a strong opinion about how sweet it should be.

Where does karak chai come from?

Accounts of the origin of karak differ, and we do not claim a single origin or date for it. What we can say plainly is what the name means and what is in the glass: ‘karak’ is the Hindi and Urdu word for strong, and the drink is strong black tea, evaporated milk and cardamom, served hot and sweet.

What is in karak chai?

The core is simple: strong black tea, milk and sugar. At Cha Cha Chai, which has been pouring karak in Dubai since 2013, the original is described on the menu as Assam tea, evaporated milk and cardamom. Cardamom is the aromatic that most people associate with karak, and it is the one spice that nearly every version shares.

Beyond that, makers add their own signature. Ginger gives a fresh, warming bite, saffron gives a floral colour and aroma, and a garam masala blend adds a deeper spiced note. The tea is boiled and brewed hard, not steeped gently, which is why the flavour is bold and the texture creamy. No two cafeterias make it quite the same, which is half the fun. We do not publish quantities, because the balance is the maker’s craft.

Why does it taste so different from a tea bag in hot milk? Three things. The tea is brewed hard and long, so it stays assertive against the milk. Evaporated milk adds body and a slightly caramel sweetness that fresh milk does not. And the sugar is part of the recipe, not an afterthought, so the sweetness balances the tannins in strong tea instead of hiding them.

It is also a social drink. Karak is usually ordered for the table, poured into small glasses and shared over conversation, which is why it appears at meetings, family visits and majlis as naturally as it does at a roadside counter.

Karak vs chai, masala, ginger and saffron

All karak is chai, but not all chai is karak. ‘Chai’ simply means tea. Masala chai is the spiced Indian milk tea, usually simmered with ginger, cardamom and cloves. Karak is the Gulf's stronger, sweeter, thicker cousin. At Cha Cha Chai the range works like a short ladder, and each step changes one thing about the glass:

If you are new to it, start with the AED 14 original, then move to masala or ginger if you want more spice. Saffron is the one to try for a treat or to serve guests. For a longer walk through each glass and how to choose a size, see karak by the cup on chachachai.ae. Cha Cha Chai’s own pages also cover what to order. Our glossary has the short definitions.

For groups, karak also comes in a 1L flask, as a Karak Chai Flask or a Saffron Chai Flask, each about six cups.

Karak vs masala chai vs plain milk tea

Karak is strong black tea brewed with evaporated milk and cardamom; masala chai is the Indian milk tea simmered with a blend of whole spices; plain milk tea is simply tea with milk. These are the general differences people describe, and recipes vary by home and by café.

For the full side-by-side, read karak vs masala chai on chachachai.ae.

Where to get karak in Dubai

At ROAST × Cha Cha Chai, karak is in our DNA, and it sits right alongside our specialty coffee. You will find it across our Dubai cafés, on the karak section of the menu, and for delivery on Talabat, Deliveroo, Noon, Keeta and Careem. These are the confirmed opening hours:

• Dubai MarinaOpen daily, 7 AM – 1 AMLate-night coffee in Dubai MarinaDirections
• Sheikh Zayed Road (Blue Tower)Open daily, 7 AM – 11 PMDaytime coffee at Blue TowerDirections
• Deira (Business Village)Open 24 hours, every day24-hour karak and breakfast in DeiraDirections
• Dubai Science ParkMonday to Friday 7 AM – 7 PM, Saturday 8 AM – 5 PM, closed SundayCoffee near Dubai Science ParkDirections
• Dubai Silicon OasisOpen 24 hours, every dayCoffee and karak in Silicon OasisDirections

Deira and Dubai Silicon Oasis never close, so a glass of karak at 3 AM is an everyday thing there. See 24-hour karak and breakfast in Deira, coffee and karak in Silicon Oasis and 24-hour cafés in Dubai.

What to eat with karak

Karak is made for dunking, so something soft or crunchy goes well alongside. From the menu: Maska Bun (AED 10), Cake Rusk (AED 6), Cheese & Karak Toast (AED 12), Samosa Pav (AED 12) and Vada Pav (AED 11). The desi street food is served at Business Village (Deira), Silicon Oasis and Science Park. For the stories behind karak and its snacks, the glossary explains each term.

Prefer breakfast with it? The Breakfast Combo at AED 42 (eggs, turkey, avocado, sausage, hash brown, brown toast and fresh OJ) is plated in the cafés.

Karak for offices and events

Karak is one of the easiest ways to look after a team, and Dubai offices can order it from Cha Cha Chai through ROAST, delivered hot. Everything is quoted per order or event:

• Flasks: a 1L Karak Chai Flask and a 1L Saffron Chai Flask, each about six cups.
• Trays: 10-cup karak trays, with samosa pav extra.
• Live station: a karak station for an event or majlis.
• Delivery in Dubai (trays and flasks): fees are confirmed on your quote.

The details are on karak chai catering in Dubai. If you also need coffee and gahwa, hot drinks catering puts everything on one invoice. Cha Cha Chai explains how an order works on its karak for offices page, and our corporate hub has the quote form. For a quick answer, call or WhatsApp +971 50 645 7762.

Next step

Karak for your office

1L karak flasks and 10-cup karak trays, quoted per order. Brewed by Cha Cha Chai, delivered to your office in Dubai.

Karak chai catering in Dubai →

Karak near you

Karak flasks for the office, or a glass near you

Want karak at your desk? Cha Cha Chai brews 1L karak flasks (about six cups), quoted per order. See the ROAST karak catering page or karak for offices on chachachai.ae. Want a glass now? Check the ROAST cafés and hours or the Cha Cha Chai locations.

Common questions

More from us: Coffee and karak glossary · Guides and planners · Corporate coffee and catering in Dubai · Cha Cha Chai

Ordering coffee or karak for your office or an event?

Office coffee plans, karak flasks and trays, and live coffee carts for Dubai offices and events. Tell us your headcount and date and we send an itemised quote.