It’s hardly a secret that Arabs love a good cup of coffee and tea. Karak tea, karak chai or chai karak – however you describe it, the drink is quintessentially Arabic. Nothing brings people together like spilling the proverbial tea over a piping hot cup (or glass) of karak.
This delicious beverage is a soulful reminder of getting back to basics; comfort drinks that bring you joy. Karak (translating to “strong” in English) is made with black tea and mixed spices that include cardamom, ginger and cloves. Depending on how you want your tea to taste, you could add a small pinch of saffron or cinnamon to the concoction and boil it all up. Chai karak is quite similar to the masala chai, a beloved hot tea in India that’s made with tea, milk, and warm spices. It is thought to help with inflammation and to ease a bad cold as the tea and spices work their magic.
“Karak tea is a hot favourite for drinking outdoors – when groups of friends and family gather around a campfire. In recent years, drinking karak has become a trend,” says Saudi native Abdul Latif Alrashoudi, pâtissier and owner of LÂM, an artisanal bakery in Paris.
“It is a very homey and wintery drink. Stroll through Riyadh, and you will see vendors setting up tables on street corners; those are the greatest spots to try traditional karak,” he adds.
Lately, a handful of lovely cafes – and even restaurants – in Riyadh seem to be busy brewing good aromatic karak and adding to its legions of fans. These are some of our absolute favourites.
1. Mamma Bunz Cafe
Delicious bread and special drinks come together for the ultimate cosy afternoon at Mamma Bunz. Caramel and mini bunz, Belgian chocolate drizzled over these hot, freshly baked rolls, aromatic Saudi coffee, and, of course, karak are among the tasty delights that await you at every branch, and at a very reasonable price.
2. Golden Karak
This breakfast and brunch restaurant offers freshly brewed karak that tastes delicious when paired with their signature Turkish breakfast, or a less elaborate brioche sandwich, tuna hamsa, or oat soup with chicken. A medley of desserts follows to appease your sweet tooth – sink your spoon into the delicious saffron cake.
3. Tea Time
It’s always worth making time to visit this fast-food restaurant – Tea Time has you covered when you’re thirsty on the go. Sip hot spice-infused karak chai with a side of burgers, tikka chapati, keema chapati, and nuggets chapati. If you are feeling particularly peckish, take a box of club sandwiches back home for later.
4. Chapati & Karak
What better treat to accompany a cup of karak than a light and fluffy chapati? They've perfected the combination at Chapati & Karak, and that's why we love it. Choose from a classic cup of karak or spice the experience up with saffron, cardamom or ginger.
If you're feeling peckish, the menu has a wide range of warm chapatis packed with delicious sweet and savoury fillings – we're partial to the butter chicken, but the halloumi wrap is pretty delicious too. This beloved Middle Eastern brand shows no signs of slowing down – it's open 24 hours a day, and you can grab your order to go if you're in a rush.
5. KMR
This karak hotspot in Diriyah has a stylish interior – think warm beige tones, stone walls and dark wooden furniture. Relax into some plump pillows and wrap your hands around a delicious cup of karak as you feel the stress leave your body. As well as our favourite winter beverage, KMR also serves a variety of teas, coffees and chilled drinks (Oreo milkshake, anyone?). Feeling peckish? No problem. Choose from the ample menu of flatbreads smothered in delicious toppings and sauces that are cooked before your eyes in the huge open oven.
6. Seventies Cafe
Retro fans, your time is now, and your place is the Seventies Cafe. Enjoy a side order of nostalgia alongside your cup of karak in a cafe stuffed with pop culture and stylings from the 1970s. Everything is vintage and you'll spot something original every time you drop by. But it's not just good looks and retro features that have made this a hotspot in Riyadh – the delicious drinks and sweet treats regularly result in a queue out the door. Grab a date cake as the perfect accompaniment to your thermos of karak.
