So tell me, how do you like your Chai? Dark, medium or light? Sweet or not so sweet? With hayl (cardomen) or no hayl? With the bithil (tea leaves) or without? Hot or cold? And for those of us in the west…We have expanded the choices to….Milk or no milk? In a cup or an ‘Istikan’? Teabag or the real McCoy?

It’s what you will get offered at any Iraqi household. It’s what is served on every corner of the Iraqi street. After every meal and every argument, during happy and sad occasions. However the truth is, the ‘Chai’ phenomenon is not exclusive to Iraq. Indians and Pakistanis drink their ‘Chai’ too with extra spices and condensed milk. Iranians drink their tea quite light in color and sip their tea with the sugar not in the tea, but sugar cubes in their mouths. Moroccans drink their tea with fresh mint infiltrating its taste. Somalis infuse a rich variety of sweet and hot spices with their tea. Generally Iraqis like it very basic, just perfectly infused tea – with lots and lots of sugar!

What makes Chai so special? It’s calming, it’s relaxing and soothing. It’s addictive. And believe me, if I don’t have my daily dose of Chai, Don’t talk to me. I’m not very nice. It brings me down, helps the food rest in my system. It gives me a moment to sit back and just enjoy and not think too much about anything.

It’s the first thing we shout out when we are having our last spoonful of our dinner. ‘Chaiiiii’, followed by ‘Is the kettle on?’ We wash our dishes – or sometimes not – and sit down for our glass of Chai. I still remember when I was younger; my mother would have her morning Chai and put three quarters of milk in a glass and a quarter of chai for me so I can take pleasure in her ‘Chai moment’.

Chai could be the one thing that could bring Iraqis together. Maybe if we all served each other Chai all day, we would be a much happier nation. I’m going to go put the kettle on, I need some Chai.