Connecting with the world, one cup of tea at a time!
Connecting with the world, one cup of tea at a time!
April 18, 2020 0 comment
The Wito Africa Experience: Connecting With The World, One Cup of Tea at a Time!
It’s time to bring the Wito Africa Experience to you virtually through a delicious cup of Tanzanian style tea: We know a face-to-face connection is not feasible at this time when everyone is practicing social distancing and staying safe at home in order to help flatten the curve. We thought it would be cool to reconnect with our guests, friends and family from around the world with something simple, refreshing and thoughtful. While many people have tried virtual wine talks and Zoom coffee chats, nothing connects people more than the “warmth and comfort” of tea!
For thousands of years, tea has been facilitating connection and friendship across the world. From the Tanzanian coastline, Victorian parlours to buddhist monasteries, folks of different walks of life share a cup of tea and reflect upon the day’s events – happy, sad, success and moments of struggle. So, we thought it would be great to spice things up a little and bring #TheWitoAfricaExperience directly to you, right in the comfort of your home with our special homemade recipe for Chai Masala, Tanzanian Style Tea. We encourage you to share this special tea, one cup at a time!
“Chai” is a Swahili word–simply meaning tea. Although I am a coffee lover, there is nothing quite like a cup of chai to help lift my spirits. Chai is one of those drinks that evokes strong memories of childhood for me. When I was growing up in Tanzania, my mama was running a small business, a corner like cafe, where Chai masala and flat bread (chapati) were the main menu for most of her customers. To say the least, a good cup of Chai has a way to “warm” up someone’s day, giving them the comfort they need to feel at home. I feel that this is especially relevant during these unprecedented times of COVID-19, wherever you might be in the world!
The secret to a great cup of chai according to my mama @Farida, is trying to have the right amount of masala, the spice mixture used to add refreshing aromas and enhance the taste in your delicious cup of tea. The recommended masala mix serves as the base of most of the Tanzanian style tea, explains my mom. But you can add other ingredients to it such as nutmeg, mint, lemongrass or you can even consider including extra ginger or black pepper to get that extra kick in your tastebuds. For vegan, you can substitute normal milk for soya or almond based milk. You can even make the chai masala without using any caffeine (tea bags). Why not try using some honey over sugar! We hope you can sit back, sip and enjoy a cup of Chai Masala, Tanzanian Style!
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How to Prepare Tanzanian Style Tea —Directions
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- In a mortar, crush the cloves, cardamom pods and cinnamon, or use a coffee grinder.
- Transfer the crushed spices to a small saucepan, add the water, ginger and pepper and bring to a boil.
- Remove the pan from the heat, cover and let steep for 5 minutes.
- Add the milk and sugar to the pan and bring to a boil.
- Remove from the heat and add the tea.
- Cover and let steep for 3 minutes.
- Stir the chai, then strain it into a warmed teapot or directly into teacups.
- Sip and enjoy!
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The Wito Africa Virtual Experience: While we are playing our part and reviving ourselves through practicing social distancing, working from home and drinking Chai Masala, we invite you to take a virtual tour of our safari experiences and WATCH our wildlife videos to inspire your wanderlust. Please feel free to read through our unbiased 5-star reviews and browse our Instagram feed @witoafricasafaris to escape with some photos from our recent adventures.
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How Was Your Cup of Chai Masala?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Tell us how it came out or how you modified it to your individual taste, add your photos, or let us know if you have any questions.
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POST-COVID19, PLANNING AN AFRICAN SAFARI EXPERIENCE
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As soon as everyone is able to travel again, please be assured that our team and local partners in Africa will be ready for you. We really can’t wait to host you and welcome you to the adventures of the remarkable African wilderness, beautiful diverse cultures, stunning beaches, mountains and its amazing wildlife.
In the meantime, we are here for you so please feel free to speak with us anytime if you need clarification on anything regarding your upcoming safari planning during these unprecedented times.
