Pamban Camden
Hey Foodwalas…Not all who walkabout are lost
I was on my walkabout in Camden and I came across Pamban..a hipster Chai shop, as you can imagine I was intrigued.
Chai is the lifeblood of Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. Served in shot glasses or wee polystyrene cups from dawn until way past dusk, this beverage is EVERYWHERE you look. It’s in little make-shift cafes, sold from chai-wallahs at every bus station, train station and street corner, brewing in every home.
True Pakistani or Indian chai is a far cry from the watered-down Starbucks version. Authentic chai is made with thick buffalo milk, considerably too much sugar, black Ceylon Tea and Madagascan Cardamom pods.
As a chai novice who has only had chai on the Corniche at the Gateway of India in Mumbai and a passionate espresso lover I decided to try Pamban….things I do for you foodwalas.
I opted for the tasting platter which consisted of Rose, Karak and Saffron chai’s…I settled down to taste the said chai’s …slurping the chai like a connoisseur (which I am definitely not) the Rose tea was too subtle and blad for my tastebuds, so was the Karak chai however the Saffron chai was delicious, with real saffron floating on top the taste was strong and creamy.
The Chaiwala at Muridwala was definitely better
Chai – 5 out of 10
Atmosphere – 4 out of 10
service – 8 out of 10
Cleanliness – 9 out of 10
total score – 26 out of 40