wanted to know more about the iranians who became famous for irani chai in india?

Question

the iranians who came down to India and settled down in mumbai pune and hyderabad some 150 years back and became famous for Irani chai who opened the Irani restaurants and bakeries. Kindly wanted all the informations related to this subject.

Answer 1

Tea was originally called ‘Tu’ when it was invented in China in 4th century BC. Later it become popular and spread all over the world and is called with different names in different countries, It is called ‘Cha’ in China, ‘Ta’ in Korea, ‘The’ in French, ‘Shai’ in Saudi Arabia, ‘Chey’ in Turkey, ‘Chai’ in Russia and ‘Ja’ in Tibet. Today there are 3000 types of Tea all over the world, derived from six basic types viz - white, green, oolong, black, scented and compressed. Realising from its growing popularity, the enterprising farmers in China, began cultivating it as a commercial crop. During this period they developed black and scented teas. Dengyo Daishi, a Japanese monk who was in China for two years studying there, introduced tea to Japanese on his return to his native country. Few years later, tea is believed to have spread to Portugal, Macao, Dutch and Europe.

Around that time Qutb Shahis were ruling this part of the country with Golconda as their capital. As the Qutb Shahis came to India via Iran, a large number of Iranis came along with them and settled in the city in 1591 A.D. Along with them they brought their customs, culture and traditions. They were very powerful in Qutb Shahi’s reign and held very important administrative positions. They established a number of institutions and buildings. They constructed mosques and laid beautiful gardens. The glazed tiling ornamentation of Chaminar, the incised stucco work of the tombs was Iranian contribution. Apart from these, they introduced their national drink – tea, to the locals. Tea is a warm beverage and thirst quencher to them. Their hot favourites, green and black teas were introduced to local people in 16th century itself. Whereas tea came to rest of the parts in India only in 1840. Britishers, when they invaded this country brought in tea along with them into the country. The discovery of native tea in Assam and Northern India helped to spread the tea cult in the country.

However, the black and green tea introduced by Iranians which was later on called as ‘Irani-Chai’ was totally different from the tea available in other parts of the country. The basic difference was the way Iranis prepared the tea. While the tea powder used in other parts of the country was of a different kind. It differed in its process after plucking. The Itani tea was adopted by Qutb Shahis, but their other recipes were largely ignored. The other drinks and liquor popular at the time were white and red wines. They were served in accordance with the seasons. But ‘tea’ was one thing which was consumed as an all time drink and transformed to the present shape in the modern society. Today this Chai is as popular as Pearls, Biryani and Minars to the Hyderabadis and to the rest of the world.

......all the best.

Answer 2

Irani is a term used to denote Iranian Zoroastrians who have immigrated to India within the last two centuries, as opposed to the longer residing Parsis. Many of them immigrated during the Qajar era, when persecution of Iranian Zoroastrians was rampant. They are culturally and linguistically closer to the Zoroastrians of Iran. Unlike the Parsis, they speak a Dari dialect, the lanaguage spoken by the Iranian Zoroastrians in Yazd and Kerman. Their last names often resemble modern Iranian names, however Irani is a common surname among them. They are mostly located in modern-day Mumbai, India, and are famous for their restaurants and tea-houses. Some, such as Ardeshir Irani, have also become very famous in Bollywood cinema.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irani

Answer 3

Just visit Hyderabad or ask any Hyderabadi if you want to know anything about the Irani chai or Irani samosa or biscuit or pastry.