Tea-Time Namkeen Combos: What to Pair With Your Evening Chai

In most Andhra homes the evening cup of tea is not complete without something crunchy on the side. The trick is not to buy one big bag of one thing, but two or three snacks that taste different from each other, so every handful feels new.

Here are the combinations our regular customers keep coming back for.

The mild everyday tin

Start with a mixture that has a bit of everything. Agra mixture brings sev, boondi, peanuts and fried dal together, and it is gentle enough for children and grandparents. Pair it with Chekavadalu, the thin rice crackers that snap cleanly, and you have a tin that suits the whole family.

If you like a lighter, crispier texture, swap the mixture for Atukula mixture, made with flattened rice. It is airy and pleasant on a warm afternoon.

The spice lover's plate

For people who want heat with their tea, combine Karam boondi with Karam veru senagalu, spicy coated peanuts. Add a handful of Palli pakoda and the plate covers three textures: tiny and crisp, crunchy, and rough-edged.

Keep a glass of water close. These are Andhra-spicy, not mildly warm.

The crunchy shapes box

Rings and spirals are the most satisfying thing to bite into. Ringulu (chakodilu), Senagapappu chakodilu and Jantikalu all come from the same family of pressed doughs, but each uses a different flour and has its own crunch. A small box of each is a good way to find your favourite.

A few tips

Pour out only what you will eat and keep the rest sealed. Namkeen loses its crunch to moist air far faster than it goes stale. If a pack has gone slightly soft, two minutes in a dry pan on low heat brings most of it back.

Most of these are also available in larger packs on our bulk page if you serve tea to a crowd every day.