Karak: The UAE's Favorite Tea

Karak is, by a wide margin, the most popular everyday tea in the UAE — a strong black tea simmered with milk, sugar, and warming spices, traditionally cardamom and sometimes saffron or ginger, until it turns a deep reddish-brown. The name comes from the Hindi/Urdu word for "strong," a fitting description for a tea meant to be bold enough to stand up to generous amounts of milk and sugar without losing its character. Its popularity in the UAE owes much to the country's South Asian communities, who brought the tea-making traditions of the Indian subcontinent with them and adapted them into what is now a distinctly Emirati staple. Small karak stalls and cafeterias — often just a window and a few plastic chairs — are found on nearly every street corner, serving the tea in small disposable cups at almost any hour, day or night. Karak has become something of a social equalizer in the UAE: unlike the more ceremonial qahwa service, it is an inexpensive, unpretentious drink enjoyed by laborers, office workers, and tourists alike, often shared during a short break rather than a formal sitting. That accessibility, combined with its rich, spiced flavor, has made karak arguably the single most consumed hot beverage in the country today.