Irani café facts for kids
Irani cafés are special coffee shops in the Indian subcontinent that serve Iranian-style food and drinks. They were first started by Zoroastrian people from Iran who moved to British India in the 1800s. These immigrants were either escaping difficult times in their home country or looking for better chances to earn a living.
Today, many Irani cafés can still be found in Indian cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad. They are very popular, especially for their unique Irani chai (tea). Back in the 1950s, there were about 350 Irani cafés, but now only about 25 are left. The city of Karachi in Pakistan also used to have many of these cafés.
History of Irani Cafés
Irani cafés were first opened by Irani immigrants who followed the Zoroastrian religion. They came to British India in the 19th century. Many of them were leaving their homes in West and Central Asia because of difficult situations. They hoped to find a better life and new opportunities in India.
These cafés have a simple, old-fashioned look. They often have high ceilings and wooden tables with marble tops. You might see black, bent wooden chairs, though some now have cane chairs. Large glass jars let you see the tasty treats inside. Big mirrors on the walls make the space feel larger. When you walk in, you're often greeted with a friendly welcome and the smell of fresh baking. The service is usually very quick and easy.
What You Can Eat and Drink
Irani cafés offer a variety of tasty foods and drinks. Here are some popular items:
- Bun maska or brun-maska: These are types of bread or hard croissants served with butter.
- Paani kam chai: This is a strong Iranian tea, which means 'tea with less water'.
- Khari chai: Another very strong tea.
- Mutton samosas: Savory pastries filled with spiced meat.
- Kheema pav: Minced meat served with soft bread rolls.
- Akuri: Scrambled eggs mixed with vegetables.
- Berry pulao: A rice dish with berries, often served with meat.
- Vegetable puff: A pastry filled with vegetables.
- Dhansak: A spiced lentil dish that can include meat and vegetables.
- Biryani: A flavorful rice dish with meat or vegetables.
- Cherry cream custard: A sweet dessert.
- Cheese khari biscuits: Savory, flaky biscuits with cheese.
- Plain khari biscuits: Plain flaky biscuits.
- Coconut jam and milk biscuits: Sweet biscuits with coconut jam.
- Duke's raspberry drink: A popular raspberry-flavored soda.
Many Irani cafés also sell sweet and salty biscuits. These include rawa (made from semolina), til-rawa coconut, and nankhatai (sweet, crisp, flaky Iranian biscuits). You might also find Madeira cake and tutti-frutti biscuits, which have colorful candied fruit pieces.
Images for kids
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Irani chai and Osmania biscuits served in Hyderabad
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Britannia Café, an Irani café at Ballard Estate, South Mumbai
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Interior of Kayani and Company, an Irani café
