What Did Indians Drink Before Tea and Coffee? The Traditional Beverages That Came First

Before tea and coffee became everyday staples, people relied on a variety of traditional beverages and herbal brews. Discover what our ancestors drank and how tea and coffee became part of daily life.

When There Was No Coffee or Tea...

Before tea and coffee, our ancestors drank natural beverages for health. They would have cow's milk, ghee or honey in warm water, or herbal 'kashayams' made with tulsi, ginger, and spices. In the South, fermented rice or 'chaddannam' was a popular choice, acting as a natural probiotic. Villagers often drank fresh buttermilk, ragi ambali, or barley water for energy.

The Arrival of Coffee and Tea in India

Coffee's journey to India began in the late 16th century. A Sufi saint, Baba Budan, smuggled seven coffee beans from Mocha, Yemen. He planted them in Karnataka's Chandradrona hills, now called Baba Budangiri. As for tea, while the Singpho tribe used it as medicine, the British commercialised it. In 1823, Scottish officer Robert Bruce found local tea plants in Assam. The East India Company then started large plantations there from the 1830s to challenge China's tea monopoly.

How Did Tea and Coffee Become a Habit?

Initially, only the rich and the British could afford tea and coffee. To make it popular, the British government's 'Indian Tea Market Expansion Board' (est. 1903) launched massive campaigns. They gave out free tea at railway stations and factories, promoting the 'chai' style we love today—boiled with milk and sugar. This made tea a habit for everyone, while filter coffee took over South India. A British business plan completely changed our morning routine forever.