Why Everything is Kadak in India
Introduction
Why do we Indians like everything kadak — strong, intense, bold? Kadak tea. Kadak coffee. Kadak spices. Even our arguments, politics, and cinema are kadak. This isn’t just about taste — it’s about culture, geography, and history.
1. Climate & Geography
In hot, humid, or unpredictable climates like much of India, strong flavors survive better. Mild tea gets diluted in the heat. Weak coffee feels watery. Spices help preserve food and stimulate appetite. Kadak things don’t just survive Indian weather — they thrive in it.
2. Cultural Stoicism
Generations raised with struggle — colonialism, scarcity, and chaos — built a taste for resilience. (Kadak chai) Strong Tea or strong coffee is more than a drink — it’s a ritual of recovery. A small burst of strength in the middle of a long day. You don’t sip it — you brace for it.
3. Sensory Saturation
India is not a subtle country. It’s colorful, noisy, crowded, and alive. From Bollywood to biryani, we’re a culture of maximalism. Our taste buds mirror our lives: intense, contrasting, immersive. Bland doesn’t register. Kadak makes its presence felt.
4. Colonial Inheritance
The British gave us tea — we made it strong, milky, and sweet. Why? Because that’s how you get your money’s worth from cheap dust tea. It wasn’t luxury. It was economics. Over time, it became habit. Then identity. Of Course now green tea without milk and sugar is also very popular in urban elite.
Conclusion – Kadak as Philosophy
Maybe kadak isn’t just about taste. Maybe it’s our emotional default. Our conversations are kadak. Our arguments, street fights, our politics, our metaphors — all kadak. We don’t just live life. We live it bold, burning, unforgettable.
You could say: ‘In India, even silence has a spice level.’