Chai Khana café in old Karbala serves tea on wood

KARBALA, September 9 — With its small size, Chai Khana Café in the heart of Old Karbala offers a serene and enjoyable escape from the hustle and bustle of social media and the internet. The café has maintained its appearance and the secret recipe for “Firewood Tea” since the 1980s, and it even features a small library to entertain its customers.

Dhurgam Fadel – Owner of the Café for Network 964: “We inherited this profession from our father, who has been working here since the 1980s. We have preserved the charm of the place and its recipes to maintain the quality of our customers. We do not provide internet service as the fast-paced life is not to our liking. Instead, we offer a small library with the aim of promoting reading and knowledge. Often, literary figures and poets gather here to discuss their cultural works.”

Mohammed Jasim – Café customer:

“Sometimes, the soul yearns for certain places, and I feel comfortable sitting here, enjoying conversations with friends and the taste of firewood-brewed tea. Despite its simplicity, the café reflects a glimpse of the Karbala community and the residents of the Old City. Its uniqueness lies in being one of the few things untouched by change.”