East Africa · Drink
Shaah Cadees (Spiced Cardamom and Clove Milk Tea)
A comforting, deeply aromatic Djiboutian spiced milk tea brewed with whole cardamom, cloves, fresh ginger, and rich evaporated milk.
The story
Every morning and late afternoon across the Republic of Djibouti, from nomadic encampments in the Dikhil region to seaside cafes overlooking the Gulf of Tadjoura, life pauses for Shaah Cadees. Embraced universally by Somali, Afar, and Arab populations, the beverage is a centerpiece of hospitality served alongside sweet biscuits or savoury samosas. Unlike standard chai variations, classic Djiboutian tea relies on cracked whole spices decocted in rolling water before tea leaves are introduced, maximizing the extraction of essential volatile oils before dairy moderates the heat.
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