IRCTC cup of tea and coffee can be served in kulhar or kulhad | Serving of Sugar Free Tea and Coffee in Trains

IRCTC cup of tea and coffee can be served in kulhar or kulhad | Serving of Sugar Free Tea and Coffee in Trains

A pledge to be administered to cut use of plastics on 2nd October, 2025

Plastic Free Railway

Soon, your favorite cup of tea and coffee can be served at all major railway stations in eco-friendly ‘kulhar or kulhad’

Benefit of Tea and Coffee in kulhar or kulhad

It is known to give tea and coffee an earthy essence, taste and aroma
It is biodegradable, so it can be thrown or broken, and not as hazardous as plastic. When you dispose of them, they quickly mix with the soil.
Using kulhar or kulhad is very cost effective because it is cheaper than glass or plastic
Tea offered in Styrofoam cups can be harmful to your health. Polystyrene, also known as cancer, is the substance used to make those cups. This enters the fluid poured into them, causing worries for your health.
Clay quilts are alkaline, which means that using them will help reduce the acidity of your body.
kulhar or kulhad cannot be reused, so you don’t have to worry about germs or bacteria lengthening.
They are inherently healthy considering that they are made by firing the kiln

Ministry of Railways has issued a circular stating the following instructions are to be enforced: w.e.f. 02.10.2025

Ban single use plastic material
All railway vendors should avoid using plastic carry bags
Employees must reduce, reuse and refuse plastic products and use cheap reusable bags to reduce plastic footprint
The IRCTC is also responsible for returning plastic bottles of water as part of the expanded manufacturer’s responsibility.
Plastic bottle crushing machines must be provided quickly.

Strict enforcement of these instructions is to be from 02.10.2025, to give enough time to all concerned to prepare for “Plastic Free Railway”

IRCTC Provide Sugar Free Tea and Coffee

Serving of Sugar Free Tea and Coffee in Trains

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 4612

ANSWERED ON 06.04.2025

Serving of sugar free tea and coffee in trains

4612 Shri Joy Abraham
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether it is a fact that the Minister of Railways had given an assurance in the House during the discussion on Railways Appropriation Bill, 2025 that sugar-free tea and coffee would be served in all passenger coaches of Railways to facilitate diabetic patients;

(b) if so, the steps Railways have taken to implement the above-said assurance till date; and

(c) whether Government will take urgent steps to supply sugar-free coffee and tea in all passenger coaches of the railways, irrespective of any category of trains such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Express, Mail, ordinary, etc.?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (c): Yes, Sir. Instructions already exist with Zonal Railways to provide proper food to diabetic passengers on demand. Guidelines have already been issued to Zonal Railways and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) to provide sugar free sachet of reputed brand in all trains as an alternative of sugar for rail passengers suffering from diabetes.

Absolutely! Here’s the latest on the two topics you’re asking about:

1. Tea & Coffee in Kulhad (Kulhar)

As part of a nationwide plastic reduction initiative, IRCTC began serving tea and coffee in eco-friendly kulhads (earthen cups) at railway stations from October 2, 2025. A Ministry of Railways circular mandated this shift to replace single-use plastic and foam cups.
Benefits include biodegradability, cost-effectiveness, and an enhanced sensory experience with earthy aroma and flavor.
As of late 2025, around 400 railway stations had begun using kulhads, with plans to expand usage across the country.
User feedback also highlights the distinctive taste value of kulhad chai:

“A chai … served in kulhad is an out-of-the-world thing.”

2. Sugar-Free Tea & Coffee in Trains

IRCTC has long provided diabetic-friendly options—sugar-free sachets for tea and coffee—upon request.
- These instructions were formalized through guidelines issued to zonal railways and IRCTC.
- Sugar-free alternatives are available across trains, serving health-conscious passengers.
Premium-tier trains—Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto—include tea/coffee kits that come with a sugar-free sachet option alongside regular sugar, along with tea bags or coffee powder, creamer, and biscuits.

At a Glance Summary

Feature	Details
Kulhad Usage	Introduced in 2025 for eco-friendly service; ~400 stations onboard as of 2025
Benefits of Kulhad	Biodegradable, enhances beverage flavor, cost-effective
Sugar-Free Tea/Coffee	Available via sachet on request in all trains
Prepaid Tea/Coffee Kits	Premium trains offer sugar-free sachets by default in meal kits

Let me know if you’d like to find which station near you currently offers kulhads, or how to request sugar-free tea in specific trains—I’d be happy to help further!