14 April,2009 07:53 AM IST | | Soumya Mukerji
Delhi's tea party is getting bigger and better by the day. We extend an invitation Delhi's tea party at Cafe Turtle
The mad hatters of Delhi finally have their cups overflowing. Newfound coffee coolth has bowed to the mother of all beverages this season; the city's getting ready with its tea teams like never before. Cafe Turtle is all set with its fruity iced numbers, century-old brand Typhoo Tea has introduced exotic flavours like the Black Currant Bracer, and Chai Garam is one of the many new tea kiosks that are mushrooming in malls across the city. We embark on a trail of the elixir that binds both beggars and billionaires.
Wonder whiffs: A Cup of Tea Solves Everything, or so say 2,08,854 members of this group on Facebook. A vending machine cuppa might lighten you up over a chat with a close colleague, but there are more interesting brews to explore. The Chinese oolong and marigold variants are stomach soothers, pink rose infusions act as antidepressants, chamomile helps relax muscle spasms and green infusions help keep the heart healthy. But, our good ol' black tea scores no less, reaffirms recent research. "While green tea helps lose weight, black boosts performance and relaxes with its rich theanine (an amino acid) content. It is wrong to say one is better than the other; and three to four servings are ideal in a day," says Solene Naveos, a Lipton Institute of Tea expert.
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Milking the best: The city loves its Twinings, but has much more to offer in terms of indigenous tea art, a legacy of generations. If you ever happen to walk past the bylanes of Qutub Road, look out for a Superman-ish shanty-wallah's own milky way... he swings his arms at 270 degrees every time he pours the milk and sugar into the pan, and does it at blink-eye speed. He's quite popular, so you can ask around for directions. If you're in the mood for tasting exotica or learning unusual concocting tricks, head to the many tea boutiques in the Kaka Nagar shopping complex opposite Oberoi Hotel, or the Mittal Tea House in Lodhi Colony market. Our best tea gallery verdict, however, goes to Aap Ki Pasand in Daryaganj, where rare blends and exquisite tea accessories give rise to an aroma of antiquity and amazement. Peep into our guide box for hip sip haunts of everyday value... wish you a good summer tea-off!
Cool tea merchandise
Tea chocolates
Tea light candles
Tea shirts the kind with tea graffiti, silly!
| Chai-n-ease hotspots |
| 'u00a0Chai Garam, Spice Mall, Noida: A railway-station styled kiosk offering cheap spills 'u00a0Ganga Dhaba, JNU: Streetlovers can snack on idealism here 'u00a0Cha Bar, Oxford Bookstore, Barakhamba Road: Leaf around in print, too u00a0 'u00a0The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, PVR Select Citywalk: Upmarket utopia 'u00a0The Tea Shop, Sector 37, Noida: Collegians' haven @ throwaway prices 'u00a0Tea Lounge, Intercontinental Eros, Nehru Place: Exotic extravagance 'u00a0Passion - My Cup Of Tea, Vasant Vihar: Haven't you heard of it enough, already? |
