A peaceful large cup of tea, early in the morning at 5:30 am, has
become a sort of ritual for me over the years.
This is the time, when my wife and I sit together for 15 minutes of lull
before the stormy routine of the day overwhelms us. It would be 15 minutes of
tete-e-tete; 15 minutes of gossip sharing; 15 minutes of problem resolution; 15
minutes of making up for an unresolved conflict of the previous day; or 15
minutes of sheer togetherness in silence. The ubiquitous cup of tea has been a
witness to all the ups and downs of our family life. Happy International Tea
Day.
My most vivid memories of tea obsession go back to my school and
college canteens where we started off with a 'Paunia' chai - meaning a
three-fourth cup. My passion for tea has
since traversed through from 'Paunia' of Kanpur to 'By-two' tea in Bangalore.
In between, I also had a flavour of 'Cutting' tea in Mumbai, during my frequent
sojourns to the city.
Back to my school days in Kanpur, we had a famous Tea-joint called
'Banarasi Tea Stall' at Motijheel -
where we had spent numerous evenings with friends, standing on the roadside
with our cycles, blocking half the road. The Banarasi Chai with a topping of
thick cream (Malaai, to be precise) was not only a local landmark, it was also
a defining moment for us - having literally arrived at the place with a small
pocket money. I am not sure if the place still exists, or if it still has that
small town charm, or if it has turned into a multi-story restaurant with no
place for the cycling middle-class.
During my early childhood, we were some of the few lucky ones who got
to drink tea at home. My Mother was fond of tea and did not mind indulging us
at an early age. Many of my friends are still reminiscent of their initiation
into Tea-culture at my place. During
later years, while in college, when we started socializing amongst friends
visiting one another’s homes, the serving of tea always gave me a kick that
marked my recognition as a grown up.
Over the years, I have realized that tea as a taste has to evolve. I
have tasted tea across countries - from Ceylon to Turkey to Kenya and have
realized that it takes time to develop a new taste. It took me some time, over
my repeated visits, to develop a taste for the Turkish black tea, served in
attractive glass tumbler and saucer. But
above all, I have realized that Tea is one trans-cultural, trans-national,
trans-generation, trans-status elixir that assimilates itself with the mood of
the consumer. Be it a social gathering, a kitty-party, a serious business meet
or a sulking solitude - the Tea blends itself with the mood and stays with you
like a faithful friend.
As a famous chain persuades you with its punch line - India Runs on
Chai - you only wonder as to what is this fuss all about. Because, Chai is such
an integral part of us that we never realized when this got into our DNA. A
child grows watching from the cradle as people around keep sipping cups after
cup. And i am sure the curiosity grows
with the child into a craving and then ends up into a passion. No wonder that
my daughter, when she was 5 year old and still not initiated to Tea, did moan
to my wife that she would want to become a mother much sooner - for, then she
could drink as much tea as she would
want and that too any time of the day.
