It is loaded with
antioxidants that are helpful in inhibiting the harmful effects of free
radicals in the human body thereby preventing damage to healthy cells and
tissues. But, that is not exactly the
reason why most people drink tea. Tea is synonymous (atleast in a PSU/Govt
institute context) to a period of time that can be as short as 2 min to about
half an hour when people get themselves updated on the latest news (read
gossip!), add their own twist to a new
rumour doing the rounds or simply think out
of the box (office cubicle).
I am a big tea aficionado
and am proud to be one. After all, tea is the most consumed drink in the world
next only to water (animals are not privileged enough!). I feel a wave of
warmth, freshness and happiness whenever I sip into a nice cuppa. Being fairly
experienced in the topic, I now delve into some of the finer aspects of the
concept of “tea adichchufying” (taking tea in colloquial tamil). Taking tea in
your house or a restaurant is too banal to be written about. So, please let me
introduce you to a description of the usual tea stall in my state.
Tea stalls
are a vital link in the Indian socio economic framework. They serve as the melting
pot of expert opinion and local flavor on any topic from the day’s cricket
match to the deplorable state of politics. The t-kada is an extremely important
part of the culture of Tamilnadu to the extent that it enjoys great coverage in
Kollywood movies. On close inspection, one can actually discover an entire
genre of jokes related to the tea stall in our films. Right from Vivek to Vadivelu and even Super
star have been brand ambassadors for this humble stall. It would be injustice
on my part to proceed any further without mentioning our beloved “Nair”
brotherhood of Kerala and the popularity of the Nair Chai Kada. It is rumoured
that when Armstrong first landed on the moon, he was greeted by the site of a
Nair Chai shop and an SBI branch. Such is the ubiquitous nature of the tea
stall in India.
The tea stall (provided
it is good and established) is a landmark by itself. When you are lost in an
area, I would recommend that you ask directions for a tea stall (which
everybody knows by default), visit the place, order a tea, then ask for
directions to your place (you will get the best possible directions including
the modes of transport to take and whether or not you will get caught in
traffic en-route). Some tea-stalls are complemented by the presence of “Iyengar
Bakeries” nearby (which btw is material enough for at-least 2 full length posts)
The tea stall is
generally characterized by wooden benches encroaching outside the actual “stall”.
This is the place where the most diverse topics in the world are discussed
thread bare. The stall has metal covers which double up as storage trays for
the glass biscuit jars. The items in the jar range from biscuits of various
sizes and shapes (Rs. 1 butter biscuit is compulsory) to cup cakes to murukku
and so on depending upon the ingenuity of the tea stall owner. Tucked in
between the “cycle gap” between the jars is the newspaper – the fuel that
drives the conversation in the benches. A radio is generally a part of the tea
stall and provides the latest updates to the busy junta who are not fortunate
enough to enjoy the luxury of taking tea on the bench. (mind you, being on the
bench here is no way related to the parlance used in an IT industry context)
In the heart of
the tea stall stands the “master”. (The man who makes the tea) This proves beyond
doubt the respect and supremacy accorded to the maker of the divine drink. He
is the heart and soul of the ambience of the place. Every tea master has a
unique style of making tea. I am not only taking about the taste, but the
actual actions he performs in preparing the concoction. To cut a long story
short, it essentially involves adding sugar, tea decoction and milk (not
necessarily in the same order) and then mixing it well. In mixing lies the signature
move of the tea master. Some have actually mastered the art of pouring tea from
one vessel (held aloft) to another lowered vessel in the other hand separated
by about 2 feet in most cases to an astonishing 4 feet (there are Youtube
videos to support this figure!). Ahh.. finally you get your glass of tea.. You
may be surprised to find that half the level of tea in the glass was because of
the froth. Nevertheless, you should get yourself an accompaniment such as a
biscuit or a murukku before taking the idyllic first sip.
And since I feel
that this post has exceeded the originally intended length and for the fact
that I have no ideas for a concluding statement, I better stop here and take a
Tea break! Adieu.. and ya, I am thankful to the Chinese for giving the world this wonderful drink and a topic for my blog.
