Tea: A Cup for Every Occasion
More than being a beverage, tea is an experience! The warmth of the tea cup resonates from the fingers curled around it to the very soul of the person relishing it. Whether it is rainy, cloudy, sunny or cold, everybody likes a cup of tea in the morning and in the evening. The experience only gets better when the tea is accompanied by crunchy savouries, fluffy cakes and the chatter of friends and family.
The expression ‘my cup of tea’ was not phrased casually. It has a very deep meaning. Everybody likes their tea a particular way (and only that particular way), and that is their cup of tea. Some like their tea black, others with milk, some with sugar, others without, some with spices, others plain, a dash of lime in their tea makes the day for some, while a sprig of mint peps others up. Eventually, the phrase ‘cup of tea’ came to mean something you like. When you say something is not your cup of tea, it means you do not like it. That is how closely tea has been associated with a person’s lifestyle, since time immemorial.
Indians like their tea a bit spicy and peppy! For many, a perfectly made cup of Masala Chai or tongue-tickling Jaggery Tea is as rejuvenating as a spa treatment. Simple, plain Brew Black Tea made the traditional way tastes much better than dip tea, and is the standard breakfast accompaniment for many. Sweet and milky Elaichi Tea is not everybody’s cup of tea but chaai-lovers can comfortably down a cuppa even on a sweltering summer’s day!
Come cold or flu, the first thing we think of making is a cup of tea to comfort the body and mind. A cup of Herbal Caffeine-free Tea made with tulsi and laced with lemon is sure to put you on the right track, while a glass of Tulsi Tea or Honey Ginger Tea will shoo away the cold. Perk up your mood with a peppy glass of Honey Lemon Tea or soothe your sore senses with a spice-infused Kashmiri Kahwa.
The Indian tea repertoire is quite exhaustive and you can find a cuppa that matches your every need! Just get started on the tea trail and you will find it to be a lifelong, adventurous journey with not a single boring moment.
I am 70 years old now. Everyday i have atleast 10-15 tea a day. My wife alway says that having overdose of tea is not good for health. I have shown her this article and given printouts to make various type of tea''s which is good for health. Now she is started giving me Black Tea, Elaichi Tea, Jaggery Tea, Lemon-Honey tea, Masala Tea and sometimes our regular tea we make at home. Wife is happy and i am also happy.