The trending variation to tea is the new Tandoori Tea (though it has been around for quite some time now). The best-tasted teas in India are found in tea stalls, small and big, dotted across the country round the corners, in railway stations, in the buzzing Indian markets, and alongside highways. The tea makers in these stalls are ace at their skill. The agility with which they make and serve tea to the dozens waiting outside their tea stalls is remarkable. The quick movement of their hands, the perfect blend of masala and milk that goes into making of that one perfect cup of tea is something attained through years of dedication and hardwork, an innate commitment to their craft. And craftsmanship it is. For tea making is truly an art. And when you get to witness the creativity in bringing astonishing variation to making this age-old concoction, you will be left with no doubt.
The most intriguing thing about ‘tandoori tea’ is the quirky style in which it is prepared, truly fascinating to watch. What started as a trial to a new style of tea-making in a Pune-based tea stall called ‘Chai La’ has now become one of the most sought-after tea trends in India. Several tea stalls selling tandoori tea throng the Pune highway and its popularity has only been increasing since.
‘Tandoor’ is a clay oven popular in India for making several signature dishes like tandoori-chicken, which is undoubtedly the most famous. The idea that even tea could be prepared in a tandoor is truly out-of-the-box. What goes into the making of tandoori tea is a ‘kulhad’ or clay pot which is immersed in a preheated tandoor for a few minutes. The adroit hands of the tea maker then takes out the now heated kulhad from the tandoor with tongs and pours into it a half-brewed mixture of tea leaves, milk and the perfect blend of masala that goes into the Indian style of making tea. Frothing and bubbling, the tea oozes out of the kulhad, and is poured into ‘matkas’ or clay pots for serving, giving the tea a smoked, earthy flavour. Mouth-watering to the tea lovers, interesting for the tea makers, I wonder what other variation and artistry could go into the making of a cup of tea, which some call simple. But is it really?
(Read about Kombucha )
