The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `Happy hours' at My Tea House

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 12, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Happy hours' at My Tea House

Staff Correspondent

Enjoying tea in all its flavours is what we are trying to make people experience, says Anil Rawat

BANGALORE: Morning joggers and "happy hours" does sound rather strange. Not when you find out that the beverage served from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. is made from "two leaves and a bud".

Tea is served in a variety of flavours and aromas at My Tea House.

Located on the Ring Road in Banashankari 3rd Stage, My Tea House, will offer more than different varieties of tea, says tea buff Anil Rawat.

He finds the mystique of tea even in the "chayakkada" black tea from Kerala; the "khullad" tea served in earthen cups in the north; the steaming black, lemon-flavoured "sulaimani chai"; the very delicate Darjeeling long leaf; the delicacy among long leafs, Lapsang Souchong, originally believed to have come from Taiwan and now grown in Darjeeling; the robust Assam tea, which is among the most popular in our country; or the Nilgiris tea, blended with Ceylon tea, which the British loved because of its strong colour.

Having made a study of teas in all their cultural contexts, Dr. Rawat has ventured into what he thinks is the region's first speciality teahouse. For the young and not-so-young techies of that area, there will be rock music and computer games in the evening. "The tea may make the games more stimulating," he said.

For the morning walkers and joggers, there is "happy hours" with discounts and spiritual music in the background to start the day with.

Then there will be "tea ceremonies" reflecting the various regions where tea is associated with local culture, such as in China, Japan and Tibet.

"Tea is rich in anti-oxidants and low in caffeine and its health benefits are well-known. Enjoying tea in all its flavours is what we are trying to make people experience," Dr. Rawat said.

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