“Tea isn’t good for kids” my parents would say that every time I wanted a cup of tea, I settled for a glass of Bournvita.
They would allow me to dip my biscuits in their tea though and that was a consolation. When I graduated from KinderGarten to Class 1, my parents told me that I was a big boy now and had to behave like one.
It was exciting and I thought I would have my own cup of tea, but alas, It was still denied. As I grew up, my badi maa would occasionally share her cup of tea with me, without anyone watching of course.
Apparently, tea was really bad for kids but elders sipped cups after cups, guests were literally forced to have tea! (I wonder why, if it was that bad!) came teenage days and everything was exciting. My mother would happily wake me up in the morning with a hot cup of tea so that I could prepare for my exams better.
Wherever I visited with my parents, I would be offered tea and I would say a quick “Yes” before my parents could refuse on my behalf. Whenever we had guests, I would have tea too. Leaving for college changed everything, tea became more than a habit. Mornings at bakeries, at college canteen, taking turns to make tea while studying till late, and also late-night bike rides for a humble cup of chai!
We did not shy away to steal milk from shops (they stack it in front of shops even before the shops open) so that we wouldn’t have to wait for tea shops to open! Then started office and office tea breaks, the Tea Adda with friends is still a routine, of course. My parents joke that I will be a tea addict till I am diabetic, that’s not a joke though, it’s pretty scary!
Been to a lot of places, been through a lot but Tea has been a Constant”This was shared with us by a TEA LOVER on Valentine's Day!
Started in 1917, we have been doing this for over 100 years!
To think about it, we wouldn’t have been happier or prouder doing anything else!
Glad to be serving Tea to Indians for more than a century.
Tell us about your Tea love story?
When did you have Tea for the first time?
PS - The funniest, craziest, and most Intense tea lovers will get a shout-out on Instagram or we might just send you free TEA.