At the launch of Anandini Himalaya Tea Boutique, connoisseurs picked their favourite blends. Eram Agha tried some new varieties
Way back in 1989 theatre-actor Tom Alter conducted the first video interview of the cricketing legend, Sachin Tendulkar, and now when his retirement news is out, like everyone he too is disturbed. Alter said, “Cricket without TendulkarIJ I don’t even want to think about it!”
If there is anything that is helping him cope with this storm, then that is stirring the tea cup, and sipping unique infusions at Anandini Himalaya Tea Boutique, the brainchild of Anamika Singh, a tea planter and sommelier. She has crafted seven blends of green and black tea with various flowers and herbs from the Himalayas, her creations retain the basic taste of the tea leaf and have subtle flavours. This is coming from her family-owned single estate Manjhee Valley in Dharamshala, which has produced needle tea that comes in fixed quantity, only 20 kilos in a year. It has found place in the famous Parisian store, Mariage Freres.
The classic collection includes first flush tea along with green and pine smoked tea, handmade flowery green, white and handmade polong blends that are packed in coloured boxes. With the launch began some stirrings of the memories, “And that’s what the purpose is, we celebrate so much over a cup of tea,” said Singh. Alter said, “Between tea and coffee I go for the former. Coffee doesn’t even come close. My mother used to pair it with amazing brown bread toast served with butter and cinnamon; I haven’t had that taste for 50 years now. When it comes to tea, I am quite an old fashioned one. I like the jasmine infusion, it was Maulana Azad’s favourite too, and I am all for rhododendron blend.”
The evening got a turn when one of Singh’s friends revisited the days of the poetry. He enacted the tea pot pose and gave way for more such interactive tea outings, “We can make the visit to tea boutique lively by having music and drama,” signed off Alter. There was a time when samosas were served with masala chai. Since the time tea became a lifestyle choice the accompaniments too changed. Tea was paired with lemon poppy seed mini cupcakes, lemon drizzle infused with Anandini first flush, honey brown butter madelienes, cucumber mini tea sandwiches, mini phyllo cups with sauteed mushrooms and ricotta.
High-tea session
Tea is not about the break. It is a lifestyle choice. Here are some blends for your daily run.Wake up time: light green tea liquor blended with orange fire-flame bush and fragrant mint.
With breakfast bites: Green tea liquor infused with red pomegranate flowers and rich antioxidant Himalayan tulsi.Ten O’ clock stop: Sweet honey note of green tea with subtle hint of delicate rhododendron petals and aromatic antioxidant Himalayan tulsi.
lunch break: Brisk bright yellow liquor of second flush Tea with lingering aromatic lemon balm and soothing rose petals.For four O’clock taste: Sparkling radiant yellow liquor of first flush tea with comforting lavender flowers and rejuvenating lemon grass.
Seven O’Clock notes: A fresh taste of green tea with sweet floral notes of rose petals and a refreshing surprise of mint.After dinner: Green tea with a sweet floral note with a sprinkle of comforting chamomile and mellow tang of rose hip.