Eat, drink and read as you please at Cha Bar, says Angela Paljor
Tea addicts can now definitely head to Cha Bar, which is offering more than 150 varieties of the brew, from herbal, flowering, organic to diet. located inside the Oxford book store, bookworms will definitely find peace here.
Since the heat had exhausted me, I went for their peach ice tea. Surprisingly, unlike all the ice teas I have ever had, this one indeed had the essence of tea leaves and not just sugar. Nitin Warikoo, who heads the Cha Bar and Business Development, said, “Our ice teas are not like the usual ones. We use fresh fruits and the right amount of brewed tea.” One sip and his words were credible. The peach restores your freshness while the aftertaste of the tea gives you a kick.
For those who prefer hot tea, this place is a must-visit, with an exclusive array of Darjeeling, Nilgiri, Sikkim and Oolong tea, complemented by the best in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Thai teas. Their highlight is the cultural preparation; they present the teas in the most traditional way. Kashmiri kahwah, aromatic kahwah which blends in the spices like peppermint, cinnamon and cardamom, are served from a samovar. Those who prefer salted tea can try out their ladakhi butter tea, authentically prepared with dollops of butter, tracing its origin back to the ancient silk route.
Tea is incomplete without something to snack on. Fries are a must and the crispy texture and the slight tinge of spices will definitely remind you of your after school hours. English tea sandwiches are another option, the apple wood smoked chicken and traditional English mustard seamlessly complementing the fresh crispy white bread. For the vegetarians, they have cucumber and cream cheese.
Personally, I liked the idea of sitting in a cosy corner with a book, nibbling matar kachori, surprisingly authentic Chandni Chowk in taste.