The Hindu Business Line : Relax... with a cup of tea!

Cups of hot tea along with crispy pakoras... perhaps the best way to enjoy the Mumbai monsoon. And where better than the Tea Centre at Churchgate — one of the most elegant places in town.

The place has a colonial feel with its heavy wooden furniture, huge pillars, Victorian lamps and the live piano performance. One can simply enjoy a book over a cup of tea, without ever feeling the need for company.

What began as a tea promotion initiative by the Tea Board of India is today a professionally managed place where tea has been redefined and remixed to appeal to every palate. Tea Centre offers the classic Assam, Nilgiri and Darjeeling blends, but the in-house Camellia Tea Bar is where the novelty lies.

Camellia literally means the seed of tea. Tea liquor is blended with other ingredients to create different hot and chilled blends. The Hot Buttered Apple Tea — a blend of tea liquor, lemon rind, apple juice and dollops of butter — arouses one's curiosity; it turns out to be deliciously refreshing.

"I am not too fond of tea, but when I come here I have a pot of it," says Pooja Shah, a regular.

Mixed with coconut cream, honey and milk, your tea is reincarnated to become the Thai Chai. Caramelised Irish Tea, which is served with ice-cream, Rose petal tea and the spicy Yogic Assam are some must-try options. Among the chilled tea varieties are the Wine tea, Lady Marmalade and the Mango Cha.

Even more interesting are the tea and ice-cream combinations like the Hopper Sipper — an interesting mix of strong tea liquor, chocolate/mint syrup and vanilla ice-cream — and the Mint tea float.

To accompany a cuppa, one can choose from a range of `English' refreshments such as scones, warm apple pies, muffins, cheesecakes and delectable waffles served with butter, cream and honey; desi items on offer include the assorted pakora platters, makai paneer ke pakore, Punjabi samosas and alu tikkis. The crispy stuffed mushrooms and open-faced sandwiches are highly recommended.

Two varieties of tea and a snack for two would cost between Rs 150 and Rs 200. The breakfast at Tea Centre (served between 8 a.m. and 11.30 a.m.) is quite popular with its rich and fluffy omelettes, puri bhaji and batata pohwa.

"The Tea Centre is a great place to unwind after work," says Bhairavi who works at Churchgate. The adjoining Tea Bazaar retails regular as well as novelty gift packs in attractive ethnic pinewood and jute packaging.

Though centrally located, getting parking space could prove to be quite a problem.

Picture by Paul Noronha

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Relax... with a cup of tea!