Tea of India: Parsi Cuisine Cookbook
Author Rita Jamshed Kapadia
With photos from my travel to Munnar in Kerala!
Indians love tea, they are crazy about it – and they even have a special word for it – chai.
India is one of the largest tea growers in the world. Tea is grown in the north andthe south – in exotic places like Munnar in Kerala, Darjeeling,Assam, and Nilgiri Mountains.The tea gardens are a sight to see. Beautiful terraces are carved into theearth and from far they look like manicured gardens. Tea from Darjeelingand Assamis world famous for its aroma and taste.
Tea was introduced in India by the British during early 1900’s, those were early days of the British Raj. Large swaths of land wereconverted for mass tea-production. Ironically, the British introduced tea in India to break the Chinesemonopoly. Tea was originally consumed by the westernized Indians, but it becamewidely popular over time. Today, looking at the popularity of tea one cannottell of its origins from China.
But the story of story of tea in India goes beyond the tea gardensin exotic mountains and valleys, covered with mist and lush greenery. Tea iswoven intricately into the Indian social fabric.
Chai is the common equalizer in India – from the rich to the poor.No matter what their position in life, an Indian relishes a cup of tea. Therich ones have their tea served in fancy tea-pots, delicate porcelain cups onwell laid out tables with cookies and pastries. The not-so-affluent have it in more humble settings. But the joy and satisfaction is the same!
