A DELICIOUS CUP OF TEA
By
VIKRAM KARVE
I love tea.
You too love a cup of invigorating tea, don't you...?
But tell me... do you know how to make a good cup of delicious tea...?
But tell me... do you know how to make a good cup of delicious tea...?
Okay, let me tell you how...here is my time-tested simple way of preparing the best cup of invigorating tea.
Get some good Assam CTC Tea [CTC is an acronym for Crush, Tear and Curl].
CTC teas have a granular appearance and the fact of the matter is that if you are really interested in a Stimulating, Refreshing and Invigorating cup of traditional Indian Tea, Orthodox Leaf Teas [the OPs, the BOPs, et al] just don’t fit the bill – you need CTC tea to brew your strong, bright and full-bodied cup of milky Chai which looks deliciously appetizing – a lively reddish orange colour, not the dull muddy brown colour you get when you add milk to tea made from leaf teas the orthodox “teapot” way.
CTC teas have a granular appearance and the fact of the matter is that if you are really interested in a Stimulating, Refreshing and Invigorating cup of traditional Indian Tea, Orthodox Leaf Teas [the OPs, the BOPs, et al] just don’t fit the bill – you need CTC tea to brew your strong, bright and full-bodied cup of milky Chai which looks deliciously appetizing – a lively reddish orange colour, not the dull muddy brown colour you get when you add milk to tea made from leaf teas the orthodox “teapot” way.
Take two cups of fresh water [one for you and one for me...!] in a stainless steel vessel.
Add four teaspoons of sugar [yes, sugar must be added before boiling the water].
Put on the stove, cover with a lid and boil.
Once the water starts boiling, remove the lid and boil for one and a half minutes – yes, exactly one and a half minutes...!
Add four teaspoons of sugar [yes, sugar must be added before boiling the water].
Put on the stove, cover with a lid and boil.
Once the water starts boiling, remove the lid and boil for one and a half minutes – yes, exactly one and a half minutes...!
Now briskly add two teaspoons of CTC Tea leaves – the boiling water will suddenly erupt, and surge up, like a volcano, so smartly switch off the flame before it spills over and quickly cover tightly with the lid.
Brew for five minutes till the liquor is full-bodied and the infusion is complete.
Brew for five minutes till the liquor is full-bodied and the infusion is complete.
Have ready some freshly boiled full cream buffalo milk – yes, fresh creamy buffalo milk is a must – in Pune, I prefer Chitale’s.
First pour in some hot milk in the cup, and through a strainer, pour in the rich tea brew and till you get beautiful reddish orange colour.
Remember – always pour tea into milk, never pour milk into tea.
This is the secret of the appetizingly attractive bright lively carroty red colour as it facilitates the perfect blending of the strong rich full-bodied intense tea liquor tea brew with the creamy white milk without producing any bitterness.
First pour in some hot milk in the cup, and through a strainer, pour in the rich tea brew and till you get beautiful reddish orange colour.
Remember – always pour tea into milk, never pour milk into tea.
This is the secret of the appetizingly attractive bright lively carroty red colour as it facilitates the perfect blending of the strong rich full-bodied intense tea liquor tea brew with the creamy white milk without producing any bitterness.
Now, go ahead, relish every sip, and enjoy your cup of ambrosial divine rejuvenating tea.
And don't forget to tell us how you liked your delicious cup of tea.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2010
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
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