A Memorable Cup of Tea

Today after breakfast, spouse asked: Can you please write the recipe for that special tea?

Which one? I asked.

I make a range of black, green, and white teas, but no longer make masala tea. No diabetic, but I’m convinced that adding milk, cream and sugar is the surest way to destroy the exquisite flavour of premium tea.

The one you made for Ruchi and her spouse when they dined at our home. She needs the recipe.

That was in 2018. She still remembers the humble tea I had made for them? Wow!

It was a winter evening when they came for dinner, and I had asked my friend: Nimbu pani, coconut water, or a coke?

I’d prefer something warmer, please.

If you prefer masala tea, Sanjukta will make it; if you are willing to sample an exclusive cup of tea, Your Truly will make it for you.

It took me about ten minutes to serve my special herbal tea. My friend and his spouse sipped the tea, and loved it.

‘Many ingredients have gone into this drink, can you name a few or all?’ I asked.

They got the easy ones, but kept wondering about the rest, till I mentioned all the ingredients, and the recipe.

Today, upon Ruchi’s request, I wrote it down; lest posterity forgot that Prasanna Dash was a story-teller, poet, chef, and a talented barista of Home Espresso coffee and Gourmet Tea!

Herbal Tea Recipe

Ingredients

·      Green Tea (long-leaf); best NOT to use tea-bags, plain or flavoured.

·      Finely ground powder

o  Mulethi

o  saunth

o  Saunf

o  Cinnamon

o  Choti ilachi

o  Dried tulsi leaves

Recipe

·      Bring water near boiling point, and when you spot the bubbles rising, switch off tea-maker

·      Wash tea-pot and cups with warm water

·      Add Green Tea – 1 tsp per cup

·      Pour hot water & gently stir

·      Add a little pinch of finely ground powders (needs practice for the perfect ‘pinch’; too much of any will spoil the taste)

·      Pour into a glass-cup (or better still, a wine glass) after 2 mins for a light brew (3 mins for a stronger brew)

·      Squeeze a few drops of fresh lemon juice

·      Add honey to taste

·      Sip slowly & enjoy the Herbal Tea – an appetizer and a digestive, too. Great for sore throat, and immunity against cough and cold.

·      Secret Recipe

    You won’t find it under ‘Ingredients’ or ‘Recipe’. It’s LOVE. When I make this cup of tea, or cook a dish; I keep thinking of my family or friend or guest who would be nourished by the drink or the meal. It’s a simple thought, and helps me focus with all my heart. Creating something, as mundane as a cup of tea, is a complex task. Anything can go wrong; I could mess up in balancing the ingredients, or ruin the recipe. So, it’s best to be reverential. Come to think of it, who makes that perfect cup of tea? Earth, Water, and Sun which nurture the tea plant, and all other medicinal herbs; Fire which cooks it; Water which assimilates all that goodness to pour directly into your blood. Isn’t that incredible; all Nature conspiring to make that nourishing cup of tea?

Postscript

A Limerick

G. Subbu, a dear friend who can cook limericks faster than I can make tea, shared this delightful one:

“The brewing of a cup of tea ,

Is best defined by

Harmony (wa), Respect (kei), Purity (sei) and Tranquility (jaku) ,

An elaborate Japanese ceremony,

That does justice to your recipe ,

And also to your guest -aptly named Ruchi !”

The 'Perfect Pinch': Copyrighted!

A friend's comments:

Wonderful. You are as good a barista/chef as a storyteller. When we next meet, we shall demand this exciting herbal tea from you. The quantity of the herbs has not been given in the recipe as it would be only in pinches, and your further elaboration that it has to be a perfect pinch without too much of any one ingredient will make it impossible to copy your exact recipe. So copyright and trade secret will always be preserved.  Will lemon or honey not affect the delicate herbal taste ?

My reply:

Just a little lemon and a little honey (optional). I rarely use honey since I'm used to the slightly bitter, astringent taste of green tea.

Black Tea?

I love Darjeeling black tea, a friend wrote. Yes, my recipe works for black tea, too. Only, you have to adjust the pinch. I'd add a little more lemon and honey. Go ahead, and try; you'd find the brew that pleases you most.

Nicotine Addiction?

Tea, especially gree tea, is rich in anti-oxidants; but all teas contain nicotine, and drinking too many cups of tea can get you addicted to nicotine. You're the best judge of how much tea is good for you. 

Hyperacidity?

Tea is also acidic, and too much tea can give you hyperacidity. Saunf, a powerful herbal antacid, moderates tea's acidity for me.

Herbal Tea for spouse; how could I serve such exclusive tea in an ordinary cup?

An Inspired Fusion

Today, I tried an inspired fusion. A minimalist afternoon tea with just four ingredients- green leaf-tea, yastimadhu (mulethi), betel leaf, and ajwain leaf – the last two from the pots on my terrace garden. Each ingredient loaded with health benefits. Here is a summary (Source: CoPilot):

Paan Leaf (Betel Leaf)

Paan leaves, also known as betel leaves, have several health benefits:

• Digestive Health: They help in improving digestion and relieving constipation.
• Anti-inflammatory: They have anti-inflammatory properties that can help with conditions like arthritis.
• Oral Health: Chewing betel leaves can improve oral health and reduce bad breath.
• Heart Health: They are believed to protect heart health.
• Anti-ulcer: They have anti-ulcer properties that can help in treating stomach ulcers.

Ajwain Leaf (Carom Leaves)

Ajwain leaves, also known as Bishop's Weed or carom, offer various health benefits:

• Digestive Aid: They are known to aid digestion and relieve indigestion.
• Anti-inflammatory: They have anti-inflammatory properties that can help with conditions like arthritis.
• Antiseptic: They have antiseptic properties that can help in healing wounds.
• Respiratory Health: They can help in relieving cold and cough.
• Cardiovascular Health: They are beneficial for cardiovascular health.

Yastimadhu (Licorice Root)

Yastimadhu, also known as licorice root, has a wide range of medicinal properties:

• Anti-inflammatory: It helps in reducing inflammation.
• Antioxidant: It has strong antioxidant properties.
• Digestive Health: It is used to treat digestive issues like hyperacidity and ulcers.
• Respiratory Health: It is effective in treating respiratory conditions like cough and asthma.
• Skin Health: It is used in skincare for its soothing and healing properties.

Disclaimer

Do NOT self-treat for medical conditions. Best to view this as a herbal drink.

 

An inspired fusion!