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!
Black Tea?
Nicotine Addiction?
Hyperacidity?
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.
Radiating!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is at once a reading and visual T(r)ea t.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the old story ,
ReplyDeleteIn which a Russian lady,
Made soup from a stone ,
Did you get the recipe from a smartphone,
And used Tulsi , Ilaichi and Mulethi !
Nice recipe & story as well.
ReplyDelete