Visiting an Indian tea stall located on roadside

indian tea, indian tea stall, rajkot, rajkot tea stall, Swaminarayan Temple

In my city Rajkot, we have almost at least one tea stall on every road and street. Tea is a must morning-drink for every Indian family.

Some inspired by Western culture drink coffee and juices, but in majority of families tea is a morning drink.

If you pass by any Indian street of a famous city, you will see at least one such tea stall.

Mostly, it is near to some commercial complex or business centres, as the employees and workers take a break at such tea stalls.

I recorded above video on Kalawad Road in Rajkot city. It is located opposite to famous Swaminarayan Temple. Kalawad road is a very busy area in Rajkot. And hence, there are several such stalls on it.

Indians enjoy tea mostly in a glass plate rather than a cup or mug. Taking sips of hot tea is a sight to watch. Youth generally prefers glass cups for tea, for few reasons such as it looks good having tea in a glass cup than a plate (in a plate it looks orthodox), and secondly having tea in a glass gives enough time to talk simultaneously taking sips. We can call it a tea-break.

Stall holders mostly come from the local Shepherd community, who have their own cattle. So milk is easily available to them. Making tea in bulk is an art, as they have to take care of constant taste. Tea recipe is common. Milk, tea (made from tea leaves), sugar and some water. I myself can make tea for some 5 to 6 persons only. Above that, mixture of recipe contents gets out of control.

We also have this tradition to offer tea to our guests along with some snakes. Some people take tea regularly twice or thrice a day. It’s a habit for them.

If they don’t take it, they feel their head is bursting. It is a tea addiction. I myself have its addiction that I must have it at morning when I wake up and have my teeth brushed.

It gives some morning power, or I feel it that way.

If you are a foreigner and visiting India, make sure to enjoy tea sips in a plate, the orthodox way. You will enjoy it the way it is shown in above video.