Home Version Tea Ceremony and Chai-Latte Nirvana

Drinking afternoon tea is a huge ceremony in our household. We have tea in the morning and in the afternoon to clear our heads. Without fail, at 7 am and 4 pm the tea is made and only during the afternoon do we sit together to chai and chaat.

Chai-Latte At Home Vs. Tea Ceremony of Japan

I am fascinated with the Tea Ceremony from Japan. It is held with such decorum and rules to follow. But then India version at home was not like the Japanese version at all. You cannot ask Indian to keep quiet for a long time.

When I watched after many years of making tea. I was so moved by the ceremony in many way it structured my chai making event at home. I decided to follow some of the peace that I saw in the ceremony.

If we were to step back in history. We would get an interesting story about how tea was first discovered. Take a peak of the History of Tea.

Traditions Follow and Relearned

The tea preparation is all quiet in the kitchen but once out in the living room it becomes noisy. All Indian snacks are out and in display or it is simple fare of Marie biscuits.

Tea is always Chai Latte in our house, or we had home remedy version when the members have an upset tummy. Let me tell you that black tea with a pinch of sugar and lemon squeezed, works like magic!

Happy Responsibility and Brand Mattered!

Once I hit puberty, I was assigned the front yard cleaning and the tea-making tasks. It was the first kitchen task given to me by my mother with confidence in me. Partly the fact that my mother loved the tea I made. I have my OCDs for making tea at home.

Brooke Bond Red label was introduced into the market in 1903 and Mummyji got that brand from the time she entered her kitchen. Well, I just followed through the tradition. Of course, we switched to Taj Mahal for a while.

But once I was in-charge of the afternoon chai, it was Red Label brand throughout. Now I get the Natural Care version of the “Swad Apnepan ka (Taste of Togetherness).” Since I knew the brewing intensity and duration well for the Red Label brand more than other brands in the market.

Zen of Tea Making

There is the right moment for the water’s boiling point based on how it looks and sounds. Then the right time for tea leaves to be added. Then carefully watch for the leaves to turn into a light shade of red, I reduce the flame and add the preboiled milk to it. This process is almost Zen meditation for me.

Once the second boil happens just to get the milk at the same temperature. I switch off the stove and filter the tea. Once the fragrant chai-latte is poured into the cups and placed on the tray to be carried over to the living room sofa area where the guests and the host alike are present. All the quietness of Chai-Making is done.

Dislike Making Tea from Teabags!

Somehow the whole fun of making tea from scratch and instead taking a short cut of dipping experience made me dislike it. With teabags you get to taste different kinds of flavors. Twinings is a tea brand which I preferred over others. The product had varied flavored teabags and it was great for experimenting.

When pressured by the semester works, I generally tend to drink tea from Teabags. Though I disliked it, I was not averse to it. At home, I had special vessels and loved the filter so much for the compactness and fit with the cups.

Even though during the busy days I used to make quick teabag tea, there were days when I had time and patience to make proper chai. I had a lot to learn from making tea and there are still some places where my learning falls short. Yet, the interest goes on!

Blooming Flower Tea | Flowering Tea

I also happened to have an African brand tea experience and it was mind blowing! It is a bundled flower which gets soaked in hot water and it blooms within the transparent glass tea pot. There is much to learn about various teas and how to make them in synch with the nature around the tea leaves.

The tea was made for in the Singapore office as celebration for the New Year send by the head office. I was totally taken over and kept staring at the flowering tea until it bloomed. My office mates found me funny to over thrilled about flowering tea.

Tea Making and Life’s Essence Moves Me

These days, I enjoy having tea in the afternoon with some members missing. But the tradition still holds on for me. I take my own time to heat the water to a roaring boil using low heat. It is fun to watch the water bubble form and rise to a roaring boil, then add just enough tea.

I have started to breath with the tea as it spreads the color. I begin to synchronize my breath with the tea leaves boiling at low heat. When I add the preboiled milk in the last stages when the Chai-Latte comes together, that is when the mind blanks out and I feel joy filled with happiness.

Tea Nirvana

Sometimes, the bliss of making tea takes over the pleasure of drinking. So, it is a joy to share the tea than have it by myself. The versions of chai are many and I love every one of them. It is to gain insight into myself that I make Chai-Latte.

During the process to the finished product it is like being bombarded by countless energy of joy. Finding that wonderful balance has always been the goal of life and tough situation. Sometimes reflecting alone is enough joy in Chai-making.