I am both a tea addict and a coffee addict. The time of the day or the mood sometimes dictates which addiction I lean towards. For some like me, the veritable wakeup is triggered by an authentic tea traditionally brewed the Indian way. Coffee during work time and green tea at tea-time. There are few that do not relish the two beverages, do you think they are missing out on something in life?

Any writeup on tea is incomplete without a mention of the Indian ‘masala chai’. Dear tourists, if you want to discover India, then travel by road as much as you can and do not forget to drink ‘masala chai’ every now and then. I call it the travel elixir! Ok, so what is masala chai? Its tea leaves brewed to perfection while adding certain aromatic Indian spices and herbs like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, ground cloves and black peppercorns in small proportions. Trust me, masala chai can be very soothing and blissful! It’s a tad time-consuming preparation if it has to be brewed the traditional way though.

Hence let me take you through some Indian teas that come close to the joy of masala chai while being easy to brew and quicker. As I sip on some of them, lets see what The Sandalwood Room has to offer for the tea-loving people of Singapore. Indian teas are loved the world over for their powers of rejuvenating and energizing, and rightfully so.

Before we head to the experience of tea, some trivia about Indian teas.

India is the second largest producer of tea in the world after China and according to some reports, consumes nearly 30 percent of the global output! But, despite the consumption, India is also the largest exporter of tea after China and that’s evident from the many global tea brands that the Indian tea industry has grown to own, harnessing the best technology to reach there. There is this Tea Board of India that monitors tea production, certification, exportation and all other aspects of the tea trade, thereby giving the best of their teas to the world.

And then there are these herbal teas based on the practice of Ayurveda. Certain Indian plants and spices offer amazing medicinal properties that heal and cure many ailments, some minor and some others not so minor. Holy Basil (Tulsi), Cardamom (Elaichi), Pepper (Kaali Mirch), Liquorice (Mulethi), Mint (Pudina) are some of them. I am tempted to  post a tea quote from the Japanese scholar, Kakuzo Okakura from his Book Of Tea

“Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage“.

True that. Indian kitchens have long utilized these herbal teas as home remedies, the knowledge of our grandmothers has always worked. With advanced technology, the herbal teas are now being made available for mass consumption without compromising on their efficacy.

The No 3 Clive Road range at The Sandalwood Room

Malabar Blend

The tea leaves from the southern gardens of Nilgiris when brewed produce a distinct dark coloured tea with an intense aromatic flavour. Cultivated at elevations ranging from 1000 to 2500 metres, the weather imparts the Nilgiri teas with a characteristic briskness, exceptional flavour and an exquisite aroma. Earthy notes complimented by the sweet-scented vanilla which is a native crop of islands lying close to Malabar in the Indian Ocean.  Sipping on this sweet cup of Malabar blend, I must say I got transported to a world of a feeling of all-is-well types. Some teas have that effect. Here is how to make it :

SUGGESTIONS FOR SERVING

– Add 1 teaspoon to boiling water for 2 cups of tea
– Brew for 2-3 minutes
– Add a touch of honey to taste

Tip : Pairing Malabar Blend with tangy lemon cakes comes highly recommended.

Kashmiri Kahwa

This could be on the lines of masala chai I wrote about in the beginning. Justly so coming from Kashmir which is the confluence of tastes and cultures being on the Silk Road. A sweetened tea made from Kashmiri green tea, cardamom, rose petals and precious saffron strands and brewed in a samovar or copper kettle heated by charcoal and served with slivered roasted almonds. Is this why Kashmir was called paradise on earth by the sufi saints? The aromatic brew, Sufi mysticism and the beautiful landscape of Kashmir coupled with some great weather, sounds surreal.

SUGGESTIONS FOR SERVING

– Add 1 teaspoon to boiling water for 2 cups of tea
– Brew for 2 minutes
– Add honey to taste, garnish with slivered almonds

Tip : Pair Kashmiri Kahwa with delicate fennel & almond biscuits.

Diwali Blend Limited Edition 

Diwali, like Christmas has become an universal festival, a festival of lights, of celebrating good over evil. This blend of tea pays tribute to Goddess Lakshmi, the Indian deity for wealth and prosperity and celebrates the essence of Diwali. Green tea plucked from the lush hills of Himachal Pradesh and combined with Basil (Tulsi), the sacred plant of the land that is India, Diwali Blend has been curated specially for the festive season it appears. Basil (Tulsi) has digestive properties and Diwali is a feast for the palate too. You see the connection? But you don’t have to wait till Diwali to savour the tea. With the goodness of Basil (tulsi) in it, it makes for an anytime beverage.

SUGGESTIONS FOR SERVING

– Add 1 teaspoon to boiling water for 2 cups of tea
– Brew for 2 minutes

Tip : We recommend pairing Diwali Blend with festive Indian sweets such as Gulab Jamon, Kaju Katli and Boondi Ladoo. Head to an Indian sweetmeat shop to get the pairing right.

Tea time is luxury time.

“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves — slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future“.

With that quote of Thich Nhat Hanh from his book The Miracle of Mindfulness, I leave you to pick up your cuppa, swirl the tea liquor, take in the aroma and travel to your land of fantasy or quiet contemplation.

The Sandalwood Room on Tras Street, close to Tanjong Pagar, Singapore is an exclusive boutique with gifts and collectibles, ethnic fashion, jewelry, home decor and art, an eclectic mix of merchandise and an art gallery that hosts periodic exhibitions by international artists. For those with a penchant for contemporary arts and traditional crafts…this is the place to be !

Teas are a great option for gifts, specially when they are exotic!

If you have liked any of the above teas , click here to explore more and if you wish to place an order email them and The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier your order to you.

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The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

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