December 11, 2011 By Mini Ribeiro
For anybody like me who’s grown up in Kolkata, tea is an integral part of life.
Tea, and especially Darjeeling tea, spells magic for me. It’s the world’s most expensive tea, one with an intensely exotic flavour; Darjeeling is to tea, what Champagne is to wine. Many a summer vacation has been spent in the tea gardens, sipping this “champagne of teas”.
And although I personally prefer my tea unadulterated, there is enough to suggest it is a heady concoction when mixed with a few strains of alcohol.
Interestingly though, one can actually combine tea with alcohol. Not many are aware that tea mixed with alcohol proves to be a potent stimulant. A splash of your favourite alcoholic beverage in tea can be a great combination. The aroma is so strong that a whiff is enough to intoxicate the senses. Depending upon the blend of tea one is using, a variety of liquors including vodka, rum and whisky can be paired with it.
Rum might be a safer choice to begin with, though I know for a fact some have even tried vodka and tea. Not many know that the content of monoterpene alcohol — present in the essential oils of plants — in Darjeeling tea is five times higher than other Indian teas. So it’s already quite potent!
But if you are planning to marry the two beverages, then be a little more creative. Pour your drinks in elegant, funky glasses, add bright stirrers and serve them with colourful garnishes. Basically, the cocktail is likely to be termed rather eccentric and many purists might turn their noses at it, so at least have fun as you serve it. They too may give in.
Preparing the perfect cup of Darjeeling tea is important. It is an elaborate ritual and you cannot afford to go wrong. Your palate is the best guide when having a cupful. But make sure you go about preparing it the right way. Ensure you use fresh water each time while you boil. Never add tea leaves to the boiling water. Pour the tea into a teapot, one teaspoon of tea leaves per cup, add it to the boiled water in the pot. Steep it for about five minutes or so.
Strain the brew into your cup and the tea is ready. Generally, tea is consumed black, but milk or sugar may be added as per choice. A useful tip: Never boil Darjeeling tea directly, as it will cook the leaves and make the tea bitter. If you are adventurous, add any type of alcohol.
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| Darjeeling |
For anybody like me who’s grown up in Kolkata, tea is an integral part of life.
Tea, and especially Darjeeling tea, spells magic for me. It’s the world’s most expensive tea, one with an intensely exotic flavour; Darjeeling is to tea, what Champagne is to wine. Many a summer vacation has been spent in the tea gardens, sipping this “champagne of teas”.
And although I personally prefer my tea unadulterated, there is enough to suggest it is a heady concoction when mixed with a few strains of alcohol.
Interestingly though, one can actually combine tea with alcohol. Not many are aware that tea mixed with alcohol proves to be a potent stimulant. A splash of your favourite alcoholic beverage in tea can be a great combination. The aroma is so strong that a whiff is enough to intoxicate the senses. Depending upon the blend of tea one is using, a variety of liquors including vodka, rum and whisky can be paired with it.
Rum might be a safer choice to begin with, though I know for a fact some have even tried vodka and tea. Not many know that the content of monoterpene alcohol — present in the essential oils of plants — in Darjeeling tea is five times higher than other Indian teas. So it’s already quite potent!
But if you are planning to marry the two beverages, then be a little more creative. Pour your drinks in elegant, funky glasses, add bright stirrers and serve them with colourful garnishes. Basically, the cocktail is likely to be termed rather eccentric and many purists might turn their noses at it, so at least have fun as you serve it. They too may give in.
Preparing the perfect cup of Darjeeling tea is important. It is an elaborate ritual and you cannot afford to go wrong. Your palate is the best guide when having a cupful. But make sure you go about preparing it the right way. Ensure you use fresh water each time while you boil. Never add tea leaves to the boiling water. Pour the tea into a teapot, one teaspoon of tea leaves per cup, add it to the boiled water in the pot. Steep it for about five minutes or so.
Strain the brew into your cup and the tea is ready. Generally, tea is consumed black, but milk or sugar may be added as per choice. A useful tip: Never boil Darjeeling tea directly, as it will cook the leaves and make the tea bitter. If you are adventurous, add any type of alcohol.