From the tea in Esplanade to tea in Dharmatolla by Puneet Rajhans

From the tea in Esplanade to tea in Dharmatolla by Puneet Rajhans

The search for tea has taken me to varied places in the city i stay. There are moments post half an hour sleep or sleep lasting all of three to four hours and the tea is one requirement engaging the train of thought. Deluged with offerings, given the scale to which the vendors operate, the minimal existence is traced during late afternoon when all have disappeared except those who trickle in only during this hour. There are flexible centres which operate during certain hours and fixed centres which operate round the clock given the mammoth churning of desires and taste that the city is witness to.

Seamless it may not be the attempt to secure it and vendors who were all visible the previous day remain untraced if you long to have the tea from them the following day. The meals at Lakhanlal is a must and the beginning foray has been somewhat patchy as i almost lost the steps to reach there. Lost momentarily, i found myself in the meal centre post half an hour or an hour desperate search. And this enduring search made me long for strong intake hour after hour.

The mornings begin with the need to get the requisite dosage failing which the foray to the nook and cranny is an unlimited one. Would prefer to get the tea from the nearest serving centre ; and almost get to that scale of success on majority of times. And here the CR Avenue outing has been fairly successful barring two or three occasions. Of late Esplanade East Row (adjacent to DGFT Office) has tea serving of my liking and the queries post intake has been on the tea leaves immersed in the boiling kettle . Securing Success on this likeable tea got registered almost after having spent considerable time in the city. The tea served at hot tea centre opposite one theatre adjacent to C R Avenue is equally tempting. Tempting is not only the tea that is on offer; the non-pricey part swells the audience.
Besides the tea one morning from a vendor sandwiched between House of Bearings and C K or G K Taders at Prafulla Sarkar Street was a power boost but somewhat pricey.
Ganesh Chandra Avenue and beyond have been equally explored but not to a scale where the best could be tried. Those Always On Foot or hopping from one bus to another, tea is a must and something to cheer you which no peers can do. Hope to set on sail exploration of tea and beyond as nothing else is left to be explored.

Some other noticeable teas i have had in the past:
- In the Mehsana station - kutchha one in the late 90s - when it was a barren land and train used to halt to get the requisite signal
- In the Kalka station waiting for onward journey to Shimla
- Right opposite the Kanniyakumari Women Police Station, tea vendors getting the strong content made
- In Tirumala there are a host of places where the requisite tea can be accessed provided the nature of tea one desires has been clearly spelt out.
- In the precincts of Rameshawaram Bus Stand
- In the precincts of Beowar Bus Stand on my way from Nathdwara to Ajmer
- In Bhusawal, close to the Railway Station;
And in Esplanade and the roundabout.