Monsoon rain + mint and ginger tea
After an intolerable
summer heat, the first rain always brings immense pleasure to each and
everyone. What charm has this first rain for every one? Every year, it is with great pleasure we look
forward to the first rain as if we are watching it for the first time. Year
after year, the same interest and curiosity continue with different
perspectives of rain. We always need and try to seek some changes; as a result,
the first down- pouring always brings immense joy to us after the hot summer, and
adds brightness to the vegetation. The muddy roads imbibing the first droplets
emanate an earthy smell, which mingled with filter coffee smell make our
evenings memorable. Small children watch the rain with mixed feelings as they
will not be allowed to wander and play outside any more but there are some
other advantage and luxuries waiting for them as rewards of rainy season. Evenings are very cozy and rich during rainy
seasons as the kitchen gets busy either with
frying pakodas or preparing some other delicacies, which will be served hot
with filter coffee or masala tea. On rainy days, dinners are all always served with
warm soups and curries spiced with pepper, cinnamon, clove, cardamom and other
spicy ingredients, which warm up our bodies and make the rainy season more tolerant
and blissful.
Sometimes, it rains the
whole night, the sound of that rain filters through our blanket and makes us
feel shiver inside the covers. The sound of the rain mingled with the gutsy
wind’s movement in the night sends a shiver through the back. The smallest
sound brings to mind the scenes of horror films that we had seen in the theatre
clutching our friends’ hand. Sleep seems to avoid us as if to tease. Tip...Tip…
the sound continues without a break through the night. Frozen with cold and
fear, we start going in to sleep when the light starts illuminating the sky.
Mornings are always grey and chilly during the
rainy season. The wet scene unveils beautifully against the grayish sky and
invites one to fathom the secrets of nature when windows are thrown open in the
mornings. Various trees with their
foliage with different shades of green and texture offer us a visual treat as
the rain has washed the dust collected during the summer. Birds seem to be
hiding in the thickness of the foliage. People go on their errands under the
colorful dome shelters, called umbrellas. The rainy mornings always make one to crave
for masala tea. When green mint, ginger pieces and lemon grass are added to the
boiling water, a fine aroma emanates and envelops the atmosphere. Tea laced
with these masala makes our mornings refreshing and cheerful. With continuous
rain day and night, tea and coffee cups fill the gaps incessantly between lunch
and dinner.
Earlier, only
anglicized Indians used to drink tea, but now only the Indians consume seventy
percent of the tea grown in India. Tea serves as a social drink. In every
remote corner of India, teashops have mushroomed like anything. Tea preparation
varies from region to region; some people like tea with more sugar and milk
whereas some people with less. When the British entered India, China was
leading in tea cultivation and exporting. Seeing the benefits in tea trading,
the British started tea cultivation In Assam and took the lead in tea trading
pushing back China to second place. With the coming of the British, tea culture
entered in to the life of Indians. Now,
Darjeeling black tea with its aroma is quite famous all over the world.
It was in February 2007, we visited
Darjeeling. It was very cold during that time. We were surprised to see young
girls and boys moving around only in jeans pants and pullovers, whereas we had
enveloped ourselves in sweaters and shawls like silkworm. My son and I walked
down the road towards the market in the evening. Half the way, it started drizzling;
we took shelter in a restaurant. The boy at the entrance guided us to go
upstairs and we moved as he directed. The open space upstairs over looked the
street down, with colorful sweater and shawl shops on both sides. The space was
magnetic with rows of tables arranged with beautiful table spreads and bright
roses in pretty vases on each table. We ordered tea. An old short man with
Mongolian looks brought us tea in a teapot, and milk and sugar in separate
pots, the English way. Fresh tealeaves in warm water in the kettle were
discharging beautiful color with aroma when I opened the lid with curiosity. The
British culture persists. I was secretly musing over as how would have been
life there during the British rule. The black Darjeeling tea was very aromatic
and the pristine color of it made us drink the whole pot of tea
without milk. When the drizzling came to halt, we returned to our hotel after
surveying the market and purchasing some packets of Darjeeling tea powder.
These regular seasons
bring change into our life both physically and psychologically. With passing
years and maturing of the mind, each season unfolds a new perception of life to
us. Especially, with a pack of interesting books and pots of tea, there is
nothing like the Monsoon season. Small experiences bring lot of happiness and
insights of life.
Gayatri Goudar
Photo courtesy : Abhishek Desai
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