A perfectly brewed cup of Darjeeling, a cup of relaxing chamomile, or a spice-infused chai—there’s a special tea for every mood and nothing compares to a rejuvenating cuppa. But a tea lover is always looking for the next perfect cup. So, when your tea-loving tastebuds want to explore, start with these six brews that might not seem like everyone’s cup of tea but could win loyal-tea points.
- Blue Tea from Snacking
Aatreyee Mohanta
The amber hue of tea might be its typifying characteristic, but there’s something to be said about sipping a purple concoction. Add a dash of lemon and some honey, and like magic this gorgeous tea swirls into a blue-coloured drink. This unique blend of butterfly pea flower tea with fragrant floral notes is a must-try at Snacking Cafe!
Snacking, 188, 60 2, Prince Anwar Shah Road.
- Drizzle Tea from Bianco
Courtesy: Bianco
Inspired by the Instagram sensation of a Shanghai cafe’s Sweet Little Rain Coffee that serves cotton candy over coffee, Bianco is offering the Drizzle Tea. A small stick of cotton candy spun in-house is suspended over a cup of freshly brewed Darjeeling. “The steam from the tea melts the cotton candy and gives the (visual) effect of rain coming down from the clouds,” says Rohan Pariyar, owner of Bianco. This cuppa is an ideal, and pretty, accompaniment for a misty winter morning.
Bianco, Ekdalia, Ballygunge.
- Orange Earl Grey Iced Tea from Patisserie by Franziska
Courtesy: @patisseriebyfranziska/Instagram
This chilled iced tea tastes like an English summer or a picnic in a London park. The orange undertones complement the classic bergamot flavour of the earl grey, creating a refreshing ice tea with that extra oomph. Served with a crescent slice of orange, this drink is a tea-rrific option if you like your brews cold and want to go beyond the usual offerings. (This is from the spring-special menu and may not be available year round.)
Patisserie by Franziska, 13C, Russell Street (opposite The Bengal Club).
- Tandoori Tea from Eighty8+ Kafe
Courtesy: @eighty8plus_kafe/Instagram
When the quintessential smokiness of a tandoor meets the kadak flavour of your favourite masala chai, the invigorating tandoori tea is born. As milky spiced chai is poured into a kulhad just out of the tandoor, the scent of the bubbling tea wraps you in warmth. This earthen cup of steaming chai is the perfect pick-me-up.
Eighty8+ Kafe, 88 Chowringhee (near Rabindra Sadan metro station).
- Rose White Tea from 8th Day Cafe & Bakery
Aatreyee Mohanta
A fragrant light brew on your mind? This rose-scented white tea at 8th Day Cafe & Bakery will warm your hands and your soul. The mild flavour and floral notes pair wonderfully with the bakery’s many sweet treats—perfect for a catch-up with friends or some me time with your favourite book.
8th Day Cafe & Bakery, Jatin Bagchi Road and Park Circus.
- Rana Ji's Special Tea from Black Brick Cafe
Courtesy: @blackbrickcafekol/Instagram
That special cup of tea can be as much about who makes it as how it tastes. Black Brick Cafe’s chai flavoured with saffron and cardamom is about both. “It's a special tea named after one of our team members. My father once asked for a different cup of chai at the cafe, so Mr Rana made this exceptionally great tea,” explains co-owner Vishesh Marwaha.
Black Brick Cafe, Alexandra Court, Elgin Road.