As you enter through the blue-framed glass door, you are immediately greeted by an aroma of baked items and freshly brewed artisanal tea. On your left, the pantry of confections look delectable, and on the right, the jars of jam tempt you. As you walk further inside, you’ll find yourself in a paradise of tea from Karma Kettle and a little detour to your right, leads you to the haven of handcrafted goods from Talipot House. Karma Kettle x Talipot House, on 62/1 Hindustan Park, is the newest address in the city, where brews of Bengal meet the artistry of the southern Indian peninsula. My Kolkata dropped in to take a look at the symphony of flavours and art and caught up with co-owner Dhiraj Arora, who picked five favourites each from the tearoom and the lifestyle store.
Karma Kettle x Talipot House, on 62/1 Hindustan Park, is the newest address in the city, where brews of Bengal meet the artistry of the southern Indian peninsula
Guiding us inside, Dhiraj Arora, co-founder of Karma Kettle and Talipot House, said, “Karma Kettle is a 100 per cent Kolkata brand that we started eight years ago as a tearoom in Ballygunge. Back then our objective was to redefine the way in which tea was presented and consumed, moving beyond serving only orthodox or traditional teas. The response was overwhelming. We now have a portfolio of over 100+ teas and tisanes (caffeine-free teas and herbal blends) blended in our production unit in Kolkata.” Dhiraj Arora’s family has been running the Cochrane Place, one of Kurseong’s best-known boutique hotels, since 2004.
Dhiraj Arora picks five favourite teas from the shelves
‘Like Kolkata has a special place for its gur desserts, it’s the same for lebu cha’, feels Dhiraj Arora
Darjeeling tea: The first pick from the shelves was the champagne of teas — the fine, aromatic Darjeeling tea. A tearoom in Kolkata cannot do without a variety of Darjeeling tea. Besides the first flush and second flush, one can also find oolong tea and green tea from the Queen of the Hills. Talking about his first pick, Arora said, “Darjeeling tea category has the finest teas from the hills. There are also gift sets that people may want to present as a token of love from Bengal.”
Darjeeling tea category has the finest teas from the hills
Top picks: Batasia, Singalia, Formosa, Darjeeling Muscatel
Price: Rs 350-500 (per 50-100gm)
This is a series of teas that characterises the flavours of Kolkata
Kolkata series: A tribute to the City of Joy, this is a series of teas that characterises the flavours of Kolkata. The Nolen gur and Khejur Cha is an ode to the city’s love for sweets made with jaggery while the Lebu Cha defines Kolkata’s adda culture at the ghats and lake. According to Arora, “Kolkata has a special place for its gur desserts and it’s the same for lebu cha, that’s why we decided to introduce flavours that define Kolkata.”
Top picks: Nolen Gur and Khejur Cha, Lebu Cha, Paan Chai
Price: Rs 400 (75gm)
Fruity and floral flavours make six of these tropical-inspired tea blends at Karma Kettle
Iced Teas: Although these tea blends are called ‘iced’ teas, these can be served both hot or as cold brew teas. Fruity and floral flavours make six of these tropical-inspired tea blends at Karma Kettle. “The iced teas are made from natural ingredients. Many people like drinking iced tea but can’t because most of them have artificial flavours and colours. We have six flavours, all made from natural ingredients. These can also be made into cold tea brews,” informed Arora.
Top picks: Pina Colada, Aam Salaam, Savanna, Tahiti
Price: Rs 300-350 for a box of 20 tea bags
The category features blends like Bliss, Moksha, Nourish, Revive and more
Wellness Teas: “People are more health conscious these days. Thus we have some teas that help one relax. Some blends feature tisanes and caffeine-free blends,” said Arora. The category features blends like Bliss that contains chamomile and lemongrass, Ananda — a green tea blend with tulsi, ginger and marigold, and Karakoram that contains lavender, sea buckthorn leaf and nettle leaf.
Top picks: Bliss, Moksha, Nourish, Revive, Devi
Price: Rs 350-400 (75gm or packet of 20 tea bags)
These gift boxes are perfect for both corporate gifting and personal use
Special gift boxes: Besides the four picks, there are several other tea and tisanes blends at Karma Kettle. The tea blends also come in gift boxes combined with teawares. The Southern Scapes, features hand-picked teas from south India, Fruitea Box has fruity and floral flavoured ice teas, Detox box contains detox teas and more. “I believe we have a gift box for every kind of tea connoisseur. These are perfect for corporate gifting and personal gifting,” Arora summed up.
Top picks: Fruitea Box, Meditations In My Teacup box, Connoisseurs Collections
Price Rs 600 onwards
Five favourite picks from the Talipot House
The space features home decor and other products sourced from various homegrown brands that are designed to be both useful and elegant. The brand empowers various local communities and the products highlight the rich traditions and craftsmanship of the communities from the southern peninsula, while promoting an eco-conscious lifestyle.
Dhiraj Arora and wife Priti Sen Arora, the co-founder, moved to Pondicherry during the pandemic in search of sustainable living. Living in the vicinity of the inspiring community of Auroville gave them easy access to make the lifestyle switch and befriend talented artisans heading creative units. “Through the Talipot House, we bring a piece of Pondicherry to Kolkata — a discerning market, where consumers value the importance of handcrafted, sustainable products. Talipot House is a partner brand that allows you to embark on mindful living with thoughtful products that are timeless, beautiful, and have a story to tell about community empowerment,” said Dhiraj Arora.
Meticulously crafted mugs, dinnerware, and decorative pieces made in ceramic and stoneware are sourced from southern India
Ceramics: Inspired by nature, Windglaze pottery is located in the south of India, near the international township of Auroville in Pondicherry. Founded by Puneet Brar, the studio showcases a stunning array of meticulously crafted mugs, dinnerware, and decorative pieces made in ceramic and stoneware. One will get some exquisite collection right here in Kolkata at the Talipot House store. You can also get products from Mandala Pottery here from the tranquil dry evergreen forests of Auroville. For over two decades, the dedicated team led by Adil Writer has honed their craft, blending sustainability with exquisite design. Each piece is meticulously handcrafted using locally sourced materials and fired with care using wood from nearby communities.
Price: Rs 420 onwards
These colourful and vibrant baskets come in all shapes and sizes, with multiple uses ranging from shopping baskets, swimming bags to storage
Eco-friendly wire bags: Empowering a community of women artisans Thalir-LEED is a NGO that works to empower women in Thiruvalluvar Nagar in Perungudi, Chennai, by training them in the skilled art of weaving baskets made from recycled plastic fibres. These wires are made of 100 per cent recyclable LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) strong plastic, are eco-friendly and long-lasting. These colourful and vibrant baskets come in all shapes and sizes, with multiple uses ranging from shopping baskets, swimming bags to storage — and represent the spirit of the Coromandel coast.
Price: Rs 1500-1800
Natural handmade soaps and incense sticks available at Talipot House
Bare essentials: Talipot House has a range of bare essential products, like natural handmade soaps, incense sticks, perfumes and more. The soaps feature ingredients like turmeric, neem, bamboo charcoal, eucalyptus etc. Made with the choicest dried flowers, natural wood, herbal powders, and blended fragrances, the incense sticks are non-toxic and perfect for both indoor and outdoor use.
Price: Rs 60 onwards
Artisanal natural jams, crafted by Zidaela in Pondicherry
Natural Jams: Karma Kettle has a collection of artisanal, preservative-free, natural jams. These are crafted by Zidaela in Pondicherry. David Bruel, founder of Zidaela, blends French heritage with vibrant Indian flavours.
Price: Rs 100 onwards
