The art of making good tea

Tea is perhaps the easiest thing to make. Easier still, if you are as talented as I am.

I embarked on this adventure after reading this article on how to lead a happy married life. I would not say it was a happy ending…but yes, in the end, I had made tea.

I got up, washed and brushed before tiptoeing to the kitchen. Rekha was still asleep…and I wanted to give her this little surprise.

Once in the kitchen, I looked around. I searched for the vessel in which to make tea but could not decide. Determined, that I am, I woke up my mother in Madurai and asked her what kind of vessel I should use.

Now, I had the container…but which water would I use. Our house gets three types of water -for drinking, for washing and the third for just playing around (we have water sports in my house).

It was 6.30 a.m. and I woke up the neighbors and checked. Seemed like the lady next door did not have proper sleep the previous night, she looked hassled. But she helped me zero in on the drinking water.

Now, I had the vessel and the water. How would I switch on the gas? I tried Bharat Gas, but guess they open only at 9 a.m. I was forced to disturb one of my colleagues. She briefed me on the intricacies of using LPG, and I had the water boiling.

Now, I needed the tealeaves. Pity, I don`t stay in Assam, or I could have walked out of my house, plucked a few leaves and made tea. I searched the whole house but could not find it. Though I did not want to, I was forced to wake up my other neighbor. She seemed pretty understanding. When I asked her for tealeaves, she said: “I know you will come for sugar later. How about taking it now itself.”

I was glad, she offered the sugar because, I knew I would have needed it and we did not have any more neighbors.

Now, I had the tea ready but could not find the tealeaves filter. Tried very hard, but was forced to wake up Rekha. She sure was surprised (and upset) when she saw the kitchen.

I wonder if she knows to what extent, I can go to keep her happy.

By Jamshed V Rajan

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