 "Room for tea")
Amid a mix of old residential buildings, small eateries and ice-cream parlours, a grand bungalow painted in royal blue and pristine white has been making heads turn in an arterial street in Bandra. So although it opened on Independence Day weekend, people around already recognise the Taj Mahal Tea House. It appears to have been plucked straight out of Pondicherry's French colony but the intended theme, we are told, is all things Indian and all things tea.
This becomes more obvious on the inside, which looks like an ornate, life-sized version of the brand's blue-gold-beige tea box. Floral turquoise tiles have been introduced into the original floor of the bungalow. The walls are painted in rough, textured beige and gold. Cushions, wall art and staff uniforms also follow roughly the same colour theme. Hindustan Unilever sees this as a natural extension of its 49-year-old brand in the experiential space.
It serves some 40 varieties of tea. The Indian part of the tea menu includes references to Goan, Parsi, Rajasthani and Kashmiri traditions. The beverages have a base of Taj Mahal tea and milk infused with different combinations of spices. The pick of the lot is the Parsi mint tea which is not unlike the tea still served at the cafeteria in Colaba's Cusrow Baug. It teams well with a serving of butter-slathered brun maska and homemade jam. Like most things that are good for your health, the karipatta or curry leaf tea is an acquired taste. The too-milky base does not help it. On the other hand, the recommended food pairing for this - a bread upma made with crunchy croutons - is quite pleasant.
India, and certainly Mumbai, loves its tea. Tea lounges have mushroomed as a posh alternative to the scores of tea stalls on any street side. They are a welcome addition to an arena crowded with identical, unappealing coffee shops. There is famously Tea Centre in Churchgate, Cha Bar or Wagh Bakri tea lounge. More recently, XVII Tea Room in Bandra and Burma Burma in Fort have entered the market in Mumbai.
The experience at the new tea house is planned to feel like a home, not a tough ask in what used to be someone's home. The bungalow's thick wooden ceiling, archways and patio have been restored. There is what is called the sun room, a bright-airy section just by the entrance with a couple of chairs and stacks of newspapers and magazines. The main area has conventional dining tables. The other segments provide copious nooks for those who need time and room to themselves. Anyone looking to join one's friends here on a busy day might have a hard time finding them in this meandering tea house.
Other walls showcase Brooke Bond ads from the 1960s, one of which features a young Zeenat Aman, painstakingly sourced from eBay and Chor Bazaar. The final section of the lounge is for the retailing of tea leaves, breads, biscuits and muffins. Fans of the beverage may be tickled by the quotes hung in frames and printed on napkins. For instance, Jane Austen's 'Indeed I would rather have nothing but tea' or Chaim Potok's 'Come let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.'
This becomes more obvious on the inside, which looks like an ornate, life-sized version of the brand's blue-gold-beige tea box. Floral turquoise tiles have been introduced into the original floor of the bungalow. The walls are painted in rough, textured beige and gold. Cushions, wall art and staff uniforms also follow roughly the same colour theme. Hindustan Unilever sees this as a natural extension of its 49-year-old brand in the experiential space.
It serves some 40 varieties of tea. The Indian part of the tea menu includes references to Goan, Parsi, Rajasthani and Kashmiri traditions. The beverages have a base of Taj Mahal tea and milk infused with different combinations of spices. The pick of the lot is the Parsi mint tea which is not unlike the tea still served at the cafeteria in Colaba's Cusrow Baug. It teams well with a serving of butter-slathered brun maska and homemade jam. Like most things that are good for your health, the karipatta or curry leaf tea is an acquired taste. The too-milky base does not help it. On the other hand, the recommended food pairing for this - a bread upma made with crunchy croutons - is quite pleasant.
The blue and white bungalow of the tea house
The menu also has white and green teas, oolongs and cold teas. We tried the warm jasmine pearl tea, which is soothing but perhaps best suited for the end of an evening. The pink jasmine lemonade tilts heavily on the sweeter side. The menu mentions the two coffees that are also available, like an afterthought. The all-day food offerings are served starting as early as 7.30 am. While the fluffy omelette with toasted besan bread - the tea house's own creation - is a winner, the sandwich with cucumber, rucola and aubergine filling makes no impact. A cup of tea is priced around Rs 150, while a pot could cost up to Rs 200. Prices for food including breakfast and main courses range from Rs 150-650 per serving.India, and certainly Mumbai, loves its tea. Tea lounges have mushroomed as a posh alternative to the scores of tea stalls on any street side. They are a welcome addition to an arena crowded with identical, unappealing coffee shops. There is famously Tea Centre in Churchgate, Cha Bar or Wagh Bakri tea lounge. More recently, XVII Tea Room in Bandra and Burma Burma in Fort have entered the market in Mumbai.
The experience at the new tea house is planned to feel like a home, not a tough ask in what used to be someone's home. The bungalow's thick wooden ceiling, archways and patio have been restored. There is what is called the sun room, a bright-airy section just by the entrance with a couple of chairs and stacks of newspapers and magazines. The main area has conventional dining tables. The other segments provide copious nooks for those who need time and room to themselves. Anyone looking to join one's friends here on a busy day might have a hard time finding them in this meandering tea house.
Customers at the tea house
A variety of unique seating is spread throughout the 3,500 sq. ft. lounge - including arm chairs, rocking chairs and big one-seater sofas. Such a set-up could find takers in a city starved of living and breathing space. A patio with large tables is ideal for big groups. A standout feature is the music room, where the decor includes Niladri Kumar's sitar, Zakir Hussain's tabla, other memorabilia and an area for music performance or poetry readings. Bookshelves are sprinkled across the space. There is a chess board too. Hindustani and Carnatic classical are also the choice of background music in the lounge.Other walls showcase Brooke Bond ads from the 1960s, one of which features a young Zeenat Aman, painstakingly sourced from eBay and Chor Bazaar. The final section of the lounge is for the retailing of tea leaves, breads, biscuits and muffins. Fans of the beverage may be tickled by the quotes hung in frames and printed on napkins. For instance, Jane Austen's 'Indeed I would rather have nothing but tea' or Chaim Potok's 'Come let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.'