With coffee bars at every corner, the one haven for a tea-drinker in Mumbai is Tea Centre at Veer Nariman Road, Churchgate. This place has been around since 1953 when it was opened by the Tea Board of India as a tea promotion initiative. And it still retains its quaint charm, with wooden furniture and Victorian lamps. If you’re lucky you can even catch a live piano performance. Surprisingly, you’ll hardly ever find it crowded, so it’s always a peaceful, pleasant place to be.
Despite being from North India, I prefer coffee over tea. But tea centre is the one place that sways my preference. No matter which exotic tea your palate craves, you’ll find it at Tea Centre, from the very English Earl Grey, the very exotic Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe, to our very own masala chai. If you like it cold, pick from their selection of iced teas. The price ranges from Rs 70 for a hot cup of chai to Rs 200 for a pot of six cups. The iced teas are priced between Rs 60-75. You can even buy tea leaves of most of the teas available at Tea Centre, just outside at the Tea Bazaar.
While sampling their wide array of teas should be your primary reason to visit Tea Centre, they also have some scrumptious snacks to go with your tea. Take your pick from delicious scones, pastries, muffins, pies, sandwiches, and even desi pakodas, served piping hot. They also offer exquisitely prepared meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The executive lunch, which includes a chai (hot or iced), desert, and a curry with rice, will cost Rs 250 per person. While the curries are very flavorful, they may not appeal to those who delight in spice.
I was delighted with Tea Centre’s unique way of catching the waiter’s attention. All you have to do is ring the little bell placed on every table. It’s a much more fun and effective way to catch his eye! The ambiance is peaceful and unhurried. This is an ideal place for a leisurely high tea, be it alone with a book, or with friends, family, or that someone special. So next time you’re at Churchgate, give the coffee bars a ditch, and check out Tea Centre!