There was a time in Kolkata when tea, or "cha" was a religion and the foundation for the quintessential Bengali adda (free-flowing talks). Everyone had a favourite tea shop where they could get their preferred loose-leaf tea mix. Today, with the proliferation of cafés offering coffee in every neighbourhood, tea has kind of faded into the background. Several do, however, still remain. And new ones keep opening. We have put together a list of places where you can get some of the best tea in Kolkata, as well as excellent ambience.
The Bhawanipur House
Kolkata has a plethora of grand homes that date back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when it was the hub of colonial rule. Built in 1907, the Bhowanipur House is one such space&ndasha heritage bungalow with an incredible old-world charm which has been transformed into an eatery. With a special emphasis on tea, the facility hopes to introduce a new generation to the pleasures of the beverage that reigned the city before cafes and coffee. Their goal is to recreate the days of "rawk-er adda" in Kolkata, when people would sip cha while having long-winded chats with friends on the front step ("rawk") of typical old Kolkata houses. The property encompasses three storeys and covers an area of about 11,000 square feet, traversing both the indoor and outdoor themes. The bungalow's primary zones include a tea lounge, a bakery, dining rooms, an open-air patio and yard, a live pizza kitchen, and sheltered terrace seating. The tea lounge hosts tea-tasting classes and private tea parties featuring a range of premium Darjeeling tea.
Address 13/1B, Priyanath Mallick Rd, Bakul Bagan, Bhowanipore, Kolkata
Glenburn Cafe
This labour of love comes from the folks behind Darjeeling&rsquos Glenburn Tea Estate. This delightful addition to the Glenburn Penthouse is a terrific spot to unwind or spend long hours with company. There are some stylish vintage aspects as well as a touch of modernism, and the cuisine blends the best of both worlds. They serve some of the greatest Darjeeling tea available. Try their delicious Yuzu iced teas and the lemon flummery cake. All 23 varieties of Glenburn teas are available for purchase at the cafe. This makes for a beautiful gift for someone special.
Address 7A, Russel St, Park Street area, Kolkata
The Tea Place By Manjushree
This elegant white tearoom faces a tree-laden road in a South Kolkata neighbourhood. It has different spaces and seating options suitable for all kinds of customers, from couples, lone wolves to big groups. If you want to spend some time alone, retire to the glass-enclosed space on the second floor. Sit back on a high-backed plush chair with your tea and a book from the many shelves here. The teas are sourced from their plantations in the Nilgiri hills. You can also pick up beautifully packaged teas that are sold at a counter on the ground floor.
Address 256, Purna Das Rd, Hindustan Park, Gariahat, Kolkata
Dolly's Tea Shop
This cosy tea space located in the Dakshinapan shopping complex has quite a cult following. Dolly&rsquos incidentally was started by Dolly Roy, the first women tea taster. The wood-panelled design, hanging paper lights, and tea in big tins create a distinct atmosphere. Dolly Roy, a former Tea Board of India employee, and India's first woman tea taster and auctioneer, founded this café-based tea store in the late 1980s. You get a range of tea here&ndashfrom Darjeeling first flush and muscatel to ginger-lemon and milk masala tea. They serve assorted snacks such as sandwiches and fried prawn. You can also pick up gift bags of excellent Darjeeling tea from this store.
Address Shop No. G-62, Ground Floor, Dakhinapan Shopping Complex, 2, Gariahat Road South, Dhakuria, Kolkata
That Red House
Tucked away in a quiet lane off Ekdalia, this is a new entrant on the cafe scene in Kolkata. The tranquil space (painted red on the outside) has some books (mostly vintage crime fiction such as Holmes and Raffles), framed art on white walls, and windows overlooking the neighbourhood. An L-shaped room on the ground floor houses the cafe, which has a kitchenette at the end. Look out for the amazing array of fridge magnets. You can order their teas with a plate of French toast, or shepherd's pie.
Address 7/9, Cornfield Rd, Ekdalia, Ballygunge, Kolkata
Cover photo credit Shutterstock