September 2021 | 779 words | 3-minute read
I am both a tea and coffee lover. Nothing can be more refreshing than a cup of tea or coffee first thing in the morning. But when it comes to me, my morning ritual is a hot cup of masala chai, which is infused with traditional Indian spices; and my day ends with a relaxing cup of tea — these days from Tata Tea’s 1868 collection. As for coffee, mid-mornings is when I prefer it to get me through the workday.
Different blends of tea and coffee are popular the world over. Always one for experimenting with variety in natural beverages, I decided to try 1868 by Tata Tea and Sonnets by Tata Coffee. It was hard to select from this exotic range, but I decided to go for Mango Mint in the tea range and Arabica Red Honey High Elevation, medium roast, from the coffee.
Placing the order
The order was placed through the e-commerce sites www.tatatea1868.com and www.tatacoffeesonnets.com. The whole experience was simple and easy, from browsing the product range and going through the descriptions to selection and check out. Shipping is free on purchases of items worth Rs 900 and above.
Perfect afternoon tea
One late afternoon after back-to-back work calls, I decided to try out the Mango Mint tea. As I opened the exquisite box packaging, the aroma of clean, vibrant tea leaves filled the room. The brewing instructions, given on the pack, mention boil water and milk in the ratio of 80:20, add a teaspoon of the tea leaves, and then allow it to steep for 2–3 minutes. The same instructions apply for preparing tea without milk.
I made mine sans milk. Pouring the bright yellow tea liquor into the cup, I could feel the life and vigour of the green tea, even before I had sipped it. The fruity mango flavour and the right dash of mint for sweetness left a delicious taste in the mouth and on the tongue, while the fragrance lingered in the cup. A soothing, gentle energy flowed through me, as I finished the cup of 1868 Mango Mint tea.
1868 — A celebration of truly Indian tea stories
The 1868 Tata Tea collection, deriving its name from the year the Tata group was founded, boasts 13 curated tea blends from India. The range comprises black and green tea sourced from the finest tea gardens of the Nilgiris, Assam and Darjeeling — the tea growing regions of India. Each tea — grown amidst the native flora, fauna, climate and topography — is paired with spices and flavours, fruits and flowers that culminate in a taste experience that is unforgettable. Thus 1868 tea, carefully selected by tea masters, is a celebration of diversity with each variant having a unique story to tell. The 1868 range is available at www.tatatea1868.com.
Grab a cup of coffee
Sonnets by Tata Coffee is a premium, single-origin Arabica bean coffee from Tata's naturally biodiverse coffee estates at Coorg and Chikmagalur in Karnataka. The range currently comprises coffee from 3 plantations; 4 micro-lots, known for their high quality and unique flavour profiles; 3 roast profiles; and 2 grind sizes, catering to the French Press and Filter Coffee method. The Sonnets range is available at www.tatacoffeesonnets.com.
For coffee, I selected the Arabica Red Honey High Elevation, medium roast, which comes from one of the best Tata Coffee estates, the Mylemoney estate in Chikmagalur, which was planted by the English Planter Thomas Cannon in the 19th century. It is home to one of the rarest strains of Arabica, nurtured with care under a lush rainforest canopy. Micro-lots from this estate are a connoisseur’s delight.
Know your roast
- Light roast: Crisp acidity, mellow body and bright flavours, the lightly roasted coffee beans have no oil on the surface, thus retaining the original flavours.
- Medium roast: The deeper roast brings out the caramelised hint of sweetness, leaving you with a balanced, well rounded, slightly darker and sweeter coffee.
- Dark roast: Dark-roasted coffee beans, with an oily surface, provide a dense and dark flavour of chocolatey, nutty or caramelised strong coffee.
For the brewing process, mentioned on the packet, add 10gm of coffee to 80ml of hot water in the French press, and let it brew for about 4 minutes. Then, slowly press the plunger down to separate the grounds from the brewed coffee.
As I took a sip, the mouth-watering scent elevated my senses. The mild acidity along with the flavours of medium roast perfectly balanced my coffee experience. The after taste left a subtle hint of sweetness on the palate.
It’s your turn now to take a pick from the carefully curated 1868 tea and Sonnets coffee range to brew your perfect cup!
—Sarika Kapoor Chokshi
Experience 1868 by Tata Tea here, or indulge in Sonnets by Tata Coffee here.
