Bhopal: The people of Bhopal just can’t get enough of tea. And because of this never ending love for tea, one can get tea at a stall and even at a big fancy shop in the capital city. The world’s most consumed drink after water is tea and the beverage goes far beyond providing a dose of caffeine, serving tea is also a gesture of friendship or a mark of hospitality. Here are the oldest, most visited and unique tea destinations of Bhopal sure to wake up your taste buds while chit chatting with your friends and family.
Babu Bhai Hotel, Qazi camp
Famous for namak wali chai (salted tea), Babu Bhai hotel remains open 24X7 and is the place for Bhopalites who like to hangout during the night. Mohd Bhoora Qureshi told Free Press that beside the unique taste, there are health benefits that namak wali chai offers you.
It helps cure sore throats and also helps in digestion as the water in this area is hard compared to other areas of Bhopal,” said Qureshi. This tea is prepared in a Samawar- a copper utensil from Persia. This is a permanent hang out for people of Hasim Board, Nariyal Khera, Shahjahanabad and Peer Gate. Owner, Aijaz Qureshi said around 2,000 people visit out hotel for our special namak wali chai in a span of 24 hours.
Patel Hotel, Ibrahimpura
This 100 year old shop serves you with a rare Irani chai. Owner, Sayyed Zahir told Free Press more than 700 people visit our hotel for our unique Irani tea and people can’t just get enough of it. We open the hotel with the sound of morning Azaan at around 6 am and untill 11:30 pm, Bhopalites from Lal Ghati, Jahangirabad, Professor’s colony and nearby areas keep coming to our hotel. A regular customer in his typical Bhopali accent said, “Sahab yaha ki patiyabaazi or Irani Chai mahol bana deti hai.” People of all age group come here and this place is among favorites hangouts of residents of old city.
Yadav Tea Stall, Itavara
The sirf doodh wali chai (tea with only milk and no water) is the USP of Yadav Tea Stall aka Pahalwan tea stall. Owner Laxman Yadav told he started this shop 35 years ago. “When I was about to start this tea stall I wanted my tea to be unique in its own way. So I thought not to add water while preparing tea and this idea worked,” said Laxman.
More than 1500 people drink the tea of Pahalwan tea stall daily. Laxman also said, “There are many of our fixed customers who come from Kotra Sultanabad, Nehru Nagar, Budhwara and other nearby places on a daily basis and feel the warmth of our tea to attain a calm state of mind.”
Thakur Tea Stall, Press Complex, MP Nagar
Thakur Tea Stall located at press complex which is surrounded by many government offices is flooded with government employees as well as media persons who can be seen debating on serious issues. Apart from professionals, this place is personal favorite of students of Makhanlal Chaturvedi University who can be spotted anytime here.
Owner, Golu Singh Gurjar told Free Press, “We came from Bhind, around 42 years ago to Bhopal and since then more than 500 people drink our tea on a daily basis.” The first cup of tea is sold at around 5:45 am and the service continues until 9:30 pm.
No other tea shop or stall is more famous that Raju Tea Stall (RTS) in Bhopal. Even President of Indian National Congress, Rahul Gandhi too had a chai-moment at Raju Tea Stall while he was campaigning in the old city area. Fareed Qureshi, owner of RTS told Free Press that back in 1987, he was in no mood to open a tea-stall but his basic idea of business was to open a Paan shop but due to his economic conditions, he had to settle with a tea stall.
Talking about the origin of the name- “Raju”, he said, “I found a wooden counter on which the name Raju was already printed and then, it got publicised among the Bhopalites and I also had no problem with it.” Faizan Qureshi, son of Fareed told that more than 800 customers visit RTS on a daily basis.