While there is tea, there is hope!

Tea has always been a normality restorer. If you blink at the computer screen at work and feel that something important is missing, it has to be a cup of tea. Tea can fix almost everything. Have a cold? Have some tea. Freezing, murky weather? Have some tea. Too depressed? Tea will make you cheerful. A very long, tiring drive? Take a road-side tea break.The simplicity and mundane-ness of tea is very appealing.

As a child, I used to love the aroma of simmering 'chai' that used to fill my home each morning. But all I got was a overly milky version of this 'chai', that too if I insisted very much on it.

 Later on when I grew up, this morning cup of chai was 'my' time to chat with my mum. Chai helps to have excellent conversations. Always.

I have been missing my favorite 'cutting chai' in this British country. They do have rains but do not have a 'Chai ki Dukaan'. They have 'Tea Rooms' instead. It took me some time to get used to this 'tea-room' culture. The culture cannot beat our 'masala chai' experience but I cannot deny that it has a charm of its own. The tea-experience in this part of the world has been quite eventful too.

I have been travelling to many places in past few months and a tea shop is the most sought after place after the typical hectic tourist day out.

Aunties tea shop in Cambridge was the best so far. This was a traditional tea room with laced tablecloths and vintage porcelain. 

Like the general feel of a British tea shop, the place had warmth. Several people were seated at smallish but cosy  tables. Shiny teapots were seen tilted over delicate cups. The servers were gliding effortlessly between the tables with trays of cakes and scones. English breakfast tea with fluffy English scones. Yum. That was a happy day! 

The lakeside tearoom at Fountains Abbey was more Victorian. The shop itself was inside a very old estate building constructed long ago. The tea room was like a reminder to tell us that the Studley Park Water gardens were as popular over a century ago as they are now. They had these tiny little jam jars with tasteful flavours.

The Elephant House. Edinburgh, Scotland. A place of inspiration for J K Rowling, this tea shop was seemingly ordinary. They had chalk written menus on wooden boards.

The shop had a view of the Edinburgh castle from the back window.The interior was a bit quirky, themed around elephants. Tea was good here, served with proper strainers.

Angelina Tea Room at Versailles, Paris. This one was very classy. This place was once a favourite of Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn they say. It is pricey but worth a visit.

We had an unusual accompaniment with tea this time. Mythical perfect Macaroon.The place was like a temple of sweetness with its plethora of colourful desserts. 

Many shops, many styles but the magic of tea still remains the same. Whether it comes in the form of a tea bag in hot water or strongly brewed with ginger, tea is always a good idea.