Anna Nagar’s teascape

Anna Nagar comes in many colours, some of them in combinations. The most arresting of combinations is this: shades of gold and purple overrun with a flavour of masala, cinnamon or ginger.

It is chai time, folks— in case you have not figured it out already.

At least five backlit signboards, red, purple and yellow draw strollers to the glinting tea chain outlets. Within a distance of less than a kilometre along both sides of the main road stretch in Anna Nagar West every tea brand has a presence.

Flavours of many regions collude in this late-evening meetup with chai. In these outlets, one finds tea made from tea leaves processed at various regions, including Assam, Kerala, and the Nilgiris. And there are also surprise packages from beyond the shores.

The unofficial tea party extends late into the night. Employees working odd hours, the certified night owls, and homeward-bound riders partake in it.

Major outlets

Among the major outlets on this stretch are Chai Kings, Chai Waala; and Chai & Kadi. Their business is amplified by Kora Food Street, which draws foodies in droves. The recently opened Purple Tea has also been pulling crowds, mostly youth, who could be spotted sipping tea and strumming acoustic guitars at the outlet’s open area, whiling away the night to good tunes and hot tea, as time slows down with every sip.

Purple tea, a rare variety made from purple leaves found in Kenya, has been touted as an alternative to traditional green and black tea varieties.

Ram’s Tea House, another sprouting chain outlet that falls along this stretch, offers a unique recipe acquired from 80s Colombo. The ingredients for it are sourced from across the country.

Meanwhile, as the major players drive the market, small vendors and petty shops, who have been impacted by rising prices and a narrow market, feel the pinch. Tea vendors on bicycles, for instance, rely on crowd hotspots, such as the Kora Food Street, to keep their business going. Unlike established outlets, they are forced to keep the prices nominal.