Assam Tea Traders

You can find us at No.12/52 in the basement house on 5th Cross in Ganesha Block. Being in Mahalakshmi Layout means we’re in a bit of a residential patch, which is a lot quieter than being in the city center. Our office for Assam Tea Traders is down a short flight of steps, which keeps it nice and cool even when the sun is beating down outside. It’s a bit dark in the basement, so we have to keep the lamps on all day to see the tea samples properly. The space is filled with the smell of wood and dry tea leaves, which is a scent that never really leaves the room. We don’t have a big sign or a fancy entrance. People who know where we are just walk down the steps and knock on the heavy door. Most of our time is spent sitting at the big table in the center, looking at different grades of tea and writing things down in our books. It’s a slow, methodical process. We don’t have much in the way of modern gadgets, just a kettle for tasting and a lot of glass jars. Sometimes the neighbors come by to chat, and we have to tell them we’re busy with a shipment. It’s a small, family-style operation where everyone chips in with the heavy bags. We like the quiet of the 5th Cross; it lets us focus on the work.