New Sartaj Tea Stall

The stove at New Sartaj Tea Stall starts going pretty early every morning. We are located at 190 Kalasipalyam, just a short walk from Basavappa Circle. It’s a noisy part of town but that’s where the people are. We spend most of the day boiling milk and getting the tea just right for the regulars who stop by on their way to work. The benches are small and the place gets crowded during the morning rush. We go through a lot of tea leaves and sugar every single week. It’s a simple shop. Nothing fancy about the walls or the way we serve. Sometimes the rain comes down hard and everyone crowds inside to stay dry while they finish their cups. I’ve been behind this counter for a long time now. You get to know the faces of the neighborhood after a while. We keep the kettle going until late. Cleaning up takes time after we close. There’s always a bit of tea spilled on the floor by the end of the shift. The traffic near the circle never seems to stop, so there’s always someone looking for a quick drink. It’s not a quiet life but it’s ours. We just make sure the tea is hot and ready. Some people like it with more ginger, others want it plain. We just do what needs doing.