Asha Tea Stall

Asha Tea Stall is right in the middle of the bustle on Bazaar Road in Saidapet. If you know this part of Chennai, you know how busy the bazaar areas get, especially in the mornings and the late evenings. Our stall is a simple place where the stove is almost always going with a big pot. We start very early, long before the sun is really up, to get the first batch of tea ready for the market workers and commuters. There’s always the sound of milk boiling and the clinking of glasses being washed in the plastic bucket. The smell of fresh ginger and tea leaves hangs around the shop all day long. We don't have much in the way of seating, just a couple of benches, so people mostly just stand around on the edge of the road while they drink. It’s a noisy spot with the sounds of the market all around us—vendors shouting their prices and vehicles pushing through the thick crowd. We also keep some glass jars of biscuits and sweet buns for people who want a snack with their hot tea. It gets a bit messy with all the tea spills and the sugar, but we try to wipe the metal counters down when there’s a small break in the crowd. People come here to take a quick five-minute break from their hard work. It’s a humble business, but it keeps us busy.