Hasmukh Tea Centre

Hasmukh Tea Centre is located at Shop No 6 in the BMC Chawl on Road No 1 in Sion. It’s a small place, as you can imagine being in a chawl. We have been here for a long time, serving tea to everyone who lives nearby or passes through on their way to work. The space is tight, and we spend most of our time standing by the stove. There’s always the smell of ginger and tea leaves in the air. We start very early in the morning when it’s still dark outside because that’s when the first customers show up. The walls have some stains from the steam over the years, and the benches are a bit worn out. We don't have a menu printed on fancy paper; people just know what we have. Sometimes the rain comes down hard on Road No 1 and we have to pull the plastic sheets down to keep the water out. It’s a busy life, and we don’t get much rest during the day. We know most of the people who come in by their first names. Sion is a busy area, but our little corner in the BMC Chawl feels like its own world. We just keep the kettle boiling and make sure there’s enough milk for the next batch. It’s not a glamorous job, but it’s what we do and we’ve been doing it a long time now. We hope to stay here for many more years.