Tea Stall & Pan Stall

We’ve got this small Tea Stall & Pan Stall in Malad West. It’s a busy little corner, and there’s always something going on. I start early in the morning, getting the water boiling for the first round of tea. You can smell the ginger and the tea leaves from down the block. Most of the regulars come by before they head off to work. They don't say much, just grab their glass, finish it, and leave. Then there’s the pan side of things. I spend a lot of time prepping the leaves and the fillings. It’s all about the timing. People have their specific ways they like their pan made, and I try to remember who likes what. Some want it sweet, some want it strong. The stall is small, so everything has its place. If I move one jar, I can’t find it for ten minutes. It gets hot standing over the stove all day, especially in the afternoon, but the breeze from the street helps a little. Malad West is always moving, and we’re just a tiny part of that movement. We don't have fancy chairs or a menu, just what you see on the shelf. It’s been this way for a long time. I like the routine of it. Boiling the water, folding the leaves, talking to the neighbors. It’s not much, but it’s our life here on the street.