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The tea party gets bigger & swankier
Light and shade
PACESETTERs Rekha Rajagopal & Maya Ajay
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The tea party gets bigger & swankier It is said that when the Englishman developed a taste for Indian tea, gardens across Assam began blossoming.
Soon enough, cultivation of tea spread rapidly to Assam, Darjeeling, Cachar, Sylhet and the Dooars. By 1874, there were 113 gardens in Darjeeling district alone. For the next century and a half, the tea industry was set to boom like none other. By 1951 the total area under tea cultivation was 317 hectares. Today, more than six decades later, it stands at a mindboggling 6,00,000 hectares spread mainly across Assam, West Bengal, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. With the annual production breaching the one billion kg mark and the total output expected to touch Rs 33,000 crore, India is the world’s largest consumer and the second largest producer of tea (after China). Even as the industry grows at a breakneck pace, high-end tea gardens across the country are busy promoting tea as a health drink.
Herbal infusions
Chado tea, which introduced the joys of drinking tea to the people of Los Angeles, has now come to India with an immense assortment of flavoured, organic and decaf teas along with chai blends, rooibos blends, herb infusions and fruit tisanes. It also has an impressive list of tea accessories like infusers, cups, saucers, mugs, sugar and creamer pots and teabag holders. Newby Tea, a subsidiary of Newby Teas (UK) has set up a preservation and packing facility in Kolkata and claims to offer discerning Indian consumer the ‘finest teas money can buy’. Its traditional black tea has a fuller body and goes particularly well with milk. However, its green, white and oolong teas and more fragrant, delicate black teas and herbal infusions are not suited to being taken with milk. There’s a word of caution though. These new-age teas come with fancy price tags. For example, Darjeeling silver needle white tea costs Rs 10,000 a kg at the Chado Tea outlet in Delhi’s Ambience Mall. The Gopaldhara Estate-ll flush wonder tea costs Rs 14,000 a kg and the Ceylon silver tips tea is an eye-popping Rs 60,000 a kg. But despite the steep prices, it is tea time for discerning aficionados,who keep thronging the bars, lounges and tea rooms for their hot (or cold) cuppa makaibari chais, earl greys, sencha kyotos, chamomiles, fruit tisanes and even the teapuccinos!
The cup that cheers
Though many may call the new-found love for tea a fad or a passing fancy, there’s some cheering news from the medical fraternity. Research is finding increasing evidence which suggests that green, black, white and oolong teas contain an overabundance of disease-fighting qualities. Doctors point out that the antioxidant compounds called flavonoids in these four basic types of teas may help keep at bay a host of physical problems ranging from obesity to heart attacks and from seizures to diabetes and even cancer. Flavonoids are said to kill cell-damaging free radicals, which are linked to cancer, atherosclerosis and heart attack. These can decrease risk of cataract and A research by the American Heart Association says that drinking green, white, black or oolong tea promotes healthy arteries and tea drinkers have a lower risk of heart attack and stroke. It adds that that drinking tea relaxes and dilates arteries, increasing blood flow to the heart. Though most scientists point to the need for further studies to establish a definitive link between tea drinking and health, the current research is unearthing a treasure of the many benefits about this age-old beverage that was discovered more than 5,000 years ago when a few leaves fell into the water cup of Chinese Emperor Shennong, who is also considered the father of the traditional Chinese medicine.
Parallel worlds
In fact, there are two parallel tea worlds that are being established in India. The old world being where tea is consumed in the traditional style sweetened and enriched with sugar and milk and sometimes infused with tulsi, adrak, cardamom, black pepper, dalchini, mulethi (liquorice) etc. This delicious concoction is consumed in most Indian homes and brewed fresh at tea stalls in virtually every street corner and at all railway stations. There is emerging a new world of tea connoisseurs who are not found at these tea stalls but at the chai bars, tearooms and tea lounges dotting big cities where they sample teas made from herbs, fruits, seeds and roots steeped in hot water. From the basic four varieties — green, black, white and oolong—other exotica on offer includes blooming or flowering tea, chamomile tea, hibiscus tea, jasmine tea, orange pekoe, rooibos, pu-erh and an array of other flavours. Take for example Elma’s Bakery, Cakes and Tea Room in the Hauz Khas Village in Delhi. The typical English tea room, complete with an old piano, may have on offer sinful scones, cheese and carrot cakes, but the emphasis here is on tea served in retro floral tea cups and pots. The quaint tea lounge has herbal infusions of jasmine, rose, and organic oolong, black, white and green teas.
Chai bars
Similar crowds can be seen at the Cha Bar which has outlets in Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Bhubaneswar — and till recently Delhi. These concept bars find a detailed mention in the Lonely Planet and many of them have up to 75 varieties of teas to choose from. As part of the Oxford Book Store, these bars attract intellectuals, bestselling authors, senior journalists and corporate honchos who come to sample flavours like salted tea from Ladakh, Bollywood mix masala chai, truck drivers’ 100 meel ki chai, and even liquor chai. Then there is the Triveni Tea Terrace at the Triveni Kala Sangam near Delhi’s Bengali Market where one can have steaming cups of hot tea in the midst of arty people. However, those who want to go high-end there is the Tea Lounge at Hotel Taj Palace where you can enjoy an array of teas from any part of the world. Addressing the growing demand for gourmet teas are a host of companies that have set up shop in India and are poised to fulfil the discerning Indian consumer’s need for the very best of teas and tisanes from across the world.
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Light and shade It was going to be a big night for the doctor couple Rohit and Rachna. After having spent a fortune on decorating their new apartment, they called friends for a house warming party. Everything seemed in place for the evening. Their friends came and the party went off well. But after the guests had left, Rachna looked disappointed. And the reason for her disappointment was that no one had complimented her on the interiors on which she had invested a considerable amount of money and time. Curious to find out where she went wrong, she called an interior designer friend. After examining each room, the designer congratulated her for the great job and said she herself couldn’t have done it better. “So what’s wrong?” asked a perplexed Rachna. “Just one thing,” said the designer. “You have forgotten to creatively light up your drawing room and other areas in your home. Good lighting is an art in itself. Strategically placed lamps can add depth and appeal to a room.” Subtle lighting Table and floor lamps not only provide illumination but also enhance the ambience of a room. Usually, there are many corners, pictures and objects in a room that get lost in a general flood of light. Thus, it becomes important to use subtle lamp light to accentuate these. The kind of lights you choose for your home can make or ruin your entire décor style and effect. From contemporary, hand-painted, porcelain to sculptured, tropical and wrought-iron, a wide variety of lamp styles are available in the market. It is important to be careful when making a purchase and see if it fits well with your decor. So, what should you look for when you buy lamps and lights for your home? Designers say ceiling and wall lights may illuminate the room but there will still be nooks and corners that need to be accentuated. Here, they recommend a clever use of lamps that can be positioned in such a way so as to highlight decoration pieces, objects de art or for spotlighting a painting. Spot light Unless you are taking professional help, you would have to rely upon your imagination. If you have an artistic bent of mind, you will know how to use a lamp light optimally so as to shift a guest’s attention to a desired object. However, if you are not sure, then there are some points to consider on how to use spot light effectively before buying a lamp. First of all, make a mental note of things that require to be highlighted in the room. Once that’s done, you should then consider which areas need general illumination and which need to be highlighted individually. This will help you determine whether you need a floor or a table lamp. Sometimes the lamp can itself be an object of admiration. In the modern interior designer’s scheme of things, a floor or a table lamp may not necessarily be used to highlight a decoration piece. It can itself be a decorative. A great amount of creativity goes into making high-end lamps that can add to the beauty of the interiors. Trendsetter High floor lamps are a hot trend these days. These can be used to add visual appeal to a room by putting these around the sitting area or to highlight a home bar or simply as an artistic ornament. Floor lamps can completely transform the ambience of your living room. When these are paired with table lamps, the result is literally electric. The table lamp, on the other hand, is of two types. First, the functional one, whose job is simply to illuminate, then there is the decorative piece, which is usually an effective eye-catcher as the light emanating from it is controlled and subtle. It not just highlights objects around it but also adds the design element or an ornament that lights up. Decorative lamps are usually made of stained glass and the best example of that are the century old English Tiffany Lamps, where coloured pieces of glass were soldered together for a stunning effect. Ornamental lamps come studded with Swarovski and or even with other precious crystals. Companies like Lladro, Lalique, Bacarrat and others have taken luxury lamps to a new level with ceramic and porcelain lamps, which are like works of art to be cherished for a lifetime and passed on to future generations. Whether these are pieces of art or functional light sources, lamps today have become an integral part of most home interiors spreading an all-encompassing radiance.
BEVELLED ARCS LAMP
DEREK RUSTIC ANTLERS
EYOI YOI FLOOR LAMP
TRIBAL IMPRESSIONS TABLE LAMP
ASIATIC LILY LIGHT TABLE LAMP
Price: $220 Rs 12,100
ROSA TABLE LAMP
Price: £210
Rs 11,550
ELAMIS GOLD LEAF TABLE LAMP Price: £340
Rs 28,220
MIA EMERALD TABLE LAMP
TIFFANY-STYLE LAMP WITH LIGHTED BASE
ARCHING LIGHTS BY IDUS
Price: Start at
Rs 25,000
LLADRO PEACOCK LAMP Price: $3000 Rs
1.65 lakh Glow
from the past
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PACESETTERs
Rekha Rajagopal & Maya Ajay Rekha Rajagopal, a postgraduate in English Literature and Maya Ajay, an MBA, stayed home to bring up their children after a corporate stint. The two co-sisters are from the same alma mater and share their hobbies and a love for natural products. After their kids started school, they had a burning desire to do something worthwhile. A couple of years back, Rekha had bought a bag and Maya a lamp made from banana fibre. That was a turning point. They were fascinated by the process of converting a mere banana stem into an array of products. Different parts of the banana tree are invariably present in any Keralite kitchen. They were astonished to learn that the stem was treated with water and hand woven/handloomed into varied products, ranging from accessories, home décor to stationery items. After a lot of research and travel, they launched their venture, Earthy Hues. When they showcased the products among close friends and family, to their joy, the products were sold out within a month. Encouraged, they decided against opening a store as that would mean more operational cost and higher prices. They wanted their products to be affordable for a wider consumer base. So, they rely on word-of-mouth publicity. A Facebook page, called Earthy Hues, created visibility in the social media. Feedback motivates them and helps to create awareness and build a fresh client base. They now cater to bulk orders from many stores and boutiques on a regular basis. Based out of Bangalore, Earthy Hues would soon be a registered enterprise. Though the turnover is meagre still, Rekha and Maya are thrilled to be spreading eco-friendliness among more and more people. They have tie-ups with NGOs which work closely with women. The products range from clutches, handbags, lamps (floor, table, ceiling), cushion covers, mats, runners, office supplies and much more. There is something for everybody as the products range from Rs 50 to Rs 2,200. Earthy Hues is just a year old and though profits are meagre, they want artisans to get skill training and help to improve their living conditions etc. “Earthy Hues helped us to realise how easy it is to propagate the concept, but difficult to make it our lifestyle. We aim at becoming a eco-conscious family.” “At any stage in life, do what you love. It’s never too late to dream or to listen to your heart. If you are passionate about your dream, you will succeed. Follow your dream.” Earthy Hues’ products are eco-friendly, biodegradable and are gaining acceptance among environment-friendly people. Banana fibre is used to weave fabric and natural colours are used to dye the fibres.
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Bling it on
BEDTIME STORY Price range:
Between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 37 lakh MUSIC FROM THE SKIES MAGICAL TIME Price: $39,000 (~21.45 lakh) Rewind to the PAST Price: $40,000
(Rs 22 lakh) MAN WITH A GOLDEN FOOT
Price: $5.3 million (Rs 29.15 crore) COLOURS OF SPRING Price range:
Between Rs 3,150 and Rs 22,500 SHOE ART
Price: £ 105 (Rs 8,600) HAND CANDY
Price: £5,500 (Rs 4.5 lakh)
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provide a modern setting for an old tradition
Rekha
Rajagopal, a postgraduate in English Literature and Maya Ajay, an MBA, stayed home to bring up their children after a corporate stint. The two co-sisters are from the same alma mater and share their hobbies and a love for natural products.
The Tea Room Company in Gurgaon, too, has a wide selection to choose from. Apart from the flavoured, herbs and tisane teas it also has wonderful infusions and teas that blossom into flower shapes once they are dipped in hot water. The prices range from Rs 69 for a cup of the blue mountain Nilgiri tea to Rs 180 for peony rosette that unfurls into flowers, leaf and buds.
This is a stunning table lamp in a warm muted gold leaf finish featuring an array of bevelled crystal accents. Standing tall at 41 inches, it is handcrafted and features a laminated silk shantung shade. Though there may be a number of imitations, the original lamp is a class apart. 
American lamp company Lite Source Inc. is known for its fashion forward lighting. Take the case of this table lamp from the Lite Source Musoke Collection. It has a polished steel body and a purple mosaic shade, which will add style and oomph to any home.
This wildlife table lamp features a rustic antler and has a pinecone base with a silhouette shade with evergreen trees. If you are someone who is a fan of great outdoors, this would be a perfect accent piece for any room in your house where you want to reflect the beauty of nature. 
The Eyoi Yoi Floor Lamp by Australian designer Marc Pascal is inspired by autumn leaves poised to fall from trees. Shaped like butterflies, these gently hover while suspended. Each of these is custom-made by hand and you can make your selection to suit your room.
More than just a lamp, this expressive lamp by California-based Pacific Coast Lighting is a work of art. With a twisting design that mimics the look of wood, this magnificent lamp in African walnut finish will make a lasting impression and brighten up any part of your
home.
Available in a variety of colours and finishes, these seven-light table lamps from the Orchid collection will provide a stunning focal point for your room. The metal flower-heads have been handcrafted and bring floral beauty into the home with swirls, twists and folds of metal.
A beautiful, chromed ceramic table lamp of individually hand-crafted and chromed ceramic rose blossoms, topped with a contrasting black shade. The Rosa table lamp by one of England’s leading design studios Alphason is an exquisite example of art and functionality.
This cast aluminum lamp from Heathfield and Co. of England, inspired by leaves, is pinch-moulded in clay and, then, nickel-plated and overlaid with gold foil. Presented on a black eggshell base, the lamp looks great in any room and comes complete with an oval oyster linen shade.
The Mia Emerald Table Lamp by Britain’s Heathfield & Co is made from a solid piece of glass free blown by master craftsmen in a rainbow of colours. The end product may vary slightly because these are not machine-made but the result is stunning in a variety of solid colours.
The intricately detailed Tiffany-style Dragonfly Lamp with lighted base will spread cheer in your drawing room. It has more than 40 pieces of cut glass in primary colours of blue, orange, green and red. Each glass is individually cut and wrapped around a copper foil and strung together.
Arching and elegant, these lights launched by Idus, a Delhi-based company, are in a timeless design. Set on a white or black marble base, the frame is in satin steel. Some of these tall lamps work like ceiling lights. The lights have glass pendant shades or are in polished steel.
It was released last year but the Lladro Peacock Lamp already has a cult following. Handmade at the Lladro City of Porcelain in Valencia, Spain, it is painted by hand with the chromatic palette and is stamped with Lladro’s Full Tulip and backstamp. More than a stamp, it is a piece of art.
It lighting at its best. The Lotus lamp created by Louis Comfort Tiffany, the American artist of the 19th century who founded Tiffany & Co, is the most expensive lamp ever. At the turn of the last century, the Lotus lamp series was selling at the then mind-boggling price of $750
(Rs 41,250). Today, though there are many reproductions of Lotus lamps, there are only eight original. Six are in museums or in the hands of private collectors and only one had been coming up in auctioning. It was last auctioned in 1997 by Christie’s to an unnamed private collector for $2.8 million (~15.40 crore). Sometime back, another extremely rare Tiffany Table Lamp was made available for purchase from the Macklowe Gallery in New York. Though there have been many enquiries, a real buyer has yet to emerge. But antique experts say that it is likely to be snapped up soon at a record breaking asking price of $3.5 million
(Rs 19.25 crore)!
What do Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, Elton John and Oprah Winfrey have in common? Like a host of other celebrities, they have all slept on handmade beds designed by Savoir. Widely regarded as the world’s most luxurious sleeping stations, Savoir beds have become almost as legendary as the stars who have slept in them. The British company which set up its flagship store in Delhi recently collaborated with fashion designer Rohit Bal to create a series of beds which are being displayed across the world and are to be auctioned for charity. Needless to say, there is no dearth of buyers and bidders. Whoever said money cannot buy a good night’s sleep has not slept in one of these beds!
Music lovers know the value of great speakers and look up to those that produce great sound. Now they can literally look up to Nessma Speakers simply because they almost bring music from the skies. The unique ceiling-mounted, hanging speakers are created from specialised carbon fibre and have adjustable hanging cable. At seven kilogrammes each, the speakers are ultra-light weight making shifting and readjusting very easy. Though they may look like decorative lights the speakers are engineered to give a power-packed performance deserving a …well…hanging ovation. 
What happens when three of the world’s most prestigious luxury brands put their creative heads together? The outcome is magic. Recently when French lifestyle brand Hermes, Swiss luxury clock manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre and French glassmaker Copmagnie des Cristallieries de Saint Louis collaborated to make a limited edition timepiece the result was the Atmos limited edition crystal clock. A modern spin to the 1928 classic this clock does not need winding or a battery to operate. It relies on the changing temperature that expands or contracts the gas inside the sealed capsule, thus winding it automatically and making it one of the most exotic and stunning timepieces of our times. 
We have seen them in all big cities, snaking and weaving deftly through traffic. They are nothing to look at but are sturdy and built for the rough and tumble of chaotic roads. Now get ready for a chic and stylish version of the humble three-wheeler unveiled at the recently concluded Geneva Motor Show. The three-wheeled baby from British car manufacturer Morgan Motors is a throwback to the past when the turn-of-the-century model won the 1913 French Grand Prix. Obviously a lot has changed since then. The new model to be released later in the year is powered by a 115 HP front-mounted V-twin engine, giving the vintage jalopy the power to zip through the city in a jiffy.
He is among the greatest footballers the world has ever seen and has been the recipient of the Golden Boot twice for being the highest goal scorer. If you still doubt that Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has feet of gold then go visit Tokyo where leading jeweller Ginza Tanaka has made a pure gold replica of the footballer’s left foot, complete with blood vessels and the swirls of skin on the bottom of the toes. Weighing 25 kg and standing tall at 10 inches, the golden foot was recently snapped up by a passionate moneybag soccer fan setting a new gold standard in football!
It’s called the king of bling for its exquisite craftsmanship and its innovative designs. After a line of artifacts and objet d’art, Swarovski crystal has now launched its collection of colourful jewellery that represents the joy of the spring season. The bespoke pieces include bracelets, pendants, rhodium-plated pierced ear-ring sparkles, necklaces, rings, palladium-plated chains and amulets inspired by the birds, flowers and the hues of the spring season. So go ahead, add a dash of colour to your looks this season with an array of these bright and vivid custom-made jewellery pieces. 
Till now we all thought that tattoo was the art of ink on skin. It now emerges that it could also be the art of ink on footwear. Or that’s what British footwear giant Dr Martens would have us believe. Dr Martens ‘Marcel’ tattoo print leather shoes are both distinctive and stylish. The design of the three-eyelet leather shoe makes a unique statement and is suited for the woman looking for both high fashion and function. Artistic, creative and rare, these shoes would keep a lady’s feet looking like a beautiful work of art.
It’s being called the standout bag. Simply because if you have it dangling from your wrist it will make you stand out at any gathering. The Willow Ostrich Leather Tote by British lifestyle brand Mulberry combines functionality with style and luxury. It features Mulberry’s signature postman’s lock, zips and padlock fob and has a clever detachable envelope clutch. Switching from daytime wear to night-time style is extremely easy with this two-in-one ladies’ accessory from a brand known for its stunning bags and totes that include poacher bags, binocular bags and dispatch bags.