Have a Bewitching Brew at Pandit Ji Ki Lemon Tea in Udaipur
Prem Puri Goswami, lovingly called “Pandit Ji”, runs a stall close to the popular tourist spot “Saheliyon ki Bari” in Udaipur, serving stupendously good lemon tea to the community since 2007. Frequented by locals who have made it a habit to start their day with the beverage, the shop opens at 8 in the morning, and stays open till around 9:30 at night. The board outside his shop is a testament to its popularity – being plastered with photos of regional TV stars, actors and cricketers who have visited the joint – most prominent being Baroda’s World Cup and IPL winning cricketer Yusuf Pathan.
The process of preparing the lemon tea is quite complicated. First, a huge pot of water is kept to boil on a stove, and in goes a special garam masala, made by crushed fennel seeds (saunf), cinnamon (dalchini), black pepper (kali mirch), cumin seeds (zeera) and other spices. These spices are what elevate this simple cup of tea to a mystical, therapeutic potion of joy. A minor amount of tea leaves go in the brewing pot as well, and in a few minutes, the concoction is ready. In goes a squeeze of lemon in the paper cups, alongside a small sprinkle of another masala made from ginger (adrak) and holy basil (tulsi). Freshly washed, uncut, desi mint leaves (desi pudina) are added to the cup as well, and only then is the brew poured in the cups, ready for consumption.
The potion is coloured a strong, brown colour, infused by the tea-leaves, yet it doesn’t interfere with the taste at all, owing to its inclusion in the brew being quite reserved. The aroma of the spices is quite enchanting, leaving no doubts as to why so many locals choose to start their day with a whiff of it. This piping-hot cup of lemon tea is as good as it smells – the grounded spices give it a very strong, herbaceous, stimulating flavour, which is complimented by the sharp tanginess of the lemon and the freshness of the mint leaves. It is this freshness that the owner prides himself on – he claims that the popularity of his stall is credited to the drink being good for one’s health, and a possible tonic for cough, cold, fever and other types of illness and pain, due to it having a large number of herbal ingredients.
This cup of lemon tea is criminally underrated – it is one that you would expect to be served in the lobby of the Taj or Oberoi, not at a stall underneath a tree in Udaipur. On the board above the blue-coloured tree that marks the shop’s facade, the words “svaad par jaayein, dikhaave par nahiin” (Judge by the taste, not the appearance) are written, which is the perfect line to sum up Pandit Ji’s tea stall. Indian street food never fails to surprise you. Do give yourself the opportunity to be surprised when in Udaipur.
Recommendations : Lemon Tea (9.75/10)
Thanks to Raghav and Runcil for proofreading this piece.