Christie Gomes, a sexagenarian from Margao, has been waking up to his morning black rose tea for years now. He waits for his turn to buy his regular tea powder as he flips through the newspaper at the countertop at T Corner in Margao, while exchanging notes with John Pereira, the son of the proprietor, discussing the various types of tea available, including white tea.
“I have been coming to buy this tea for the longest time. We have been drinking rose tea for years now. My parents would also buy it here, and the tradition continues,” says Christie, who picks up his tea powder and leaves.
Christie is not the only person who loves to pick up his tea from T Corner. There are many others who prefer to buy the famous rose tea, besides the other varieties available.
T Corner was started by Silvester Pereira in 1966 in Margao and has been running since then for the last 59 years.
IN THE TEA INDUSTRY FOR YEARS
T Corner was started by Silvester Pereira in 1966 in Margao and has been running for the last 59 years.
“I’ve taken over the tea business from my father and learnt the trade from him. The tea that sells the most is the rose tea and it has been that way for many years,” says John, in between attending to customers that walk in.
I’ve taken over the business of tea from my father and I have learnt the trade from him.
John Pereira of Tea Corner
He adds, “By now, we know our customers well and we know the kind of tea they would prefer. We know the kind of mix they like, because they have been taking packets of the same tea for years now.”
Talking about the venture started by his father, John says, “My grandfather, Jose Francisco Pereira, used to run a coffee outlet. So if you look at it, we have been in the tea business for three generations.” The fourth generation of T Corner is working in Verna, but at some point, might just desire to continue the tradition of providing tea to Goan tables.
HOW TO DRINK TEA
Though social media shows a variety of ways to make tea, John says that tea shouldn’t be boiled but brewed. “Rose tea is a flavour tea and it is mostly consumed without milk. Tea should be brewed and never boiled. Many people boil milk along with tea powder. This is completely wrong.”
He adds, “People have that impression that if you boil, it becomes strong. So, they keep on boiling. In fact it is bad for health. Tannins are found in tea and over boiling it can cause health issues like nausea and lead to acidity.”
HERE IS HOW YOU HAVE TO MAKE TEA:
Boil milk and water.
Once the milk is fully boiled, switch off the gas.
Put the tea powder, one teaspoon for one cup.
Cover it for three to four minutes.
You’ll get the colour, flavour.
Then strain it and enjoy.
A FAN FOLLOWING
Today, while many businesses might have a huge fan following on social media, T Corner has it in reality—for the type of tea they sell. John says, “People who come from the UK buy this tea powder before they leave, while there are foreigners who come to Goa every year and buy coffee from us.” Besides they get a huge demand from locals based in neighbouring states too.
Their customers have always trusted them to serve high quality tea and coffee powder, besides, John says, its the honest staff that have been sincerely working with T Corner for over 30 years.
By now, we know who likes what kind of tea. Customers don’t have to tell us about what they would prefer, we know the mix they like, because they have been taking packets of the same tea for years now.
John Pereira of Tea Corner
There are also incentives if you buy from T Corner. Go to any Goan household that drinks tea from this store, and you’ll notice small gifts with the store name. “If you collect a certain number of coupons, you can exchange them for items like glasses and containers,” says John.
T Corner gets its teas and coffees directly from tea estates and offers a variety of teas, including Orange Pekoe, Darjeeling tea, Family tea, and many more. Wilfred Pereira, co-owner and brother of John handles their Mapusa outlet.