A princess for English tea
In a reflective column on the fine art of tea, local writer Kiru Naidoo reminisces about his student days in England and the lessons learned from a Nepali princess. From the luxury of London's Fortnum & Mason to the humble Joko tea boiled by his late grandmother in Durban, Naidoo explores nostalgia, family heritage, and the rituals that make life sweet.
Tea is a beloved ritual for the writer, who has found it to be a delicate art. She met a Nepali princess during her time in England who taught her the proper way to drink tea. The princess preferred black tea, with no milk, and insisted that sugar and milk never mix. The writer's grandmother, Kanniamma Govindarajulu, was a matriarch in their family and the writer hopes to build a temple in her honor one day. The writer still buys loose leaf tea, even though it is more expensive, as a way to honor the princess's teachings.
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