Bengalis have always loved a good adda, and an adda without tea is hardly imaginable. Counting how many cups each person drinks over the conversation is almost beside the point. Tea is there for chats and leisure, and there is nothing like it for driving away fatigue. For many, the day does not start without a cup after breakfast, and tea is an inseparable companion in lazy afternoons and evening gatherings.

On National Tea Day the question naturally arises: how many kinds of tea are actually drunk in Bangladesh? The answer is not simple, because tea has become much more varied over time. Each kind has its own taste and use, and is closely tied to lifestyle.

The most popular tea in Bangladesh is milk tea, usually made with tea leaves, milk and sugar. With breakfast or at an afternoon adda, life seems incomplete without it.

Most of what is served when you ask for "a cup of tea" at a tea stall is milk tea. Its rich taste and sweet aroma win people over easily.

Red tea, or black tea, is made without milk. It is relatively light and healthier, and is popular with diet-conscious people, office workers and as a light morning drink.

Green tea is now very popular with the younger generation. It is rich in antioxidants, which are believed to help rid the body of toxins. Many drink it as part of weight control, fitness and health awareness. Without sugar it tastes light but is important for health.

Herbal tea is made mainly from natural ingredients such as ginger, tulsi (holy basil), lemon, cinnamon or chamomile. It is especially popular during changes of weather, colds and coughs, or fatigue. Ginger tea helps keep the body warm on rainy days, and for many it is part of home remedies.

Flavoured teas are quickly gaining popularity in city life. Lemon tea, ginger tea, mint tea and honey tea are part of modern café culture.

For the younger generation these are not just drinks but a lifestyle statement, and they are trending on social media too.

White tea is a less processed tea made from the Camellia sinensis plant. It contains more antioxidants and helps keep the body refreshed. Production has now begun in Bangladesh too.

Under the influence of globalisation, bubble tea has become popular in Bangladesh. Made with tapioca pearls and milk, it is quickly finding a place among young people. Malai tea and tandoori tea have also arrived: malai tea draws people with its thick, creamy taste, while tandoori tea is served specially in clay cups, adding a different dimension to the experience.

Masala tea, made with ginger, cardamom, cinnamon or cloves, is very popular in Bangladesh. It keeps the body warm and has a sharp taste. There is also herbal tea made with tulsi or other natural ingredients, and tamarind tea offers a different experience with its sweet-and-sour taste.

The new generation is also taking to more experimental teas, such as malta tea, chilli tea and various fusion flavours, which have added new dimensions of taste.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.