Picture by Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya

You can’t buy happiness but you can buy tea and that’s kind of the same thing’, says one of the walls at The Tea Trove, the latest on the short list of tea cafes in the city.

Enter this funky cafe on the first floor of 18 Sarat Bose Road (near Nepal Sweets) and what strikes you first is the decor. The 50-seater hangout zone is designed like a street cafe, complete with street lamps, telephone booth and a cute li’ nook called the ‘Tea Corner’, where you can rest against colourful cushions and put your feet up. Across the room, you’ll spot a foosball table too.

Move on to the menu and choose from “varie-teas” like The Antartica, a milk tea with crushed ice, or Devil’s Will, a blend of “teapresso” and ice cream laced with chocolate sauce and topped with whipped cream. Team them with quick bites like Cold Pizza and customised salads.

“The coffee market is saturated. This is an attempt to bring the concept of drinking tea to youngsters. Our recipes are innovative to appeal to the youth,” said Shruti and Rishav Kanoi, the couple behind The Tea Trove. Rishav, who has a family-run tea business, plans to open “more than 100 such outlets across the country in the next two years”.

Targeted at the 16-35 age group, the prices won’t pinch your pocket. Beverages begin at Rs 44 and cookies at Rs 15. “The menu has pictures of the products, so you know what your order will look like,” added the Kanois.

If you want a little something to take home, the decorative kettles that are used as bill bowls are up for sale. Made by NGO Anjali Mental Health Rights Organisation, it is the cafe’s attempt to “make a difference”.