Located inside a narrow lane in Hindustan Park (right opposite Tapaste, the Spanish cafe), Dzomsa offers a Himalayan experience like no other. I mean, as Calcuttans, our love for the mountains is real and unparalleled. Nothing quite beats the peace and pleasure we experience when we see the Kanchenjunga in all its glory. Add some delicious Tibetan or Tiretta Bazaar-style food along with tea from the hills to the mix and it’s a match made in heaven.
The food is, no doubt, delicious but what left us most impressed is the unique and ancient tea ritual called Gongfu performed by their tea master, who has received training in the art form from China. It is a way of appreciating the medicinal benefits of tea (which is what it was made for) instead of looking at it as a beverage. Every little detail right from the tea leaves and teapot to the kind of water that is used and the temperature to be maintained plays a significant role. All the materials the tea master used were made of clay or bamboo.
The tea master will ask for your date of birth and then, based on Chinese astrology, suggest the kind of tea that would suit your body and tastebuds. You will have to book a session in advance if you want to experience this ritual, which you should because it just gives you so much peace and makes you feel calm and relaxed. Plus, it is so quiet!
After the ritual, treat yourself to a delectable spread of Tiretta Bazaar-style dishes prepared by Chef Henry. The menu includes soup, yaam wantons, sui mai, different varieties of noodles and rice, chicken and pork dishes, the famous Chimney Soup, and more. And yes, it goes without saying that you must try the different teas they’ve got even if you don’t manage to book a tea ritual session for yourself. All of them are sourced directly from the hills and are devoid of any chemicals, additives, or preservatives.