Wands for Harry... the Prince, not Potter

Exhausted from shopping at Lower Parel? A pot of green tea or a Spinach Cocktail should fix it. And if it's a change of scenery you seek, allow a tea wand to transport you to a difference place

Exhausted from shopping at Lower Parel? A pot of green tea or a Spinach Cocktail should fix it. And if it's a change of scenery you seek, allow a tea wand to transport you to a difference place

Afternoon Tea at the Ritz in Piccadilly, London, typically involves booking a spot about 12 weeks in advance, dressing up in formal attire and shelling out a minimum of 40 GBP (Rs 2,918) per head. All this for a cup of tea, an assortment of finger sandwiches, scones and pastries.

In such 'Low Tea services' that gained popularity among England's elite about two centuries ago, the emphasis was on social interaction, as opposed to the 'High Tea' that members of the working-class enjoyed at the end of a hard day's labour, which included heavier dishes like Steak Pies, Mashed Potatoes and Welsh Rarebit.

Eternity is a blossoming-flower tea (Rs 225) with a delicate
caramel aroma that comes close to satiating your sweet tooth
served at the Verandah at Raghuvanshi Mills. Pics/Satyajit Desai

At Verandah, Raghuvanshi Mills' new cha bar, whether you choose to sit at one of the high tables or slide into a spot on the stone-mosaic sofa, you can count on getting a caffeine kick (or caffeine-free-energy drink) less the aroma of pretentiousness.

Designed by a consulting chef with over a decade's experience in international cuisine, the menu is full of interesting veggie concoctions. Priced at Rs 195, a salad prepared with 'rocket, Granny Smith pears, walnuts, cherry tomatoes and honey orange dressing,' sounded delicious, for instance, as did a Creamy Milk Chocolate Brownie Shake (Rs 125).

Previously a partner at Oba and Cloud 9, proprietor Vishal Manghnani conjures up a cup of English-Breakfast tea with a foil wand for himself as he tells us that he's big on health, and insists we sample a "nutritive, low-cal Spinach Cocktail".

Even in a Martini glass, the drink is way too green to entice us, but one whiff of its citrusy aroma changes our mind. The blend of spinach, carrot, orange and ginger juice is surprisingly pleasant (Rs 145).

Eternity, one of two blossoming-flower teas we sampled here (Rs 225) is equally agreeable and its delicate caramel aroma even comes close to satiating your sweet tooth. Both, the Sweet Potato and Truffle Ravioli (Rs 245) and the Herb Crepe Potlis (Rs 225) were impressive, with just enough sauce to boost flavour rather than the dish's calorific count. We don't mind calories really, especially if they come disguised as creamy Chocolate Mousse (Rs 175).

A range of slimming teas on the menu may hold appeal for those who are particularly weight-conscious, (Rs 150). You can even buy a small 50g take-home pack of any tea they stock.

Your shopping doesn't have to be limited to items on the menu. The cha bar is positioned on the porch of a marble showroom, and all elements of its decor showcase the varieties of stones available inside. The entire bar area, says Rakesh Agarwal, Deputy MD of Elegant Marbles is made of "an Italian marble with an intentionally-distressed finish."

At: Raghuvanshi Mills, Lower Parel. From 10 am to 10 pm, Monday to Saturday. Sundays reserved for larger get-togethers.
Call: 32255122