MONSOON COCKTAIL - How to Make Hot Cocktails

MONSOON COCKTAIL

Two Hot Cocktails to Warm You up in the Rain

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Monsoon Rains have arrived in Pune. It is raining incessantly all day – windy, damp, cold, squalls of rain drench me from the insides as I stand in my balcony in Wakad enjoying the awesome view of the Misty Mula Valley, surrounded by the instantly Green Hills, and the silhouette of the mighty Sinhagad Fort barely visible in the distance.

In order to enhance the experience of such moments you desperately need something to warm your insides.

A cup of tea?

Let us fortify your tea with something stronger.

Here are two recipes for Tea Based Hot Cocktails from my Foodie Archives – Take your pick …

WHISKY TEA TODDY

Here is one of my favourite “Hot Cocktails” – a rousing Whisky Tea Toddy – just the right thing to fire you up inside out on the dampest of days and coldest of nights – a recipe breathtaking in its simplicity.

By the way, I am sure you know there are five ways of making a cocktail:

1. Layering

2. Building

3. Blending

4. Shaking

5. Stirring.

Here we will “build” our Whisky Tea Toddy, which means that we will pour the ingredients directly in a large mug (or a glass tumbler), one by one, strictly in the order given in the recipe below.

Brew one cup of steaming hot tea (orange pekoe steeped for 5 minutes if you prefer the flavour and aroma or your usual “boiled” CTC tea if you want it strong and rejuvenating).

Strain and keep the tea brew piping hot on the stove or in a vacuum flask.

Now let us “Build” our Whisky Toddy Cocktail.

1. First, pour a generous spoon of Honey into a glass (or mug). Let the honey settle at the bottom of the glass.

2. Add a large peg of Whisky.

3. Optional Ingredient (Lemon Juice) - The person who taught me this recipe liked to squeeze in a wee bit of lemon juice, but I prefer it without the lemon juice – you can experiment and see for yourself, but if you do add just a very few drops. Remember, just add the drops of lemon juice – Do Not Stir at this stage and ruin the Cocktail.

4. Pour in the steaming hot brewed Tea

Now that you have “built up” your Cocktail you can give it a light stir to enable all the ingredients to mix.

Now cuddle up on your warm sofa and sip the invigorating Tea Toddy.

Close your eyes, focus on your insides as the hot whisky toddy goes down inside you and experience how it warms you inside out.

If you prefer, try a large peg of Brandy instead of Whisky, but do not substitute Rum in lieu of the Whisky.

Rum Toddy is made differently –  this cocktail is “blended” not “built” and you will really have “spice it up”.

I am giving below the recipe for Rum Toddy.

RUM TODDY - A ZESTY HOT COCKTAIL

(A Spicy Cocktail with Tea, Rum and Brandy)

1. Brew one cup of steaming hot tea (orange pekoe steeped for 5 minutes if you prefer the flavour and aroma or your usual “boiled” CTC tea if you want it strong and rejuvenating).

2. Strain the tea in another vessel and keep this tea brew simmering on a slow flame.

3. Add a few cloves (lavang), a pinch of nutmeg (Jaiphal) powder, a small stick of cinnamon (dalchini), close the lid and simmer for some time.

4. Blend in a teaspoon of honey.

5. Pour in One Large Peg of Rum and blend in.

6. Pour in One Large Peg of Brandy and blend in.

7. The moment the concoction boils, strain and pour into a glass tumbler.

This steaming hot spicy rum cocktail is guaranteed to warm your insides and drive away the chill on a cold, damp, wet, rainy day.

(If you are allergic to tea, use water instead of tea and caramelized sugar instead of honey, for both the Whisky and Rum Hot Cocktails)

Hey, what are you waiting for?

Just rush to your Kitchen (or Bar) and quickly make your Hot Cocktail and “Down the Hatch” – I guarantee it will enliven your spirits on the dampest, wettest and coldest of monsoon days.

Do tell us which of these two cocktails you liked more.

Cheers.

Top Up and Dance in the Rain and enjoy the Monsoon Season. 

VIKRAM KARVE 

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Did you like this COCKTAIL?
I am sure you will like the 27 fiction short stories from my recently published anthology of Short Fiction COCKTAIL 
To order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html

COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the links below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925

Foodie Book:  Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

  

TEA - Which is Your Favourite Brand

TEA

Which is Your Favourite Brand of Tea

Musings

By

VIKRAM KARVE

There are two ways of making tea – you brew or you boil.

If you want to brew yourself a relaxing flavoursome cup of Tea (Traditional Tea Service Style) you must use Darjeeling Leaf Tea. Boil water, rinse a porcelain tea pot with hot water, add one spoon of tea per cup plus one for the pot, pour in the required amount of hot water, brew for 3 to 5 minutes (depending on the strength you want), strain and pour in the tea in a cup, add milk and sugar to taste, and relish your cuppa.

For this style of tea making, my favourite brand of Tea is Lipton Green Label. Of course, many tea estates sell their own brands of excellent Orange Pekoe (OP) leaf tea but then these may not be available in your town.

If you want a strong stimulating cup of tea you boil water and sugar together and then throw in the tea leaves (one spoon per cup) bring to a boil, cover for 3 to 5 minutes for proper infusion, then add tea to hot milk and rejuvenate yourself with the rich aromatic bright coloured cuppa (Some boil water and milk together with the sugar and leaves).

For this style of making Tea our favourite brand was Brooke Bond Red Label. However, a few years ago, I felt that the quality of this brand was no longer the same as before so I tried Brooke Bond Yellow Label and Taj Mahal. This too did not satisfy me, so I started experimenting around with various brands of tea available in the market and I narrowed down to two brands of Tea which I like.

I like Wagh Bakri Perfect Premium Leaf Tea – it gives you a strong invigorating cup of tea rich in taste and bright in colour and really perks you up.

Another brand I like is Tata Tea Gold, especially for its remarkable taste, which probably is due to the fact that this tea is a blend of strong CTC (Crush Tear Curl) and traditional leaf tea. This imparts a unique flavour which leaves a pleasant aftertaste for you to savour.

Do you like Tea?

Tell us, which is your favourite brand of Tea?

VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Did you like this blog post?
I am sure you will like the stories in my recently published book COCKTAIL comprising twenty seven short stories about relationships. To order the book please click the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html

COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the link below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925

About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and he is currently working on his novel. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts. 

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com        

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

  

YORKSHIRE TEA - A Gift from England

YORKSHIRE TEA

A Gift from England

By

VIKRAM KARVE

My wife has a wry sense of humour. Last year she visited my niece Pooja in Yorkshire on a holiday and guess what she brought for me from England – a box of Tea Bags, yes, Yorkshire Tea. Now that’s like “carrying coals to Newcastle” isn’t it – getting Tea from England to India!

I love tea. But I like to brew my tea in traditional style and don’t fancy tea bag brewed tea which I find quire flavourless and insipid. So I was really surprised when I tasted a cup of tea made from a Yorkshire Gold Tea Bag. I truly enjoyed the rich, full-bodied, bright cup of tea with a lovely refreshing taste and fine elegant flavour which I had never expected from a Tea Bag. Next I tried Yorkshire Tea (Red Label) Tea Bags – a slightly stronger tea akin to Assam CTC suitable for drinking slightly later in the day

Since then I begin my day with a morning cuppa of Yorkshire Tea and this is what I do for a quick cup of tea early in the morning.

I boil a cup of water in my microwave oven. Place a Yorkshire Gold Tea Bag in a cup and pour in the freshly boiled water. Let it brew for three minutes and then add milk and sugar.  Now I leave the tea bag in the cup to let the tea get stronger as I drink.

I couldn’t get Yorkshire Tea in Pune so when anyone goes abroad I tell him to get a box of Yorkshire Tea. I wonder why we can’t make tea bags in India as good as a Yorkshire Tea Bag. After all, the tea leaves go from India and are blended at Yorkshire. The tea bags out here result in quite an insipid flavourless tea. Also there is this terrible habit of dipping the tea bag into a pre-boiled concoction of milk and water which produces the worst kind of awful tasting flavourless bland tea. I feel that pouring boiling water over a tea bag helps release the flavour much better. Then one must let it brew for a few minutes before adding a dash of hot milk and sugar. Probably, that’s why the high quality Yorkshire Tea Bags do not have a string attached and are not the Indian style dip-dip type tea bags.

As I said I love tea and drink at least five cups of tea a day. I start my day early in the morning with a delicious cup of the rich and refreshing Yorkshire Gold Tea.

Then, with breakfast I have a cup of traditionally brewed Assam CTC tea to perk me up.

Click here for my recipe for a delicious cup of tea.

Mid-morning, I must have a nourishing cup of stimulating Amrut Tulya Chaha.

Click here for the recipe for Pune Style Amrut Tulya Tea.

In the afternoon maybe a cup of strong rejuvenating full-bodied Red Label Yorkshire Tea made quickly microwave style.

As the sun sets, what can be a better way to relax in the evening than savouring a cup of tea-pot style traditionally brewed Darjeeling Tea.

Can any tea lover tell me where I can get a box of Yorkshire Tea Bags in Pune or India? And if you are going to England don’t forget to get me a box of Yorkshire Gold Tea Bags.

Cheers! Have a cuppa…

VIKRAM KARVE 

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2010

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU, Lawrence School Lovedale, and Bishop's School Pune, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource Manager and Trainer by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book "Appetite for a Stroll". Vikram lives in Pune with his family and pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog -  http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com  

Academic Journal Vikram Karve –  http://karvediat.blogspot.com

Professional Profile of Vikram Karve -  http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve 

Foodie Book APPETITE FOR A STROLL –  http://books.sulekha.com/book/appetite-for-a-stroll/default.htm

Email: vikramkarve@sify.com

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.