The attempt to wean the public away from alcohol was widely reported in the international press, with several newspapers praising the ‘innovative’ idea. , photo credit: file photo
Hyderabadis love their tea. And those who swear by the wildly popular cup of Iranian tea are in a league of their own. But, it is perhaps a little-known fact that the consumption of tea enjoyed royal patronage, with the Nizam’s government preparing it at the behest of the British to make it the drink of choice in the city.
It was on September 18, 1917 that a Order, or order, was issued allowing the establishment of tea stalls in Hyderabad city limits. This order was issued at the request of the British Resident at Hyderabad. Interestingly, the rationale behind the move was to discourage the consumption of alcohol, as stated in the order, and to replace it with tea drinker, Means tea drinker.
A round of discussion took place on the suggestion of the Resident. later, the freight revenueThe revenue department has given permission to set up tea stalls.
Irani tea at a restaurant in Hyderabad | photo credit: file photo
This attempt to wean the public away from alcohol was widely reported in the international press, archival documents show, with many newspapers viewing the move as innovative and applauding the idea.
The Leamington Chronicle wrote that “it is tea to drive out toddy in Hyderabad”, and estimating how much it would cost, added, “fifty thousand pounds are to be spent by that State”. It reported that revenue by way of excise in Hyderabad “reached the figure of one million pounds”.
Documents show that the Oldham Standard also published a similar report. A news report stated, “… a chain of tea stalls are being opened within a few yards of toddy booths.” It added, “Attractive tables will be set up and free tea will be served on demand and it is expected that the bar will be freed from this scheme.” Those in the temperance movement viewed the move favorably.
Hyderabadis and people doing research in Hyderabad recalled firsthand experiences of this movement to popularize tea consumption. Mohammad Ayub Ali Khan, a Canadian scholar who is a part of research projects centered around the Deccan, says, “My grandmother had a domestic help named Malamma, who was born and brought up in Musheerabad. In the 1980s, she was in her 70s. He told me that the British used to come in trucks and give hot tea Bhabka, He did this for two months and then stopped. Malamma and others were addicted and started acting without it. Then tea started appearing at a local Shop (shop).” Mr Khan wondered whether residents in Hyderabad were part of the prohibition movement.
Customers queue up outside a tea shop at Toli Chowki Cross Road in Hyderabad. , photo credit: file photo
Heritage conservationist Sajjad Shahid, who is a part of the Deccan Studies publication, recalled a similar incident. “I remember my grandfather, Syed Salamatullah Hussaini, and my father telling me that tea would be distributed free of cost for two or three months. A demo was also given on how to make it in a special way. Then one day they stopped coming and tea started appearing in the shops. By then, many people had got used to drinking tea and started buying it.”
The tea was given a distinct, characteristically malty flavor. In what is probably only a one-off incident, but significant enough to find its way into the records of the Hyderabad state government, a tea merchant sought to sell his product on the Mulki movement.
Karen Leonard in Hyderabad and Hyderabadis states that Mulki was a citizen of Hyderabad, and that non-Mulki outsiders were invited to Hyderabad in an effort to reform the Hyderabad government. There was a confrontation between the two. But back to the tea merchant – H. Ram Kishan Dhoot issued an advertisement in the form of a flyer: ” If you drink tea, then drink tea, Desi Chand Chaap. ,drink tea if you want Native moon print , Located in Residency Bazaar, the tea merchant also claimed that his tea was tastier than little-known non-mulki teas.