Tea! It all comes down to personal preference

The multifarious talents of the humble chaiwala (tea vendor) are well known in India. But making a good cuppa is probably the sine qua non of that profession, whatever other jobs may come along later. While not all Indians are uniformly partial to the skills and offerings of the chaiwala— indeed, preferences definitely lean another way in the south —the beverage has become synonymous with India, so any developments in the field of tea vending should be of concern.

Therefore, the adoption of masala chai by chat show diva Oprah Winfrey in the US after her visit to Mumbai cannot be ignored, particularly as she is being credited with a special spicy brew now offered by Starbucks there. Given her huge fan following, if indeed Oprah puts tea on the cutting edge in a country addicted to coffee, it could spur a crucial turning of the tide against Indian chai(walas) there.

The recent invention of a gadget that purportedly makes "the perfect cup of tea" in one minute using reverse atmospheric infusion (RAIN) — priced at £7,700 — is also being touted as a possible game-changer that could unexpectedly steal the thunder from human chaimakers in India and elsewhere, no matter how dexterous and experienced. But, ultimately, it will all come down to basic personal preferences, no matter how hi-tech the blandishments.