Shriya Dosas and Kamal Hassan Tea!

Chennai: One must have heard of food items named after actors, like the Kushboo idlis, Shriya dosas and Namitha biryani. But now, a special tea called the Kamal Tea is being served at a tea kadai (shop) called Mid East Cup Area in Eldams Road. The shop has been serving this popular tea named after Kamal Haasan for the last 17 years. From itinerant vendors to techies from the surrounding areas, the tea is a local hit among all. “I am a great fan of Kamal sir and this is my dedication for him,” says Damodharan who has been running the shop for last 33 years. He explains, “Kamal sir, who used to reside in a house at the end of this road, was a regular visitor to this shop before he became a star.” “People are fond of this tea and I supply about 150 cups of it to around 50 offices daily. Even these days, when Kamal is in a relaxed mood and comes to his office at Eldams Road (his former residence) he orders tea from here.” Priced at Rs 9, the special ingredient of the tea remains a secret. “The base ingredients are m