There’s a tea shop, located on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border, that serves as the meeting point for people from various backgrounds, breaking down the geographical boundaries that separate them. You could even say it’s a shop in Tamil Nadu that carries the essence of Kerala. Situated along the route to Kerala’s key tourist spots like Kumbavurutti, Manalaru, and Achankovil, this tea shop has become a spot where travellers from both Tamil Nadu and Kerala can relax during their journeys. Located 12 kilometres from Tenkasi, this is Tamil Nadu’s last tea shop on the border with Kerala. Just like how people from Coimbatore visit Ooty to sip tea, those from Tenkasi often come to this tea shop on the Meakarai-Achankovil Road, which is the last tea shop in Tamil Nadu. The serene environment, devoid of traffic noise, makes it a popular spot for tourists who want to enjoy a cup of tea while soaking in nature.
Named Sudhin Surya Tea Shop, it is the final stall on the Tamil Nadu border. Beyond this, one would need to travel another 15 kilometres to reach Kerala for the next tea stop. Besides tea, the shop is famous for its banana fritters.
Sureshkumar has been running this shop for the past 12 years. The banana fritters made from Nendram bananas, suciyam, and vadai are particularly famous here. Tourists who come from Chennai to Courtallam often seek out this shop just to taste the banana fritters. “We open the shop at 5:45 in the morning, and by 6:30, the fritters are ready, hot and fresh. Once we sell out, we make another batch immediately. We never send customers away empty-handed. We sell about 200 banana fritters a day,” said Sureshkumar to Local18
For those travelling from Tamil Nadu to Kerala, this tea shop sends them off with a warm cup of tea. Similarly, it welcomes tourists coming from Kerala to Tamil Nadu with tea. So, the next time you decide to visit Tenkasi, you know where to take your tea break.
Comments
0 comment