At the Taj - it seemed to me - India does Englishbetter than the British do, and nowhere is that moreevident than at High Tea at the Taj...Since it first opened in 1903, the Sea Lounge withits old colonial charm and a spectacular view of theArabian Sea, has served the hotel’s signature Taj HouseBlend (a muddling of assam and darjeeling) togetherwith an elaborate spread of scones, tarts, muffins,sandwiches and quiche) and local Mumbai treats toanyone who is prepared to stretch the budget just abit, not only to enjoy, but also to claim one of the finestexperiences to be had, anywhere in the world.But the Taj experience is not complete unless youalso indulge in the signature cocktail made famous bythe hotel’s iconic Harbour Bar...Curiously named, “From The Harbour Since 1933”,the cocktail is a delightful mix of gin, peach liqueur,fresh fruit, chartreuse liqueur, fresh juices, green applesand pomegranate seeds, spectacularly served as aburning liquid (yes, the mixture is actually set alight asit is poured into the frothy fruit juice).But it’s how this famous cocktail got its name thatreally fascinated me...In 1933, I am told, an American sailed into whatwas known back then as the ‘Bombay harbour’ aboardhis yacht. Upon his arrival, the sailor received atelephone call from his wife back home who told himabout the end of Prohibition in America. But alas,having just arrived from a ‘dry’ America, the sailorhad no alcohol on board his yacht to celebrate theoccasion. Then, he spotted the palatial Taj Mahal Hotelwhere he sought to “quench his thirst from the lastthirteen years” with a drink in the Harbour Bar. And tocelebrate the occasion, the bartender offered to makethe sailor a special cocktail, which the sailor couldname to mark the end of Prohibition in America.The sailor got onto a bar stool, raised this fierycocktail the bartender constructed for him and loudlyshouted out, “From The Harbour Since 1933”! Now, Ikinda suspect that the sailor never intended that to bethe name for the bartenders latest mix, but the phrasenevertheless stuck, and since then, many an occasionhas been celebrated to a round of “From The HarbourSince 1933” in the Harbour Bar at the Taj.I realise stories like these all sound a bit weird, butweird is something you just have to expect in India.I like weird.JourneysCuriousMich Immelman+2782 567 6933mich@CuriousJourneys.co.zaCuriousJourneys.co.za20SA&BEYOND
SOUTH AFRICAMcGREGORfor aSoulfulGetawayBY DAWN JORGENSENStreet Scene Photos: Dawn JorgensenSA&BEYOND 21
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