Every district and upazila of the country has some special or well-known places and foods. Those places or foods spread the identity of that district or upazila across the country.
Sreemangal in Moulvibazar district has gained worldwide recognition as a tourist city, the capital of tea and pineapple, and the seven-colored tea.
This tea, with seven layers of seven colors in the same glass, is unique and amazing in taste. The popularity of this amazing tea has long since spread beyond the borders of the country to different countries of the world. Almost everyone in the country's political, social, and cultural arena, including diplomats, senior government and private officials, established businessmen of the country, and the common people have tasted the taste of this tea.
There are very few people in the country who have come to Sreemangal for a trip or for any other reason and have not drunk the seven-layer tea of the Nilkantha Tea Cabin. The inventor of seven-layer tea in the same glass is Ramesh Ram Gaur. His original home is in Atanibazar area of Muktagachha upazila of Mymensingh district. He has been permanently residing with his family in Sreemangal of Moulvibazar district for almost twenty-five years. Ramesh Ram Gaur said, 'I myself am the inventor of seven-layer tea in the same glass.
“Once upon a time, I was a partner of a small businessman in Atani Bazar, Muktagachha Upazila, Mymensingh. But my other partner embezzled all the money from the business and put me in a lot of trouble. As a result, in the first week of March 2000, I moved to Sreemangal with just 1500 Tk with my family. At that time, I rented a house in the suburbs of Ramnagar Manipuripara and started working in a shop in the new market of the city. But I was not satisfied with the job. I felt the urge to do something myself. As a result, in August of that year, I quit my job and opened a small tea shop in the small market next to the Kakiachhara Tea Garden Primary School adjacent to the Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI),” he said.
“Milk tea and colored tea are available everywhere. So I thought of doing something alternative. At one time, through thought and hard work, in 2002, I discovered two layers or two-colored tea in the same glass; which became a topic of discussion everywhere. The reputation of this tea spread everywhere. My tea buyers started increasing. There was a time when I had to make two-colored tea 24 hours a day and night. After discovering two-colored tea, my self-confidence increased. I gradually started increasing the level of tea. Which currently has eight layers or eight colors. However, seven-colored tea is more popular” he added.
Regarding the ingredients for making tea, he said, "I make this tea using selected clone teas from the market and various spices. Currently, in my shop, I am selling eight-layer tea for 85 Tk, seven-layer tea for 75 Tk, six-layer tea for 60 Tk, five-layer tea for 50 Tk, four-layer tea for 40 Tk, three-layer tea for 30 Tk, and two-layer tea for 20 Tk per glass. Apart from these teas, my shop also sells high special tea for 50 Tk, malta tea for 30 Tk, malai tea for 30 Tk, special milk tea for 20 Tk, leaf tea for 20 Tk, special lemon tea for 20 Tk, green tea for 15 Tk, ginger tea for 10 Tk, red tea for 10 Tk, lemon tea for 10 Tk, and white tea for 10 Tk per cup.”
“Currently, I have two shops named Adi Neelkantha Tea Cabin and Neelkantha Tea Cabin. Adi Neelkantha Tea Cabin is located at the entrance of Ramnagar Manipuripara in Sreemangal and Neelkantha Tea Cabin is located at the canteen of 46, Border Guard Battalion, Kalighat Road. Adi Neelkantha Tea Cabin is managed by my son Rajib Ram Gaur and I myself manage the Neelkanth Tea Cabin located at the canteen of 46, Border Guard Battalion, “ he also added.
