ASHOK Batra, a ruggedly handsome man, is Cochin�s big shot for tea. He is a professional tea taster and the managing director for J. Thomas & Co. Pvt. Ltd., the largest tea broker in the world, and probably the oldest. The company was established in 1861 and has been the market leader for public tea auctions since then. Auctions, that get the seller and buyer together, are the most transparent and honest way to sell bulk tea in a quick manner.

Over a cup of Darjeeling tea in his office at Nilhat House, Willingdon Island, he explained what J. Thomas & Co. was all about: �We are tasters, auctioneers, market consultants, the main source worldwide for statistics on tea (such as information on crops and rainfall anywhere), we offer advisory services to tea manufacturers that help keep the tea industry growing. With our knowledge � and we keep a finger on the pulse of buyers all over the world, we forecast the tea market, and we tell clients when to sell their stocks and when to hold back. For instance, there is no point telling a producer to market his tea if the US is not buying. And through our auctions, we balance the supply and demand of tea, besides getting the best possible prices and collecting sales tax on behalf of the government. In short, we are a one-stop shop for tea.�

He is a big tea drinker, naturally, being so close to good tea has become a habit with Batra. Morning to evening, in his cosy office, he is having as close to the perfect cup of tea as is possible. And he has several cups a day. Darjeeling second flush, worldwide, it is recognised as being the best cuppa. From his college days, Batra was interested in tea. An uncle was a planter in Darjeeling. And Batra grew to love life in the outdoors. The idea of a desk job was appalling. And the idea of working on a tea garden, miles away from the next man, was appealing. �The tea garden manager is king, he presides over the estate, I almost joined a tea company in Assam but the tea industry was changing � the burra sahib days were over. So I did the next best thing. I joined a company that offered me the opportunity to go to tea gardens seven days a month to coordinate tastings with the manufacturers,� Batra said. His expertise gives him a good idea of what is going wrong in a tea factory and with his knowledge, Batra can rectify the product so as to fetch it a better price in the market.