Taramani, known for its buzzing IT sector, hospitals, and college campuses, relies heavily on these local shops for chatting, meeting friends, and taking a quick break over a drink. From tea shops outside DLF Downtown to coconut carts at dawn, the locality’s summer specials tell a story of tradition, hustle, and quenched thirst.

At the corner of DLF Downtown, Shiva’s tea shop is always bustling with office workers and serves as a daily stop for around 100-150 people. Along with tea, filter coffee, buttermilk, and snacks, tea remains the best-selling beverage. Near the SRP Tools bus stand, there is a street with a tea and juice shop popular among locals. Located close to office spaces and college campuses, it has become part of many people’s everyday routine. With a team of 4-5 employees, the shop caters to a staggering 10,000-20,000 customers per month, though the numbers sometimes dip to around 5,000. “Office-goers come here for a quick break and fruit juices add to the mix, with mosambi, apple, and mango juices priced at Rs 25 drawing steady crowds,” says employee Biru Yadav.

A small roadside sugarcane juice stall, strategically located between a hospital and a corporate building, is run by an elderly couple - Jacklin and Devdas. The stall sells cold, refreshing sugarcane juice for Rs 25 and attracts about 50 customers a day. However, weekends are usually quiet, as the couple often travels back to their village. Patients’ families and office-goers stop by for a quick cooling break in the middle of long days.