Every Indian’s morning begins with tea. The whole day’s schedule is created from a cup of tea. And from that tea, words are composed. If that tea is Taj, then the happiness is double. The morning is filled with excitement. The sound of that tabla resonates in the mind. Because Taj had the magic of bringing tea to the limelight.
The brand of Sadharan Taj was given by Padma Vibhushan tabla player Zakir Hussain. The brand of tea changed from house to house. Slowly it became everyone’s favorite ‘Wow Taj’. That tabla player is not here today, but his presence reminds us of the taste of that tea.
Zakir Hussain, who introduced Taj Mahal tea to the world as ‘Wow Taj’, is no more. His family confirmed his death on Monday morning. He breathed his last at a San Francisco hospital. A premium tea brand in India, owned by a British company. It is called ‘Wow Taj’ across the country.
Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea was launched in Kolkata in 1966. Colour, aroma and taste were the three parameters by which Taj Mahal tea was made. Because tea, which was known as a Western brand, had to be renowned in India. Not only that, the beauty of the Taj Mahal had to be associated with tea.
The way to make tea famous was through advertising. And the only one suitable for advertising was Zakir Hussain. Zakir Hussain’s personality is the first choice for all three parameters of Taj Mahal tea. Because Zakir was only one of the great tabla players of the country. He lived in America, he had many unique features.
And Zakir Hussain came to Agra for the Taj Mahal tea advertisement. The Taj Mahal was in the background during the shooting of the advertisement. When Zakir Hussain drank the tea, ‘Wa, Ustad Wah!’ But Zakir Hussain said ‘Sir, say Wah Taj’. Not only Zakir Hussain, another tabla player Aditya Kalyanpur was also seen in the advertisement.
Zakir Hussain, Taj Mahal Tea’s pairing brought success. Many people knew the talent of the tablist Zakir along with tea. Taj was considered a household name in every household. Taj Mahal Tea got a good response in the Indian market for Zakir. Even today, the company is indebted to that great tablist.
