Harmattan: Tea vendors make brisk businesses in Kano

Tea vendors and bean cake sellers are recording high sales as the cold occasioned by the Harmattan bites harder in the ancient Kano city.

Our correspondent, who went around the metropolis, reports that residents now rush for hot tea and beverages to mitigate the effects of the cold.

Some of the vendors, who spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday, said they were enjoying appreciable patronage since the Harmattan set in in the past few weeks.

Malam Buba Musa, a tea vendor in the Dakata area of the metropolis, said he was making good sales of black tea, especially during the morning hours.

“Most of my customers are commercial tricycle operators, students, and laborers; they come as early as 6:30 a.m. to keep themselves warm,” he said.

Another tea seller, Ali Sabo at Zoo Road, said the demand had doubled, and expressed delight over the improved patronage, adding “l made good savings from the trade.”

Another tea vendor, Isiyaku Bala at Unguwa – Uku Quarters, said that he engaged his brother to assist him in serving customers who trooped to his stand daily.

According to him, a cup of tea is between N100 and N200, and a plate of noodles costs between N200 and N350, depending on the customer’s preference.

Corroborating Bala, Mr Adamu Yahaya, a tea vendor at Hausawa, said the demand for tea increased significantly, leading to a business boom.

“Before, many customers complained of high cost of bread, but now they buy without reservation to warm up their bodies,” he said.

Amina Isa, who sells bean cake, said that she sold two coolers of pap in a day, as opposed to one before the Harmattan.

Similarly, Hadiza Kabir, described the bean cake trade as “lucrative,” especially at this time of year.

“My sales have doubled since the season sets in, the demand is high and sometimes I am unable to meet it,” she said.

Nura Zakaria, a customer, said it was natural for people to patronise these vendors to cope with the cold.

For his part, Salim Bako, said he visited the tea joint twice a day since the arrival of the Harmattan.