There can be no better time or place to write about Chaayos – monsoons, Mumbai and Chaayos! Can there be a more perfect match?
Chaayos makes me proud. To think how tall they stand in the face of a Starbucks, and how they have revolutionized and liberated our humble “desi” chai up against the foreign-returned lattes! I know Chaayos from the time that they were setting up their first kiosk in Building 5, Cyber City, Gurgaon. We would hang out for a quick bite (I don’t drink tea), my coworkers/friends had their customized tea. Nitin Saluja was almost always found there, he would chat up, explain his concept, talk about his vision and guide us to new things from his menu. He obviously does not remember us, but we remember him, vividly. Because we knew he has felt the country’s pulse at the right time and that him and his partner were all set to sweep the nation by chai!
From there on, I have followed their journey closely, have been to almost all their outlets in Delhi. Then I moved to Mumbai. And Chaayos moved to Mumbai! I took up a house in Bandra and Chaayos was setting up shop in Bandra. Honestly, I only went to Chaayos for breakfast or for their sandwiches, and occasionally for their cold creamy beverages. However, now is a different time, a different place altogether. It is Mumbai and it is my first monsoon in the city!
I love monsoons (minus the potholes, traffic and dirty water while having to travel to work). So when Chaayos opened their 4th outlet in Powai and we had an opportunity to head there on a rainy evening, I got converted. I had tea, all kinds. Kulhad wali chai, aam papad chai, and honey ginger lemon chai. I loved these three, totally. My colleagues had their very own customised desi chai (they are big chai drunkards), sometimes “kadak” (strong) with “adrak” (ginger), sometimes more milk, and elaichi adrak and many other various types. I was a total novice in this area, but I am now motivated to learn, to break out of my “no-tea” shell! And while having the various kinds of tea, how could we miss the keema pao, the bun maska and the mushroom sandwich with the amazing dip.
Chaayos has almost changed the way the world thinks of chai. For Indians, as passionate and as possessive as they are about their “kind” of chai, I guess Chaayos has EVERYONE covered, with their 12,000 ways of customizing your very own chai. And then there is “mobile” chai, all packed in insulated packaging. You can takeaway chai for 4-10 people in different sized packing. They have the age old concept of “thandi” (cold) chai, they have Ayurvedic “Bhagwan” ki (God’s) chai. You name it, they have it. Plus the relaxed, comfortable, cool seating, witty graffiti, and quirky decor – it is a package you cannot ignore.
The Powai outlet could feel small for the enthusiasm that Powai holds for a place like this – chilled, relaxed, no stress to rush – the quintessential cafe but serving India’s favorite beverage. Bandra outlet is larger, more spacious, with both outdoor as well as indoor seating. It cannot get any more romantic!
