The most revered beverage in India is chai, which is highly adaptable. Like the supreme God, chai is ubiquitous in India, from a poor man’s hut to the billionaire’s and superstar’s mansion, from a roadside stall to a restaurant in the 5-star Taj Hotel, from rural interiors to urban hangouts, from train platforms to a height of 35000 feet, from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, and from a writer’s desk to an IT employee’s favorite past time. According to estimates, India alone used more than 1.1 billion kg of Desi chai (tea) in 2021.
This is the case in all the states of India but specifically in Kolkata, a cup of tea, or Ek cup cha, represents the essence of existence. In Kolkata, it is customary for hosts to serve guests tea and a few snacks like biscuits. The City of Joy, discussing and debating the status of the world while sipping hot tea at a tea stall is a morning habit. In the City of Rabindranath Tagore, tea is a necessary stimulant served alongside a sizable bowl of jhalmuri and tele bhaja (fritters) at any point, a gathering of friends or family.
Kolkata Chai Co.: Brewing Nostalgia and Authentic Indian Chai in New York
Ani and Ayan Sanyal, an Indian American sibling duo, have been brewing desi chai for thousands of Indians in and around New York since 2018. They had grown weary of the westernized varieties of tea in the USA. One of the few things that have bridged the gap between their lives in America and the one they led while on vacation in India is chai. In their thirties, Ayan and Ani Sanyal founded Kolkata Chai Co. in New York, a genuine Indian tea business, out of their love for Kolkata, respect for the local heritage, cha desires, and, most significantly, nostalgia.
From Kolkata’s Streets to Manhattan’s Heart: The Kolkata Chai Co Journey – A Tale of Authentic Desi Chai Success
The Sanyal brothers’ journeys to India served as the inspiration for the creation of the Kolkata Chai Co. Their taste buds would start to yearn for the flavor of the street food and roadside tea vendors that the City of Joy is famous for as soon as they booked their flight tickets from USA to Kolkata for vacations. Every time they traveled to Kolkata, their excitement would come to a head with a stop at their parents’ preferred tea shops. For lovers of art and culture, the trip is just as sacred as those to College Street, Coffee House, Nandan, and the Victoria Memorial. The flavor and scent of chai prepared even by traditional stalls in Kolkata’s backstreets and passages are hard to find in any American tea brand.
After returning from one such eye-opening journey to the City of Joy in 2017, Ani and Anil began to formulate ideas and business strategies to realize their ambition of bringing authentic desi chai to America. Desi chai’s pilot testing in farmers’ markets and cooking classes received a resoundingly positive reaction, giving them the go-ahead to open Kolkata Chai Co in 2019. The Kolkata Chai Café is now a famous landmark on the lower side of Manhattan and a must-visit location for fans of Indian tea.
Adapting to the Pandemic: A Café’s Journey from Closure to Nationwide Chai Mix Success
The pandemic closed the café just as business was about to pick up. In a metropolis like New York, starting a firm is unquestionably a capital-intensive process. Additionally, the epidemic made it much harder to maintain business since public life came to a standstill not just in New York but across the globe. In the intervals between the pandemic’s two waves, they began delivering chai from door to door throughout the city. Additionally, they developed Chai Mix and started distributing it around the nation. The popular packaged product known as Chai Mix, which comes in a variety of flavors and is described as being produced with leaves of organic Assam tea and premium spices was and is in high demand.
The menu at Kolkata Chai Café features a variety of teas, including Assam Milk Chai, Masala Chai, Kesar Chai, Ginger Chai, Iced Chai, and Oatmilk Chai. Seasonal specialties on the menu include Almond Milk, Masala Limca, and Turmeric Latte (haldi doodh). Chai and samosa are the ideal Indian coupling, whether they are served at the Sanyal brothers’ café in New York or a little tea shop in India. As a result, samosa with mint and tamarind chutney is on the menu. The brothers have brought a taste of Kolkata’s street food scene to New York with their egg roll menu. In Bengal, egg rolls rule the ambiance of evening activities. However, Jhal muri are surprisingly not on the menu at the Kolkata Chai Café in New York.
One of the top hangouts for Indians living in or traveling to the United States is the Kolkata Chai Café in New York City. Thousands of Indians in the USA have selected Tripbeam as their dependable travel booking partner.