Chai simply means tea, and Walah indicates the person performing the task. They are an entrepreneurial group, often moving from city to city setting up their street side stall ready to impress the customers with their tea and skills. Some stalls have been passed down through generations, but now the younger chaitpreneurs are taking the Chai Walah concept to the next level with modernised infrastructure and a sustainable sourcing ethos.

There is no single recipe for Masala Chai, as every Chai Walah/Family holds strict control over their secrets. Masala refers to a combination of spices, however, many Chai Walahs just use 1 or 2 spices such as ginger and cardamom in their brew. In addition, some vendors opt to use condensed milk or buffalo milk providing a more creamy flavour than the normal whole milk we find in supermarket shelves. Really no 2 cups of chai are the same and that’s what we love about it.