In this blog post, I review Chaayos, one of the most cherished Chai Cafe brands in Delhi-NCR.
Did you know that India is the largest producer and consumer of black tea in the world today, with approximately 90% of households drinking the beverage? But for all this love of tea, it wasn't until Chaayos that tea cafes became successful.
Chaayos is the brainchild of IIT alumnus Nitin Saluja and Raghav Verma, who founded the company in 2012, with the aim to capitalize on India's small yet growing business of chai cafes.
In a country where the humble cup of tea is consumed at homes, workplaces, roadside tea stalls, etc., who could've thought that two young entrepreneurs would make India's unofficial national beverage their flagship product! The brand is owned by the Sunshine Teahouse, which is backed by New York based Tiger Global.
At Chaayos, you can pick and choose from 12 basic ingredients, including cardamom and holy basil. The company intends to sell affordable, customizable brews only. When you walk inside a Chaayos outlet, you can create your preferred type of tea priced anywhere between ₹ 46 and ₹ 149.
The seasonal menu at Chaayos features a variety of food items such as pakoras and egg buns, an offering that makes the cafe a popular choice among discerning foodies.
I recently tried their monsoon menu, which contains an exciting new range of delicious food and tea options such as Loaded Open Paratha (Chicken and Paneer), Shahi Tea, Kulhad Jalebi, Baarish Wale Pakode (Chaayos Special Assorted Pakora Basket), Kulhad Masala Chicken Kulcha, Bun Samosa, and Kadhai Chicken Sandwich.
With over 37 stores in Delhi, Mumbai, and Chandigarh combined, Chaayos is all set to grow bigger and better, experimenting with different formats, for instance, there are plans to open more 24-hour outlets across the country (Gurgaon has one already!) and add new technologies to change the way we drink tea.
By mid-2018, Chaayos intends to open 75 outlets in its existing markets. This is still less in comparison to its biggest rival Chai Point, which launched in 2010 and has nearly 94 stores in Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, and Bengaluru.
The company is investing heavily on minimizing human intervention; by designing specialized machines called Chai Monks, the idea is to make perfect cups of tea every time and at every location. These machines will soon be rolled out across Chaayos' stores.
As a matter of fact, Chaayos is not just a chain of contemporary chai cafes that sell or promote teas; they're equally gung ho about seasonal comfort/street food and other popular thirst quenchers.
What makes them truly stand apart from competitors such as Nukkadwala, Chai Point, and Tea Trails are hygiene, variety, and ambiance, chipping away at the ascendance that coffee chains like Cafe Coffee Day have enjoyed time and again.
Did you know that India is the largest producer and consumer of black tea in the world today, with approximately 90% of households drinking the beverage? But for all this love of tea, it wasn't until Chaayos that tea cafes became successful.
Chaayos is the brainchild of IIT alumnus Nitin Saluja and Raghav Verma, who founded the company in 2012, with the aim to capitalize on India's small yet growing business of chai cafes.
In a country where the humble cup of tea is consumed at homes, workplaces, roadside tea stalls, etc., who could've thought that two young entrepreneurs would make India's unofficial national beverage their flagship product! The brand is owned by the Sunshine Teahouse, which is backed by New York based Tiger Global.
At Chaayos, you can pick and choose from 12 basic ingredients, including cardamom and holy basil. The company intends to sell affordable, customizable brews only. When you walk inside a Chaayos outlet, you can create your preferred type of tea priced anywhere between ₹ 46 and ₹ 149.
The seasonal menu at Chaayos features a variety of food items such as pakoras and egg buns, an offering that makes the cafe a popular choice among discerning foodies.
I recently tried their monsoon menu, which contains an exciting new range of delicious food and tea options such as Loaded Open Paratha (Chicken and Paneer), Shahi Tea, Kulhad Jalebi, Baarish Wale Pakode (Chaayos Special Assorted Pakora Basket), Kulhad Masala Chicken Kulcha, Bun Samosa, and Kadhai Chicken Sandwich.
With over 37 stores in Delhi, Mumbai, and Chandigarh combined, Chaayos is all set to grow bigger and better, experimenting with different formats, for instance, there are plans to open more 24-hour outlets across the country (Gurgaon has one already!) and add new technologies to change the way we drink tea.
By mid-2018, Chaayos intends to open 75 outlets in its existing markets. This is still less in comparison to its biggest rival Chai Point, which launched in 2010 and has nearly 94 stores in Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, and Bengaluru.
The company is investing heavily on minimizing human intervention; by designing specialized machines called Chai Monks, the idea is to make perfect cups of tea every time and at every location. These machines will soon be rolled out across Chaayos' stores.
As a matter of fact, Chaayos is not just a chain of contemporary chai cafes that sell or promote teas; they're equally gung ho about seasonal comfort/street food and other popular thirst quenchers.
What makes them truly stand apart from competitors such as Nukkadwala, Chai Point, and Tea Trails are hygiene, variety, and ambiance, chipping away at the ascendance that coffee chains like Cafe Coffee Day have enjoyed time and again.
Chaayos surely expanding tea culture in Delhi. Stylish decor and a Starbucks style menu made it clear that they are adamant on making tea fashionable. The menu had very many options from the conventional desi chais to the more up-market English breakfast and Ice tea with fresh fruit pulp.
ReplyDeleteI heard lot about Chaayos But I never went there. After reading your article, I wish to visit chaayos and order some flavoured tea with snacks.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that chaayos was instrumental in bringing the culture of tea cafes into the NCR, however, surprisingly, i have never had a good cup of tea here. The food menu is good (tho' I feel they are over priced). overall, as a business model, i feel there is a lot we can learn from this brand.
ReplyDeleteTea is religion in our country & im loyal to it. A true blue tea lover, loved this post , love Chayos but got to know the bts story today.
ReplyDeleteYour blog always makes me hungry.. :D
ReplyDeleteChaayos is indeed a good option for all tea-lovers. However, I find them a bit of expensive. I tried their Desi Chai of 200ml once in Mumbai, and I paid Rs 100 for it inclusive of taxes...! ALthough they maintain a good sitting space with lots of add-ons, but somehow I was not so impressed with them.. May be because I am not a Tea-lover... But overall, my experience was good. Their service was nice.
I have been to this place with a friend and I agree the chai is definitely the best but also the seasonal snack food got us drooling. It took us back to College time when it was all about chai and vada pav
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of Chaayos and I love the snack we get there. I often visit it in Mumbai too.
ReplyDeleteThankfully I have been to Chaayos hehe. First outlet visited from your blog.
ReplyDeleteAs am a tea lover, I enjoyed sipping chai at their outlet.
Hope to visit soon again.
I loved the idea and the name of kulhad wali jalebi and chai ka combination. Baarish and Chai go well together. A fan of lemongrass wali chai during this season.
ReplyDeleteI have heard a lot about this place but never visited. Should plan soon.
ReplyDeleteHope along with the chai they have good and yummy snacks too. Less spicy ones. I'm tired of searching for my type of snacks.
ReplyDeleteI love the tea cafes and I generally explore them when I come down to Bangalore. There are a few of them there as well. Chaayos does look one of those amazing places where one can taste varieties of tea and have a nice chilled out evening reading a book.
ReplyDeleteChaayos is even in Mumbai but I hve not been there anytime but liked the fact that they r trying to make tea as popular as any coffee shop.... I am a tea love and now I've to try this place out.
ReplyDeleteChaayos is definitely one of our favorite hangout place. Reasons are affordable varieties of tea, great ambiance, child friendly and amazing snack items. Many times, I also like to hangout alone with a cup of chai in my hand and a book on another or when I really need a place to be alone and pen down my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteChaayos has gained popularity with their unique menu items and the amazing tea flavours. I enjoy their chai and pakores with kulche chole the most.
ReplyDelete