In India, Tea (Chai in Hindi) is the most popular and widely consumed hot beverage. It is consumed daily in almost all houses, in fact without tea, India does not have the beginning of the morning. In fact daily I used to drink at least 5 cups of tea. Tea is a way of life in India, and is declared as national drink. Almost everywhere you go in trains, on streets, in shops, in Malls you will see people gulping down this sweet, spicy, milky beverage. If you go to someone’s house in India, there is a 100 percent chance of tea being served. The common recipe of Indian tea includes black boiled tea mixed with milk and sugar but people put their own spin on it, with the addition of spices such as ginger, dry ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, black peppercorns and cloves.
In almost all cities, towns, villages you’ll find small tea vendors in every corner with their enormous steel pots or kettles full of simmering tea. This small stalls who specifically sell tea are called tea-corner or tea-stall e.g. “Raju Tea Stall”, “Banti Tea Corner” etc. etc. Yes these people use English word “Tea” in their shop names instead chai.
The word ‘chai’ become famous in last 4 -5 years when Mr. Narendra Modi became the prime minister of India. In his early life in childhood he used to sell tea in railway station. Some leaders start to call him ‘Chai wala’, and then the buzz word ‘chai’ went on the tongue of Indian people. During past three-four years a phenomenal growth in the popularity and interest in chai has been seen. Youngsters are now starting a chai-café or chai-parlor startup with more space instead of small tea-stall (गुमटी). Alone in Jabalpur city, more than 20 chai-café such as Chai-Square, Chai-wala, Chai-Ustad, Chai-hub, Chai-sutta-baar, chai-ka-panchnama etc. got open where this popular hot beverage in various flavor like, Adrak Chai, Masala Chai, Elaichi-chai, Chocolate chai etc. are served along with some snacks. These chai-cafes are more popular among youngsters, they used these places to hangout and chill with friend or just sit and work. I am a very fond of tea so I decided to cover the story of these new non traditional startups of Chai-Café. Here are some popular chai cafes of Jabalpur city :
The Chai Square (Napier Town):
This is perhaps the first start-up of chai-cafe in Jabalpur town. Location of this chai-café is prime i.e. in Napier town home science college road. Students of many colleges and coaching classes in this road made it popular very soon as soon as it got opened. In the evening you will find so many youngsters here with the cup of tea and maska bun. Ambience and décor is good. They have both indoor and outdoor seating capacity. Comfortable different seating styles High Chairs, Sofas ,Table-chair with live music and theth desi Jabalpuriya andaj (ठेठ देसी जबलपुरिया अंदाज) made this place popular.
The Chai Square (Civil Lines):
After the success of its first venture, chain of two more Chai Square cafés, one at Civil lines near second bridge and second in Vijay Nagar with the same feeling got opened. The Chai square in civil line is best among the three. It is bright and very well decorated, air-conditioned, spacious and is with good quality furniture. The ambience is good and you can find people of all age groups at this place. It is a bit on the costlier side, but the tea served here is good. Lot of parking space in front of it make it more inviting.
The Chai Square (Vijay Nagar):
This is the third venture of Chai square situated at vijay nagar area. The dining area is well designed, nicely decorated, high ceilings with different furniture styles. For small groups separate area is also there. Taste of tea is good, rates are little high and limited parking area. Overall good to spent timed with friends in the evening.
Chai Shai Bar :
The next chai-café which impress by its location and ambience is Chai-Shai Bar. This chai café is located in front of Manas Bhavan Wright Town. The interior of this Chai café is impressive and wel decorated, mostly wooden texture, Kitchen area is in front side so that you can customize your order And yes last but not the least its a pocket friendly too. Wall and piller side high chairs provide good seating experience while the large group may use wooden-stick-stool to sit around. Taste of chai is good and is served in environment friendly mitti-kullhad.
Chai-Sutta Bar:
The Chai-Sutta Bar (Cuddle the Kulhad) in the wright town is another good Chai-cafe. It’s a small Chai café as compare to others, It has only outdoor seating which is more beautiful in the time of evening. Prices are reasonable service is fast and the establishment is clean. Chai served in Mitti-Kullhad which is good. In the Night, view of shop is looks good and impressive. Good place to hang around with friends in the evening time.
Chai Station Labour Chowk
This chay café is in ground floor of 3 story building surrounded by many coaching classes. Ambience of the café is good and decorative. Although the taste is good but the rates here as compare to other chai café are high. Besides chai, they also serve maggi noodeles and other snack items etc. on the demand of youth. Only indoor different style seating is here.
Chai ka Panchnama Vijay Nagar
Chai ka Panchnama is another small startup in the location vijay nagar. Reception looks attractive and brightly lit. Limited seating space is there in both inside and outside the café. In the evening open air seating in traditional wooden-stick stools, dim light with music attracts youth. This café is soon become popular among youth because the prices are reasonable, service is quick and taste of Chai is Good.
Chai Hub Gwarighat:
This is another small startup in the Gwarighat area by the local youths. Simple Interior, light decoration with some stickers on wall tried to give desi look. Both Indoor high chair and outside open seating is also available. The surrounding view of bank of Narmada especially at night looks stunning. Prices of everything is reasonable, establishment is clean.
Kullad Tandori Chay:
Kullad Tandori Chay is a simple, small traditional chay stall at choupati Vijay nagar with new chay making concept Tandoori Chay. Indian Traditional spiced milk tea is pour into red hot mitti kullhad which gives it a unique taste and then serve in normal kullhad. For making kullhad red hot a coal tandoor is used that is why it is called Kullhad Tandori Chay. Seating is open in front of stall, taste of chai is different and rates are reasonable.
Chay Wala:
This startup is in wright town area, small but well decorated and unique seating concept ‘Swing’. The lighting is great. The cafe is decorated with lights which is a treat to the eye. They have both indoor and outdoor seating area. Swing in the outdoor with grassy floor gives it a unique look. Taste of tea is good Rates are reasonable.
Chay Ustad:
Chay Ustad is located at banadariya Tiraha Gwarighat road. The interiors of this café is beautiful with wooden theme beautifully decorated, Guitar on a wall give it a classy look.The setup inside the restaurant is quite nice, all seating is with high chairs. The best part of this restaurant is his night light. The cafe, along with chay serve breakfast too.
Besides the above Chay cafés some other chay cafes like at link road ‘Chai Sutta Bar’, at Madan Mahal ‘Nukkad MM Alive Chay’, at Chhoti line fatak ‘Chai Wala Adda’ and ‘Chai Ka Panchnama’ at Gwarighat are some more new chay startup getting gradually famous among youths.
Hope you like this story of “Chay-Walas” of Jabalpur. Happy Chyas!
