Tea boutique sells Rs 33,000 a kilo chai

Chado, credited for popularising tea-culture in coffee-loving Los Angeles, now has a new ambition to re-educate Indian tea drinkers on how to sip their chai. What's On stopped by at their High Street Phoenix stall

The name "Chado" was created by fusing Chinese and Japanese words for tea with the term "Sado", which refers to the Japanese "way of tea" or tea-ceremony. And with his Mumbai franchise, Amit Mehta, Deven Shah's nephew (Deven is proprietor of the LA-based company), tells us he hopes to introduce Mumbai to a brand new way of enjoying tea. "The idea is to create awareness about tea and the myriad ways in which it can be enjoyed," he says.

The Wine of the 21st century

8:04 With a growing demand for health foods around the world, Mehta is optimistic about the demand for his product. "It won't be long before tea, with its infinite health benefits, replaces wine as the connoisseur's choice," he says, inviting us to inhale the fragrance of some of the blends stocked on the shelves behind him. And the scents we take in an apricot and cinnamon blend and another one, aptly titled, Christmas Brew seem to perfectly complement the gloomy weather, instantaneously lifting spirits. Pointing at a copy of James Norwood Pratt's New Tea Lover's Treasury that's up for sale here at a discounted price of Rs 999, Mehta says Pratt, an authority on wine and tea, is on the board of the parent company and will, perhaps even be visiting the High Street Phoenix outlet to conduct tea-tasting sessions in a few months.

"Do you drink wine?" Mehta asks a passerby, inviting another curious onlooker to inhale the scent of a Smoked Tea (Rs 118 for 100 gms), which he says, "is a fragrance that smokers particularly enjoy as it almost replicates the flavour of cigarettes... and of course, the added advantage that it's tobacco-free."

In addition to Iced Teas and the Indian favourite, Masala Chai (Rs 37), they also stock a huge variety of green and white teas. "Oolong teas are great for weight loss," Mehta smiles, sharing that these are hot sellers already. And while the cheapest tea available here costs Rs 670 per kilo, the most expensive tea the Ceylon Golden Tips, which ostensibly makes your skin glow is priced at Rs 33,000 per kilo.

A thing of beauty
It's also worth sipping on one of the exotic floral teas here, even simply for the privilege of watching the gorgeous flowers bloom inside your glass tea cup.u00a0

If you plan to re-use the tea leaves, you may want to pick up a tea sock. These cost Rs 60 a piece and allow you to reserve the soaked tea for later re-use "Like a re-usable tea bag", Mehta explains. Coffee kettles with built-in infusers are also available (Rs 295 to Rs 445).

Outside: PVR cinemas at High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel.
The stall is open Monday to Sunday, 11 am to 11 pm.
Call: 32164466

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