It’s six in the evening, and one tea store near Akankha more in New Town is a hub of activity. Bikers having an adda session outside, the office crowd squeezing themselves onto the sole bench inside the shop and a car with newlyweds bickering over which cha to order — they weren’t waiting a few years for that argument.
This is Munshi Tea & Food. As we snake our way through to chat with Imran Munshi, the 25-year-old who runs the establishment, he proceeds to speak to us warmly and patiently.
“Our biggest rush time is actually around 9pm. We’re practically open all day — from 7am to 11pm,” he says. Watching him expertly juggle our questions with orders from regulars, all of which he memorises, it’s easy to see why the shop has grown into one of the most popular outlets in New Town.
Munshi’s is open from 7am to 11pm and almost always busy, but rush hour is usually around 9pm Vedant Karia
Humble beginnings to new heights
It started as a small tea shop in 2005, run by Munshi’s father Abdul Wahab. The area hardly had any activity then. Munshi fondly remembers helping out at the shop after school, even making the tea himself sometimes. He attributes the shop’s success to all the experience he’s had in these years.
Munshi’s now has two outlets on the same street and they serve not just tea, but coffee and snacks too. “Both outlets employ 10 people each. We use approximately 50 litres of milk per shop every day and serve about 500 cups of tea each. I have customers who regularly come from Park Street for our chai,” he says.
The shops serve different kinds of tea, including lemon tea (Rs 10), masala tea (Rs 20) and malai tea (Rs 25). While the simple chai, starting from Rs 10 is the top-selling item, it is the kesar tea (Rs 30) and chocolate tea (Rs 20) that are the biggest attractions.
While the simple chai remains the best-seller, it is usually the kesar tea and chocolate tea that attracts people Vedant Karia
Unique ‘cha’ with some ‘ta’
While he does stock paper cups, most of the teas are served in a bhar. The kesar tea comes in a special goblet-like earthen cup. A great way to wake up your senses is by breathing in the heady fragrance of saffron before taking a sip.
The thought of chocolate-flavoured tea might make many — understandably — cringe, but Munshi’s concoction creates the right blend of chai and chocolate, creating a great post-meal sweetener. “We were the first in New Town to come up with chocolate tea. We took feedback from customers after making them experimental teas for a while and came up with a blend with tea, Hershey’s caramel syrup and Cadbury cocoa powder,” Munshi explains. Initially planned as a month-long offering only, they included the beverage in their menu permanently after it became a hit with customers.
Along with cha, they make an assortment of kebabs (starting at Rs 100), chicken momos (Rs 50) and other snacks that will test your resolve to diet. Chances are you’ll be munching on a samosa (Rs 6) on your way out.
‘I have simple rules for my staff: treat customers well and focus on providing quality service,’ Munshi says Vedant Karia
Secret to success
Munshi believes that the taste of their food and drinks makes people return to the shops, but there may be something more to it. Perhaps it is his infectious energy, which makes customers feel valued and welcome.
“I have simple rules for my staff: treat customers well and focus on providing quality service — they’ll keep coming back,” he grins.