The café, which literally translates to tea shop, began in Penang in 2018 with one objective: to give a modern twist to the roadside tea stalls of India.
While bubble tea and matcha were stealing the spotlight at the time, this traditional Indian milk tea has grown into a trend of its own, with spots like Tea Thambi and The New Madras opening up.
Among the first to lead the way was Indian Muslim Mohamed Rizwan Khan, co-founder of the well-known Tea Kadai franchise.
After building a loyal following with two outlets in Penang, Rizwan took the next step on July 16 with the opening of their third, and biggest, branch – located in Kuala Lumpur.
FMT Lifestyle paid a visit there recently, speaking with Rizwan to uncover the secret behind the franchise’s success.
Right outside the Brickfields café, a mural of their first shop instantly catches the eye. 68 Queen Street in Penang, is where it all began.
“It’s a short street with just a few shops. Nasi kandar, nasi dalcha, and then us with one small space. Our mindset was simple: people would eat there and then come over to Tea Kadai to have a nice glass of tea,” Rizwan shared.
In 2017 his brother, Abdul Fais, flew to South India to carry out some research about tea drinkers there.
“In India, they drink around seven glasses of tea a day. There’s a saying that for every 30 km they travel, they stop for a glass of tea,” Rizwan said.
While there, he travelled to different towns tasting and studying how the tea was made, from the blend to the aroma.
Rizwan recalled the moment their shop first shot to fame. “Just two months after we opened, the legendary late actor Vivek happened to be in Penang, and he visited our shop.
“Someone snapped a picture of him at Tea Kadai and that photo went viral overnight,” Rizwan said.
Since then, Tea Kadai has grown by leaps and bounds. Just last year, they opened a second branch on Chulia Street to accommodate larger crowds.
One reason for their popularity is affordability. “We want everybody to be able to enjoy our tea. That’s why, at our first shop, the price is still at RM1.60 for one glass.”
In Indian stalls, tea is traditionally served in small “cutting” glasses, carried on a classic “thooki” that holds six at a time. Tea Kadai decided to replicate the experience.
FMT Lifestyle tried their signature tea and bru coffee, and both were soul-hugging.
The tea leans on the less-sweet side, letting the fragrant blend shine. It has rosy notes, balanced well so it’s neither too bitter nor too light. The milk-to-tea ratio isn’t too thick which means you can easily down a second, or third glass.
They also offer several spins on tea, including masala tea, vanilla tea, and ginger tea. And despite the name Tea Kadai the coffee is just as memorable.
Pair your tea with biscuits. The Punjabi biscuits here are perfect for dunking, with a nutty, spiced flavour.
Traditional picks like Kolcha suji biscuits and Kerala’s crispy Kuzhalappam – a sesame-studded rice flour cannoli – are perfect additions.
There are also cold drinks on the menu including banana cheese tea, lattes and iced chocolate.
For something savoury, check out their hot bites: unique Bajji chips (fritters of raw banana, eggplant, and onion), chicken samosa cheese rolls, and of course pani puri.
The favourite? The masala chaval bites, more commonly known as paniyaram. These are fluffy little balls filled with potato masala and served with mint chutney. Think of it as eating the softest, bite-sized dosa.
With Tea Kadai eyeing further growth, perhaps even expansion overseas, Malaysians can take pride in this Penang-born franchise that’s revolutionising Indian tea for all.
Follow Tea Kadai on Instagram.
Tea Kadai Brickfields
LG-02, Menara Sentral Vista
150, Jln Sultan Abdul Samad
Brickfields
50470 Kuala Lumpur
Business hours:
1pm-12am (Monday-Thursday; Saturday-Sunday)
3pm-12am (Friday)