I had my first pink Kashmiri chai (Butter chai) from The Chai Spot on Mott Street and it was absolutely incredible. This tea house has the most beautiful story, founded by a Pakistani / Italian-American couple in 2013 with a goal to focus on peace-building between the East and the West. The Chai Spot is a social enterprise that not only serves authentic chai and local snacks but also works with women in a dozen different villages in the Sindh and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan to bring beautiful goods to us in Sedona and NYC. Read more about the amazing impact here.
As soon as I entered The Chai Spot, I felt transported to Pakistan with the beautiful colours, textures and the aromas of cardamom and cinnamon. The menu has a few coffee options but is primary chai based with all chais made from scratch with fresh spices and traditional recipes. They serve both hot and iced chais along with traditional Pakistani snacks that took me back to my childhood! I grabbed my Kashmiri chai, topped with pistachios, kicked off my shoes, and enjoyed the communal vibes in the lounge area that was covered in beautiful rugs.
I really love the story here and hope to come back soon!
