"In Indian culture, offering chai is a genuine gesture of warmth and hospitality."
Let’s start with, how do you take your tea?
Favorite tea to be served is definitely chai.
Favorite tea to have on a regular basis is mint tea.
What role does tea play in your daily routine and how has it become a part of your personal rituals?
Beverages are definitely the foundation of my daily routine.
I'll admit, I'm a coffee drinker in the morning and a tea drinker by night. I love the act of going out for coffee at my favorite cafés—whether I'm at home in New York or traveling. Starting my day with a coffee outing feels almost sacred, I can’t go on with my day until I’ve done so.
Tea, on the other hand, is a deeply personal ritual, one I tend to enjoy at home.
I love ending my meals with mint tea. At the end of the evening, I almost instinctively put water on to boil and make a tea. It’s a simple routine to close the day—a moment of warmth (both figuratively and physically) and comfort. And over time, I’ve also come to associate this ritual with its health benefits and a sense of closure, making it the perfect way to end my day.
Can you describe the ideal moment or setting in your home to enjoy a cup of tea?
I love hosting people, so for me, the perfect moment would be putting a big pot of water on, brewing a kettle of tea, and gathering around the table to chat while everyone enjoys their cup.
In Indian culture, offering chai is a genuine gesture of warmth and hospitality. In a country where welcoming guests is regarded with the utmost seriousness, the tradition of serving tea carries a uniquely special meaning—it’s a simple yet profound way of showing care for those in your home.
Is there a particular memory or tradition involving tea that has influenced how you enjoy it today?
Some of my favorite memories in India revolve around going to chaiwalas. They are small roadside stalls serving chai, with nothing more than a cart and a kettle.
Even when driving in the most remote parts of India in between villages, you can always find a chaiwala on the side of the road. They create a sense of community and informal gathering that I’ve come to cherish when travelling there.
It's such a simple ritual: you go to the chaiwala, stand there as they hand you the tiniest 3-ounce paper cup, holding it delicately by the rim with your thumb and index finger on the bottom because it’s too hot to hold. You stand and sip it slowly, surrounded by everyone else sipping their chai, and can get as many refills as you’d like until you’re done. This happens several times throughout the day, creating these lovely ebbs and flows of chai breaks.
What I’ve come to realize is that it’s not just about the beverage itself—it’s about the act of pausing, taking a moment to stand, be present, and enjoy a cup of chai.
In India, I’d often have 8–10 small cups of chai a day, and that practice of frequent, intentional rituals has stayed with me.
Here in New York, I’ve embraced this mindset, viewing “having a coffee or tea” as more than a caffeine fix—it’s a way to carve out meaningful moments in my day.
What’s one thing you always need to make the perfect cup of tea?
Something sweet–always a spoonful of honey or sugar!
