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Why saying 'chai tea' is redundant — and how one SoCal cafe is preserving the drink's identity
Chaiwale and Co.'s location in Orange, CA.
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Shilapjot ‘Sunny’ Singh
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Courtesy of Chaiwale & Co.
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Chai is more than just a drink for South Asians around the world. It’s a symbol of hospitality, community and respect.
Shilapjot ‘Sunny’ Singh, co-owner of Chaiwale & Co., joined AirTalk Friday host, Austin Cross, to talk about how he’s preserving the traditions around the drink — and to sip some chai, of course.
Community and connection
For as long as he can remember, Singh has been connecting with loved ones over a cup of traditional homemade chai.
Co-owner Shilapjot ‘Sunny’ Singh joins AirTalk Friday host Austin Cross for Food Friday
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Faheem Khan
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LAist
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“Desi chai is very different from what the Western world knows – not only in taste, but the meaning of it too,” Singh said.
The phrase desi comes from the Sanskrit word desha, meaning "land" or "country," and is used to describe people, cultures and products of South Asia and its global diaspora.
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Singh and his brother opened the chai shop in 2024 with a clear goal in mind — community and connection.
Chai in its truest form
Chai takes on many different shapes and sizes, but its truest essence can be traced back as early as the 19th century, when British colonizers established plantations in western India, where the Indian populace made their own version of tea, called chai.
To set the record straight once and for all, chai in Hindustani directly translates to “tea.” So, the term “chai tea” — which many people use — is actually redundant because it translates to “tea tea.”
Traditional chai is prepared in a dhoodh pati style, which refers to chai that is boiled with milk, sugar, green cardamom and sometimes other aromatics like cinnamon, ginger and star anise, a combination known as masala. So, chai tea latte — also redundant.
Singh was inspired by all the misconceptions around chai to fill what he saw as a gap in the market.
New Desi wave
In addition to the nostalgia Chaiwale & Co. provides, they’ve also dabbled in South Asian fusion, most notably with their rendition of a gulab jamun cheesecake.
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Gulab jamun cheesecake
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Shilapjot ‘Sunny’ Singh
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Courtesy of Chaiwale & Co.
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Gulab Jamun — deep-fried dough balls soaked in a sugar syrup — are a South Asian household staple, usually enjoyed at festivities and weddings, and of course, over chai.
The clay cup tradition
Dhoodh pati style chai served in a traditional clay cup
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Shilapjot ‘Sunny’ Singh
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Courtesy of Chaiwale & Co.
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The chai at Chaiwale is served in traditional clay cups and copper teapots to pay homage to how it's done back in the subcontinent.
One of the most nostalgic chai snacks is Parle-G cookies, which are served complimentary with the chai.
The ultimate Chaiwale experience
Every Sunday, Chaiwale & Co. has ‘Bollywood High Tea’ from 12-2 p.m. at its Orange location, where you can experience traditional chai and samosas to fusion items like a butter chicken burrito and gulab jaman cheesecake.
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The experience costs $35.99 per person ($15 online reservation + $20.99 in-store) with a table minimum of two people.
You can find tickets here.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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