Bhakti Chai is Starbucks of tea
Brook’s tour to India made her sell masala tea in USA
Brook’s tour to India made her sell masala tea in USA
Speciality coffee businesses in India imitated Starbucks. Indian cafes copied its cool quotient, food menu and espresso based beverages. American businesses are copying Indian tea.
Before founding Bhakti Tea, Eddy Brook came to India in 2002 for a social mission. She tasted Indian milk tea/ chai. She loved Indian tea with spices and ginger. She started selling Indian tea in Colorado. People loved it, and she innovated with more products such as tea shots and tea concentrates. Her revenue for the year 2018 was about INR 50cr. Bhakti Tea retails in Target. It employs about 26 employees.
Brook Eddy conceived the business idea after she gave birth to twins: I did not have money for Christmas gifts. I brewed tea and put them in Mason jars. Friends asked for more.”
As per Tea Board, India is world’s second largest tea producer. About 80% of produced tea is consumed in India. Tea exports are about INR 7500cr. Starbucks changed coffee from a commodity to a gourmet beverage. Bhakti in USA and Chai Point and Chayoos in India are pioneers in turning the humble tea into a high value product.
Sip more: India’s tea industry is struggling to move up the value chain Link