Original Chai Co. At Queen Victoria Market

It’s one of those Melbourne mornings, where the weather most definitely cannot make up its mind. The sun is peeking energetically through thick, grey clouds, a Summer shower evident in the humid air. We’re traipsing through Shed I of the Queen Victoria Market, enthusiastically looking for the little blue rickshaw stand belonging to The Original Chai Co. The smell finds us before we find the stand and we make our presence know to the friendly tea merchant manning the ladle behind the big, warm pots of tea. We’re introduced to Gauri, who is energetic, graceful and keen for us to get comfortable and enjoy a drink. We plop ourselves on the little table, small foldout chairs bringing our knees up to our noses and settle in for a chat.

We sit back and soak in the atmosphere, the warm morning sun beating down on our backs, as Gauri and her team intermittently serve customers. The site is buzzing, but lines disappear as quickly as they develop. It’s no surprise that this team is beaming with success, the husband and wife team of Gauri and Apoorv demonstrating their passion for good quality and authenticity with a mix of traditional family recipes. They’ve been thoroughly rewarded for their efforts, their Morning Malasa Chai having taken out the title of Best Chai at the recent Australian International Tea Expo. The legitimacy of their product stands out in a latte soaked Melbourne, a taste of natural comfort to start the day right.

I ask after any difficulties they have with the site, given the close nature and noise that is around us. Gauri is strong in her belief that their small spot on the edge of the Queen Victoria Market couldn’t be more perfect; the stall is set up just like it would be on the streets of India. The shouts of grocers, the tight surroundings, and the warmth of the hot drink at the back of your mouth all contribute to the overall sensual experience that transports you straight to the hustle and bustle of an Indian market stall – the wind blows an umbrella over, missing my head by millimetres, and we laugh cheerfully about the close confines, feeling closer to the experience already. The Original Chai Co haven’t missed a step and have offered us the chai in small, brown pots, as it would be traditionally served in India. We’re given the most delightful cookies to enjoy with the drink, which pepper our tongues with butter and cumin. It swims in the mouth, singing to the cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and pepper of the Morning Masala Chai.

As we finish our second cup and big our goodbyes, I prompt Gauri to proffer any information she’d like to include about The Original Chai Co. She jumps at the opportunity to stress the uniqueness of the product. ‘It is not chai tea; it is just chai. Chai being the word for tea in many languages, if you were to say it is chai tea is like saying it were tea tea. It is Masala Chai, meaning spiced tea.’ The term chai alone will refer to the drink we have just finished relishing, a blend of tea and spices that are packaged separately for sale to manage the strength and taste per individual requirements.

Exchanging information, handshakes and smiles, armed with some sound tea knowledge and a packet of Original Chai each, we set off into the market to soak in the experience a bit more; the stalls, shouts, smells, sensations brimming around us, Gauri’s ideas transporting us to another place where the tea is hot and the crowds are thick.

Original Chai Co.
I Shed, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne
originalchaico.com.au