Run a Tea Shop In Trivandrum

Kerala Style Tea Maker – Poster Picture

Years has passed, but still I remember Nair’s tea shop at Kaimanam. I used to stay in that area and used to frequent his shop to drink colored juice. I often take my cycle to visit this shop and during such visits I remember seeing tea drinkers calling him fondly by him “Naire”. Customers would come to his shop and say ‘Naiyaree Uro Medium Tea’. This Nair man had a happy face with a  belly, wore loose shirt, and ran a successful tea shop.

Though I never had a tea from his shop, I still think of the people who gather at his tea shop to have hot sizzling tea. It was during late 80′ or mid 80’s when we were staying at Neeramankara. The fizz drink I was my fav, which was around 20 or 25 paise. He used to open these soda bottles with different kind of opener – fizz sound and I would drink wholeheartedly the fizzy water which had all the  psychedelic colors.

These drinks were locally filled soda were filled in unique cod bottles ( one with the marble inside).

Running a Tea Shop in 2019 in Trivandrum

Today, most tea shops in Trivandrum are run by enterprising Tamilians. There’s one called Ganesh Tea Stall at Kumarapuram, one more near GG Hospital, and a Aaryas restaurant which I visit for a quick coffee in the morning.

All these tea shop have a common thread – it’s run by hard working and polite Tamilians. The name of shops are Balaji, Ganesh, Aaryas, etc. Also, these shops are doing good business – which means the returns is good.

Where are the Locally Run Tea Shops? Where’s the Nair’s tea shop? 
I think, Malayalee’s should rethink their plan of going to Gulf region and think of starting something in their home-ground. A tea shop is a good business, provided they are familiar with the business of making tasty and fresh snacks and food.

There are many small bites which they can sell – Vada, Vazhaka fry, Bonda, Egg bonda, Samosa, Peripe vada, Uniiappam, Sukiyan, Madakusa, Ellaappam, Valsan, Cake, Mundirikottu, cutlet, kappa and kandhari mulagu chamandi ( Chai Kadi in Tipppasandara, Bangalore sells it ), diamond cuts, etc.

After seeing too many tea shops sprouting in this locality, I too have a desire to open one in my locality. But right now I’m cash strapped. Probably, when I save some money from my terrarium or Blogging Classes, I will invest in a tea business.

What’s your observation about Tea Business in Trivandrum?

Will you open one or suggest someone to open a shop? Will you sponsor or be a part sponsor to such a venture?

Suppose you start one or help someone to set-up a tea business, then will you make it unique?