In this episode, we sit with Akhil Patel, founder of Amala Chai, a London-based chai brand built on his grandmother's recipe and a mission to bring authentic masala chai to the UK. We talk about how what started with a trip to the Himalayas has since grown into a brand serving chai across six stalls in London, serving two Prime Ministers, working directly with farmers across India, and this October embarking on a 7,000 km autorickshaw journey across India to film a documentary about the stories behind chai across the country.Chapters

Introduction

Akhil’s key learnings as a founder

Setting boundaries around competition

Sponsor Shoutout: Biskut Bar

Trying the Amala chai

His grandmother’s recipe

The inception of the brand

Regenerative farming practices

Serving chai to Keir Stahmer and Narendra Modi

Emotional regulation as a small business owner

The cultural context of chai