The city’s trendiest tea haunt, Project Chaiwala was founded by Justin Joseph and Ahmed Kazim after they realised most of their entrepreneurial discussions happened over a cup of karak chai.
This teahouse rose to popularity through an outlet at indie playhouse Cinema Akil. The team’s sweet tea mixed with fragrant spices such as cardamom and ginger, is the perfect partner to its super smashmosas (read on for more on that).
And now they’re looking forward to opening at Time Out Market Dubai in Downtown Dubai in 2021. Here’s what you need to know about Two Leaves by Project Chaiwala…
How long have you been in Dubai?
We’ve both been here 28 years.
When did you launch Project Chaiwala?
We started Project Chaiwala in February 2017.
Which dishes are you most famous for?
First, our signature chai. An in-house secret recipe of chai brewed only at our cafés, which we also do an iced frappe version of. And smashmosas – our own deconstructed version of the traditional stuffed Indian samosas.
What do people love about Project Chaiwala?
The whole experience, which includes the aroma of fresh spices, the sounds of the chaiwala chanting “Chai! Chai! Chai!” and the taste of freshly brewed chai served in traditional clay pots (kulhads).
Where do you source your ingredients?
All our teas are sourced directly from single origin tea estates in India and Sri Lanka, and our matcha is sourced from Japan.
What type of cuisine do you love most?
Justin’s a big fan of Japanese – ramen in particular – and for Ahmed it’s Indian food.
If you weren’t working in food, what would you be?
Justin would be a Bollywood actor – Ahmed would be a full-time traveller.
How do you come up with new recipes?
We look for dishes that complement or accentuate the chai experience, and then we work with our staff to develop them, before we start testing them with selected customers to see what needs to be fixed. We take a traditional recipe and see how we can add our own touch to it, while keeping it authentic.
Opening in Downtown Dubai in early 2021, Time Out Market Dubai will house the best of the city under one roof, from restaurants to cultural experiences, and from its Souk Al Bahar location will boast fantastic views to boot. There will be three bars and a magnificent outdoor terrace.
Looking for more Time Out Market Dubai news?
From chef interviews to tasty dishes, we bring you everything you need to know.
Read more here here
