Chaiwala

Chaiwala are people who prepare and sell Indian tea (chai masala) on streets, in small roadside shops or on trains. Many chaiwala come from country side of India to run small businesses in major cities. In Mumbai chaiwala may also be seen on bicycles especially during night hours. Chaiwala serve tea traditionally in a small glasses or unglazed clay teacups but in recent years they have started to serve tea in plastic cups. Traditionally chai was made in copper vessels; however that appears to be changing in some places. The Indian politician Narendra Modi is a former chaiwala.