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Singapore envoy calls out Gurugram cafe over ‘tasteless chai’; founder responds with an invite

Simon Wong posted two images of the cafe's interior and a kulhad, expressing his disappointment at having to pay Rs 169 (tax included) for what he called "tasteless" chai.

Simon Wong posted two images of the cafe's interior and a kulhad

Singapore’s High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, recently expressed his dissatisfaction with a cup of tea he drank in Gurugram on X. Mr Wong posted two images of the cafe’s interior and a kulhad (earthen cup), expressing his disappointment at having to pay Rs 169 (tax included) for what he called “tasteless” chai.

“The impossible happened. I just had a cup of tasteless #Chai in Gurgaon. Rs 169 with tax,” he wrote, leaving many users intrigued about the cafe in question. While he didn’t explicitly name the establishment, the decor in the photo made it evident that it was Chaayos. This was later confirmed in the comments section, where the founder of Chaayos joined the conversation, responding to Mr Wong’s post.

See the post:

The impossible happened. I just had a cup of tasteless #Chai in Gurgaon. Rs 169 with tax.🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️HC Wong. pic.twitter.com/PMVwnvUS2y

— Singapore in India (@SGinIndia) December 14, 2024

The post quickly went viral, racking up over 7 lakh views and sparking a lively discussion online. Among those who chimed in was Nitin Saluja, the founder of Chaayos, who publicly extended an olive branch to Mr. Wong.

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“Hon’ble Mr Wong, in the name of deep India-SG friendship, I invite you for a cup of chai at a Chaayos near you. As we enjoy our chai, I’ll share our commitment to getting every chai right, including our no-questions-asked replacement policy!” Saluja wrote, in an effort to make amends.

Hon’ble Mr Wong, I am Nitin, founder of Chaayos! In the name of deep India SG friendship, I invite you for a cup of Chai at a Chaayos near you! And as we enjoy our chai, i will share our commitment to get every chai right, including our no questions asked chai replacement policy!

— Nitin Saluja (@Salujanitin) December 14, 2024

Mr. Wong responded graciously, clarifying his earlier post. “Dear Mr @Salujanitin, It is very gracious of you. I was in Sector 59 looking at factory land. I googled best chai near me and found the shop. No shade intended so much. HC Wong,” he replied, emphasising there was no malice behind his comments.

Saluja, in turn, acknowledged the mishap with good humour. “Hon’ble Mr Wong, Google is right. We are the best chai near you! However, looks like we messed up with your chai today! The weather calls for multiple chais a day, so I certainly look forward to having a chai together, so that you can conclude the same about our chai,” he added, closing the conversation on a positive note.

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Many others commented to express their empathy for his situation, recommending that he try India’s roadside tea stalls for a more genuine and budget-friendly chai experience.

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One user suggested ,”Try Tapriwali chai.” Another user commented, “Why tea consumption is not increasing globally is the availability of plainer low quality teas which is prompting younger generation to opt for other beverages. Thanks for calling this out so that the Indian tea industry can deliver it’s best.”

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