Simon Wong, the Singapore High Commissioner to India, recently took to X to call out a Gurugram cafe for serving him a cup of “tasteless” chai for Rs 169. In his post, Mr. Wong shared two pictures, one of a ‘kulhad’ (earthen cup) and another of the cafe’s interior. Without naming the eatery, he mentioned paying Rs 169 (inclusive of tax) for the chai but found it “tasteless.” “The impossible happened. I just had a cup of tasteless #Chai in Gurgaon. Rs 169 with tax,” Mr. Wong wrote on X.
Since being shared, the post has garnered over 253,000 views and prompted several reactions from social media users. The post also caught the attention of Chaayos founder Nitin Saluja. “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,” Mr. Saluja responded.
Several users offered Mr. Wong invitations to sample homemade chai or try tea from roadside stalls. “Sir, you should try a normal tea stall,” suggested one user. “Overpriced is always tasteless. Always go to a place where you see a huge crowd of local customers,” commented another.
“Sir, you should get a taste of real India. Chai tastes best from the roadside stalls. You and 16 others could have enjoyed a cup each, without taxes, in that amount,” another user added. Others pointed out the cost versus experience. “Agreed, sir. It’s tasteless, but Rs 169 + tax is for a place like table/seat/ambiance + free WiFi. I invite you for homemade chai for real Bhartiya Chai,” wrote a commenter.
Reacting to the invites, Mr. Wong said, “The true beauty of India lies in her people. I am overwhelmed by the torrent of invitations to have a cup of the best homemade chai. I humbly thank you all.” Some users reflected on the envoy’s experience. “It’s not real chai until it feels like you’re risking your life. Same with dumplings too,” quipped one user. “Sometimes the best chai comes from the most unexpected places like street vendors. Maybe give those a try next time!” suggested another.
