Our Monday Masala series highlights female Pakistani entrepreneurs, business owners and bloggers.
I am so excited for today’s Monday Masala! I reached out to Khalida Brohi of The Chai Spot because I am so enamored with her story.
She is the author of I Should Have Honor , a powerful memoir about Pakistani tribal life. Her experiences in Pakistan led her to found Sughar Foundation, a non-profit providing socio-economic empowerment to women in tribal communities in Pakistan. They are trying to end the consequences of exchanged marriage, child marriages, and honor killings.
Khalida is the embodiment of a fearless, smart and inspiring Pakistani woman, which is exactly what we at My Pakistani Kitchen are trying to promote and celebrate. She is a social entrepreneur, author, non-profit executive director, public speaker and lover of chai. Her work is obviously intertwined with her love of helping others.
She was kind enough to participate in our Monday Masala feature, despite being busy being a superhero! At least, that’s what I call her. Her newest location has opened up in New York and I am super excited to visit soon.
How did you get started in this business?
When David (Dawood) and I fell in love in 2014, we knew the universe brought us together, but at the same time we didn’t know how to make our union possible. David belongs to an Italian-American family in LA and I am from a small village in Balochistan part of Pakistan. Not only were we from totally different worlds, but our worlds had many misunderstandings towards each other that kept us apart.
In those days, Chai became one of the biggest sources of creating the powerful and peaceful space for dialogue and conversation between our families and paved the way for us to be with each together. Most often, the process of getting people to not be afraid of each other is the toughest challenge to face because there are ingrained beliefs in our societies that lead us to judge each other long before we even get to know each other. With persistence and teas in hand, we were engaged in Venice Italy and later had a ten day long wedding in Karachi. Instead of using our money for a second wedding celebration in the US, we realized we want to instead use that money to launch an initiative that helps us tackle global misunderstandings and fear in the most loving manner.
The Chai Spot in Sedona Arizona, was launched within three months of that plan and from then on your love, your support and your purchases have kept us successful and we launched our second location in Manhattan.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Managing our wonderful Chai Spot team, greeting guests, and hosting small events in our tea lounge space.
What kitchen gadgets can you NOT live without?
Our mortar and pestle to grind the variety of spices we use for our teas.
What’s your favorite thing about your kitchen?
Our glass Ball jars with multicolored hand woven cozies encircled around them
Can you give us your favorite recipe?
Our recipes are top secret! Please come in to our new Chai Spot to try our many different options.
The Chai Spot has two locations, one in Arizona and one in NYC. Please be sure to visit!
The Chai Spot NYC
156 Mott Street
New York, New York 10013
The Chai Spot Sedona
#B201, Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village
Sedona, Arizona 86336
Be sure to follow The Chai Spot on Facebook and Instagram!
Click here if you are interested in being featured in our Monday Masala series!
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