10 QUESTIONS WITH TABASSUM AWAN, FOUNDER OF PINK TEA CAFÉ, MAYFAIR
1.) Good morning Tabassum, welcome to The Mayfair Musings! How have you enjoyed your first few weeks in Mayfair?
Mayfair is magical! It is a dream come true for me to have my café here in the area I previously worked and had meetings in during my Investment Banking days.
2.) Have you always been a tea enthusiast?
My father was born in the famous tea town Kericho in Kenya, maybe that also has something to do with my love for tea! From the age of 9, I served tea to the many guests who visited our bustling social home. During one of these frequent large gatherings, my uncle lovingly nick-named me the 'Tea-maker of Leicester'. Little did I know that this seemingly small duty would someday evolve to become a central part of my life.
3.) Where and when did you first discover pink tea?
I first discovered Pink Tea on a trip to the Himalayas. Surrounded by enchanting mountains, moved by the simplicity of the local way of life and stimulated by the fresh fragrant air, I sipped on this sweet yet delicate, blush coloured liquid. Upon my return to London and corporate life, I was struck by the contrast and couldn't help but reflect on that moment. I set about searching for Pink Tea in London, but it was nowhere to be found, and so I knew I needed to bring it here myself. Pink Tea Café began to emerge: to bring joy, inspiration and a moment of magic.
4.) How do you make the perfect cup of pink tea?
We use an organic green tea leaf, rolled into compressed pellets that retain its subtly sweet, smooth flavour and honeyed aroma. These leaves undergo a unique brewing process for 2 hours with Himalayan salt, cardamom and cinnamon turning it to a deep crimson red colour. It is then lightened to pink upon adding milk, and served with crushed pistachio. A sweet, mellow chai with a velvety texture and nutty crunch. It is rarely found in London because of the skill and time in making. Both a science and art; which I would love to share in my chai making workshops.
5.) Tell us a little about your career journey so far...
Having graduated with a Masters in Maths I joined a front office Investment banking scheme in 2007. I spent over a decade working with central banks and sovereign wealth funds in capital markets. I loved my clients, but I often did not enjoy what I had to sell! In 2018 I completed another a Masters at Harvard whilst working at the same time. I had a constant desire for more and the feeling of not enough! I struggled to find the quiet satisfaction I so craved. Upon realizing that the insatiable thirst for achievements and goals would never truly be quenched, I began the pursuit of more profound, more enriched living.
6.) What made you choose Mercato Mayfair as the location for Pink Tea Café?
It was as if I manifested it! My vision for Pink Tea Cafè was to have a place which captured the essence and history of chai. Mercato Mayfair is the restored St. Mark's Church, which was constructed in 1825 in the Greek Revival style. The room we are in was once ‘The Robing Room” of the priest, a place where the most sacred meetings took place and where the most sacred vessels are kept. This room is enchanting, majestic and beaming with history and art. But what it most fascinating is the resemblance to Kashmiri architecture. The carvings and wooden arches transports one to Kashmir, and I was reminded that it is not just coincidentally… Alexander the Great conquered Kashmir as well as other Greeks which influenced art and architecture in Kashmir!
7.) What do you love most about owning your own business?
Seeing the same reaction, on other people, that I had many years ago the first time I tried Pink Tea. It reminds me that all the efforts are worth it!
8.) Do you have any travel plans for 2022?
A sailing trip in Scotland this June, and hopefully a trip to Japan or Pakistan!
9.) What else can we find at Pink Tea Café?
For us, chai is a symbol of hospitality, a customary, divine drink that brings people together and fosters deep conversations. In line with our mission: to bring joy, inspiration, and a moment of magic, a core part of our offering are regular ‘Chai Chat’ events, Yoga & Chai ceremonies, Qawwali music nights, and poetry evenings.
10.) When you're not busy working, where might you be found and what might you be doing?
On a walk with my gorgeous shoulder cat Zanzi – see photo above! Or travelling, reading philosophy, poetry and socializing!
Mercato Mayfair, North Audley Street, Mayfair, London W1K 6ZA
