"One Of The Craziest Moments Of My Life": Akhil Patel On Serving Chai To PM Modi And Starmer
Photographs shared by PM Modi on X (formerly Twitter) captured both leaders waiting for their tea at Patel's stall. Dressed in a traditional kurta and Nehru jacket, Mr Patel was captured pouring masala chai from a kettle into paper cups.
'Chai Pe Charcha' with PM Keir Starmer at Chequers...brewing stronger India-UK ties! @Keir_Starmer pic.twitter.com/sY1OZFa6gL
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2025
Now, in an Instagram clip, the founder of Amala Chai gave his followers 'a quick recap of a surreal day'.
'I just got on Modi's Instagram!' he began, clearly astonished.
Detailing the invitation, Mr Patel said he was asked to serve tea at Chequers 'to celebrate the UK-India free trade deal.'
'As one of the few selected brands there, little did I know I'd be serving chai to huge UK and Indian ministers and Modi and Starmer,' he said.
Among those who visited his stall were UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Health Secretary Wes Streeting. 'They were loving it, coming back for multiple cups,' said Patel, adding that even India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar sampled his tea.
Recalling the high point of the day, Patel said, 'Then the big boys started coming my way, walking by the side of me and standing right in front of me, asking for a cup of chai.' He was referring to PM Modi and Keir Starmer. 'I served the chai, and then I dropped the line, 'from one chaiwala to another',' he added.
'Possibly one of the craziest moments of my life, I just served chai to Modi and Starmer, and Starmer loved it,' he added.
His Instagram caption read, 'A quick recap of a surreal day. Yesterday, I was invited by @10downingstreet to serve chai at Chequers — to @narendramodi, @keirstarmer, and Indian & UK ministers. Can we just take a moment to realise how mad that is? There I was, in the UK Prime Minister's house, serving masala chai — and not one person wanted coffee. From one chaiwala to another, that was a special day. Right… I'm getting off the internet now to make a cup of chai.'
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Amala Chai | Masala Chai (@amala_chai)
In 2019, inspired by his grandma's recipe, he founded Amala Chai. Described as "Chai That Feels Like Home," the brand's masala chai begins at the source, with single-origin tea and spices from family farms in Assam and Kerala.
Since its launch six years ago, Patel's Amala Chai has grown and now serves customers at five locations across London.
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