July wrap up and events

In the last newsletter I mentioned that I will talk to you about my plant based chai. But before that how many of you actually drink chai or tea on a regular basis? And I am referring to the one that is freshly brewed using tea leaves and not chai pre mixes or sticky chai.

‘Chai' or ‘Cha‘ literally translates to ‘Tea‘ in English or ‘Thee‘ in Dutch. If you are a regular tea drinker then you know, nothing beats a freshly brewed cuppa whether its tea or coffee. If you have only ever tried chai lattes, chai pre mix or sticky chai, I will strongly recommend to go to a tea shop and buy loose tea or attend a tea tasting workshop. Freshly made tea without any additives or any flavours will completely change your perception.

In India, as tea became mainstream we made it our own by adding spices to it. Indian teas are as diverse as the country itself. Even the most popular masala chai changes its colour and spices the moment one travels a few miles. Strong black tea with spices and herbs, milk and a touch of sugar, masala chai is an all time favourite of many Indians. Unfortunately many chai lattes that are served in the western part of our world are prepared with tea syrups. These syrups will never be able to match the taste of freshly brewed tea. No wonder when I give out tasting samples of my masala chai that I make with my signature spice mix, people are genuinely surprised. Here is what they say -

‘Wow this is a revelation! Its aromatic and so nice, not too sweet and has that right balance of tea and milk. Love this!’

‘Are you serious? Is this made with oat milk? This is so much better than what you get in the cafe’s here.‘

‘Best chai I had in a while, couldn't believe that it was vegan!‘

Every reaction becomes an affirmation for me to keep going and share these flavours, the way they are supposed to be. There was one thing I didn’t want to do when I started was to become another convenience brand selling chai pre mixes or ready to drink chai or sticky chai.

Want to take the leap in ditching convenience for real tea? Then meet me at one the markets (see events page to find out where I am next) and taste a sample of freshly brewed tea or come to my chai gatherings or tea tasting events. I have two events scheduled for this year one will be hosted in October and another one in November, details will follow soon. But if you are already looking to get some tea and the Indian tea spice mix, start with these products below.

Turkish Breakfast in Rotterdam

July and August are generally quiet at my atelier and this year I decided to attend few events and workshops. One of the events I have been wanting to attend was a Turkish breakfast hosted by Global Seasons in Rotterdam. I haven’t been to Türkiye yet but I know their breakfast spreads are something and they are very generous people when it comes to hospitality. On several occasions, I was lucky to have had the chance to try Nil’s delicious food, so I knew that this event will be a good one too. Infact, there were many regulars at her event, well that’s a good sign. Right?

From a variety of Turkish and Dutch cheeses, breads like Simit, dips, jams, Turkish omelette, Menemen (in the pan, see photo above), savoury bakes like Dill feta poğaças to unlimited Turkish tea and coffee, the spread was lovingly made and served by Nil herself. Everything was delicious and some of the cheeses, bread, honey, jams and dips, were locally made. Food was hearty and comforting and so was the gathering. There was also a makers table where you could buy seasonings, dips and hand knitted kitchen essentials.

One of the key things I noticed at this event were genuine interactions, rarely I saw someone fiddling with their phones. Our lives have been pretty heavily dominated by social media and where everything is curated for that perfect Instagram reel or TikTok video, this event was a refreshing change. We honestly need more of these kind of events where we can have genuine conversations, where we socialise like humans and not as content creators.

Nil hosts only a handful of these breakfast events each year so if I have convinced you enough, then the last one for this year is on October 5th. You can find details on Global Seasons website.

Eco Dyeing in Amsterdam

Do you ever think how your clothes were made, what materials were used, what dyes were used to colour them or who made them? A decade or few back, buying new clothes was reserved for special occasions and festive seasons, then convenience came into our lives, fast fashion was marketed as the best thing. Cheap and fast faded away the charm of slow and seasonal. Companies became richer, our closets became full, and people and planet paid the price. Makers, growers and artisans bore the brunt, they were underpaid and undervalued. Many underdeveloped economies became the dumping ground for discarded and used clothes. Our oceans and soil became contaminated with synthetic fibres and chemical dyes. How did we come to this? This infographic by CNN sums it up how fashion industry has had a significantly negative impact on our lives, our planet and how it will continue to do so, if left unchecked.

A similar concern Madhu, founder of Saheli Women shared during an eco dyeing event in Amsterdam. Synthetic dyes damaging their farmers’ food and livelihoods, fading knowledge, dying skills of textiles and weaving practices and uncertainties in the community were more than enough reasons for her to start Saheli Women in India. From a handful of women to a established and known organisation, Saheli Women has come a long way and this year Madhu travelled to Germany and the Netherlands to share her story and vision for a just and sustainable future of textiles. She also gave workshops in embroidery and eco dyeing and showcased her new collection Dhora, that celebrates natural dyes and handlooms.

I attended her eco dyeing workshop in Amsterdam, my first time of doing something with textiles. This time I had a genuine interest to learn and also I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to meet Madhu as I have been following Saheli’s journey for a long time. The workshop started with a little introduction into natural dyeing and its benefits. Madhu then briefly talked about how different fabrics are dyed and what are the processes involved, different types of natural colours and flowers that are used for dyeing and the best practices. For this workshop, we all worked with silk bandana and for dyeing we used a mix of marigold and rose petals, madder and turmeric. Throughout, Madhu shared her knowledge and tips, and patiently addressed our curiosities and questions.

After we were done colouring our bandanas, last step was to steam them for few minutes. Once done we dusted off the petals and air dried them before we wrapped up.

This was mine, I think I might have gone overboard with the colour and petals but hey I was enjoying the process of creating something from scratch and for my first, it’s not that bad. I will happily and proudly wear it.

I will be attending another eco dyeing workshop on August 24th in Rotterdam. Its not only a nice activity but a way for me to continue my learning journey into sustainable textiles & practices.

And for embroidery lovers, there is a Persian Kilim Workshop happening next Monday at Wereld Museum in Rotterdam.

Its been more than a year since…

Time flies, doesn’t it? Its been more than a year since my shop went live and to celebrate this tiny milestone, I will be running a small discount on my prints and ceramics. Sale will go live today at 5 pm CEST.

Although I would have loved to host a tea party for you all, but that will have to wait until I have my own studio space, I hope that will happen soon.

In the next newsletter

• I will give you a sneak peek into some beautiful handmade tea pots that I have been wanting to add to my collection

• New product in the deli (its a tea time favourite!)

• Some tips on vintage thrifting, market visits and more will arrive in your inbox as August ends

Until then, go out, make the most of the summer days, they will slowly fade away or visit the SAIL FESTIVAL in Amsterdam. Either way spend some time away from the screens, in the nature and with your loved ones.

Love, Krati