Tasteless chai in India? Singapore Envoy's post gets Chaayos CEO's Attention

Singapore's High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, recently shared a chai experience in Gurgaon that he described as "impossible." Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Wong expressed disappointment with the tea he had at a local outlet. While he didn’t directly name the establishment, a photo he shared pointed to a Chaayos outlet. The post not only caught the attention of Chaayos founder Nitin Saluja but also led to an outpouring of chai invitations from Twitter users.

What did Simon Wong post?

Wong’s post from the Twitter handle Singapore in India read: "The impossible happened. I just had a cup of tasteless #Chai in Gurgaon. Rs 169 with tax."


In response, Nitin Saluja, the founder of Chaayos, extended a warm invitation to the High Commissioner, writing: "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!"

Wong clarifies his intentions

Simon Wong was quick to clarify that his tweet was not meant as criticism of Chaayos. He responded to Saluja, saying: "Dear Mr @Salujanitin, It is very gracious of you. I was in sector 59 looking at factory land. I googled best chai near me and found the shop. No shade intended. So much. HC Wong."

Chaayos founder accepts the feedback

Nitin Saluja acknowledged the situation with a gracious reply: "Hon’ble Mr Wong, Google is right. We are the best chai near you! However, looks like we messed up with your chai today! The weather calls for multiple chais a day, so I certainly look forward to having a chai together, so that you can conclude the same about our chai."

Overwhelming chai invitations

The post triggered an avalanche of chai invitations for Simon Wong from people across India. In response, he expressed gratitude, writing: "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. HC Wong."