THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When two people changed their business taste from an unsuccessful tea stall to something different, success followed. Their success came through tandoori tea. Gireesh and Bijesh, who started their Garam Madka Company in Kochi, now have outlets around Kerala and one in Bengaluru. They have signed deals with hotels groups in Kuwait, Singapore, Oman, Muscat and Saudi Arabia to open new outlets.

Their story:

Bijesh started a restaurant in Kadavanthara, two years back. He had to shut his shop due to debt. Thrissure Chemboochira native Gireesh took over from Bijesh. He tried his luck with the same business, but with touch of variety.

The journey to find variety reached Pune. A small tea stall at a place called Chai La. They discovered tandoori tea there. Half prepared tea is poured into the small earthen pot on a tandoori stove. That’s how it is prepared. They took the recipe to Kerala with great hopes.

Madka Company will be giving franchises for hotels that asks for tandoori tea.

Price of tantoori tea in Kerala: Rs 30. For coffee: Rs 40.

The company has amassed business over Rs one crore so far in their six months business.

Garam Madka will share their secret recipe with franchises along with a tandoori stove, LED panel counter and necessary items.

The group have 17 franchises so far. The company charges Rs 15 lakhs for a franchise outside India and Rs 2 lakhs for a basic unit in Kerala.