THE CHAI SPOT – SEDONA, AZ

AMBIANCE:

The Chai Spot, located in Sedona, Arizona is in the heart of the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. There is a beautiful staircase that leads you in to the beautiful restaurant, with plenty of traditional Pakistani seating overlooking the views of the village. The interior decor is full of traditional Pakistani decor, including kurtas, kitchen sets, dupattas, prayer rugs and more. 50% of all the proceeds made are donated to support women and children in Pakistan. The ambiance is festive, colorful and very welcoming, introducing you to the world of traditional chai from Pakistan.

CHAI:

This restaurant makes chai fresh for each customer – using fresh spices, traditional recipes that originate from different cultures and cities from families in Pakistan. We specifically tried the famous Butter Chai – a traditional drink originating from the mountains of Kashmir. This chai is a green tea that carries a deep pink color, a pinch of salt, and butter. It’s garnished on top with pistachios and almonds. This drink was sweet and savory and tasted so rich! This drink can only be enjoyed hot, so it is a must-have in the winter.

SNACKS:

There were many traditional desi snacks to display. We chose to try the Indian Rusk and the Gur Cookie. Both of them were meant to be eaten dipped in the chai. The cookie was sweet, savory, buttery and crisp making it the perfect vehicle to enjoy our chai with.

OVERALL:

Overall, if you are visiting Sedona, Arizona, I highly recommend stopping by the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village and grabbing a cup of chai, some snacks, and souvenirs that are handmade and sourced from Pakistan, supporting the women and children in their dreams. The chai is delicious, with lots of variety, to choose from and it’s the perfect place to view the buzz of the shopping village. Have you visited The Chai Spot? Let me know what you think in the comments below!