By dubailife 
A charming yet popular tea shop in Sharjah serves up to 6,000 cups of karak chai daily to its devoted customers, including delivery riders and taxi drivers. This amounts to 180,000 cups of tea each month or 250 cups every hour.
Situated in Sharjah’s Al Majaz area, Mustaqbal Restaurant distinguishes itself from other tea shops with its unique flavor, which has remained consistent over the years. Since 1985, the shop has attracted many expats, including Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and Arabs, who regularly come to enjoy their tea.
Khaleej Times spoke with Hashim Muttumthala, the owner of the tea shop, who credits their success to “maintaining a consistent taste to retain customer loyalty.”
“We use precise measurements for our ingredients, which allows us to maintain the same taste and keep our customers satisfied. Every staff member adheres to these measurements, ensuring the tea’s quality remains consistent, no matter who is preparing it. We don’t rely on individual skills; everyone follows the same process,” he explained.
Despite inflation, Hashim has kept the price of tea unchanged. He remarked, “We sell karak tea for Dh1, while most cafes in Sharjah now charge Dh1.50. Our small cup of fresh milk tea is Dh1, and a large cup is Dh2. It’s rare to find fresh milk tea at this price. The minimum price for a fresh milk tea cup in the market is Dh3.”
However, he mentioned that they’ve reduced the cup size to cope with inflation. This “shrinkflation” (package downsizing) has enabled them to keep the price of their karak tea low.
Salman Adil, a graphic designer, shared that he visits the tea shop regularly. “I’ve lived in this area for the last 10 years and come here (Mustaqbal Restaurant) almost daily. You could say I visit at least 300 days a year, which means I’ve had around 3,000 cups of tea from here,” he said.
“The best part is that the taste is always consistent. The restaurant is open 24 hours, so even if you come at 3 am, you’ll get fresh tea. It’s become somewhat of an addiction for me,” he added with a smile.
Faizan, a delivery rider from Pakistan, mentioned that he moved to the area in 2022 and has been coming to the restaurant with friends for karak tea since then.
“They deserve credit for not raising the price. Their karak tea is still Dh1, while most other places charge Dh1.5, which I think is expensive,” Faizan noted.
48,000 Parathas Per Month
In addition to karak tea, the Malabari paratha is also a top seller at the restaurant. They sell about 1,500 parathas daily, totaling around 48,000 per month. The price for a paratha is also Dh1, making it an affordable option compared to other food outlets in Sharjah.
“Our paratha is very popular. People love to pair it with their tea, especially in the morning. We use about 80 kg of flour daily for the parathas. With each kg making around 18 parathas, we produce approximately 1,500 parathas daily,” Hashim explained.
Tea Shop Origins
Karak chai is a spiced tea that is particularly popular in the Middle East, especially in Gulf countries like the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain. Its origins are often traced back to the Indian subcontinent, where similar spiced teas are enjoyed. The tea became popular in the Gulf region due to the influence of South Asian expatriates and has since become a staple in local cafes and homes.
What’s Next? Hashim and his cousins are planning to expand. He shared, “We have opened another branch in the same area, but it focuses mostly on food. This branch is dedicated to tea lovers. We are considering opening another branch in an area with a high population of bachelors. Location is crucial when starting a business, especially a tea shop.”
Source : Khaleejtimes