THE CHAI BOX .
MEET ATLANTA SUPERSTAR MONICA SUNNY
You ’ ll Love This Marietta Chai . Just Ask Oprah .
At the heart of every successful , locally owned business , is an owner who is passionate and goes all-in . Monica Sunny opened The Chai Box in 2016 to bring her experience and love of chai to Atlanta , and beyond ! Her story is one we are thrilled to share here today .
Q . Monica , we first came across your brand at the Peachtree Road Farmer ’ s Market two years ago . The booth was manned by a couple of teens , and they were so enthusiastic and knowledgeable — we bought the concentrate and the Kick Cancer ’ s Ass loose tea . The rest is history … we ’ ve been smitten ever since ! Will you share your history with Chai and why you have chosen to build your business around it ?
A . Chai has never been about business to me . Chai has been an integral part of my life ever since I can remember . Growing up in India , Chai meant spending time with family . My mom taught me how to make my first cup of Chai at the age of five , so I wanted to do the same and instill the love of Chai in my three boys . Every Friday after school , we started doing Chai time . I would bring out my spice box ( what the boys coined “ The Chai Box ”) and teach them how to prepare the perfect cup of chai . I started gifting “ The Chai Box ” to everyone I knew and after receiving an overwhelmingly positive response , a Chai business idea was born .
The Chai Box literally grew out of my kitchen and basement into what it is today . One signature product has now flourished into 14 different chai blends and a customer favorite chai concentrate made in small batches . What started with my boys years ago became my mission to bring the education and the craft of traditional chai-making to the mainstream in a sustainable and ethical way .
Q . You and your family immigrated from India in 1984 . How did your parents influence your choices about a career and what did you learn from them ?
A . Like many immigrant families who came to the United States for more opportunities , my parents wanted the best for my brother and me .. They worked very hard to ensure that we could have a great education to set us up for future success .
The idea of entrepreneurship and owning a business really came from my father who owned and operated a Dairy Queen growing up . As you can imagine the fast food business never stops . I admired his work ethic and learned the importance of hard work . To this day , my dad has been my unofficial business consultant . I call him every single morning to seek his advice . He has always encouraged me to work hard and be open to all the possibilities ! I definitely get my work ethic from him !
Q . Let ’ s talk about an important word : sourcing . It ’ s one of the noteworthy reasons your chai is so special . Tell us about it . responsible sourcing practices to honor the farmers and people of India . My family and I personally visited the farms in Kerala when starting this business . We source single-origin spices from small-scale family-owned farmers in Kerala ( the spice capital of the world ), India , that practice regenerative farming . Regenerative farming is a big part of the community . Women are at the forefront of these operations and as a result further fuel the development of their community . These farms have been passed down from generation to generation and continue to implement sustainable farming practices . I am constantly looking for ways to ensure that we provide a fair wage for our suppliers and provide them with a platform to excel .
Q . The Chai Box has earned some substantial press through Southern Living Magazine , Forbes , and the amazing honor of being one of Oprah ’ s Favorite Things in 2021 . WOW ! Your product is also on some major retail websites including Bergdorf Goodman , Garden and Gun … How did Oprah happen to find you and we want to hear all about it .
A . Every morning on Instagram Stories , I do what I like to call “ Chai Meditation ‘’, where I craft my morning cup of chai and then take a few minutes to enjoy it for myself . I share this unscripted daily ritual with our followers who love to learn different ways to make chai and the benefits of it ! We were approached to submit a few samples after one of Oprah ’ s team members watched my daily Chai meditation , and after a few rounds of back and forth , we curated the Chai Lover ’ s Gift Set featuring four of our top blends , All Chai ’ d Up , Hill Station , Sweet Monsoon , and Lavender Nights for Oprah ! We were thrilled that Oprah loved our Chai , especially since she is an avid tea drinker !
Q . The parallels between Southern hospitality and culture and the chai rituals that are so sacred to you , are an interesting surprise .
A . When I think of Southern hospitality , the first thing that comes to mind is family . From the start , this has been a family business . My husband is behind the scenes making sure The Chai Box is running day to day . He is also dearly referred to as our “ Brew Dad ” for his role in the production of our customer favorite Chai Concentrate . My eldest son , Ethan and I co-developed our Chai concentrate that took us one year and 174 batches to get perfect . And my two youngest boys , Evan and Ian have played multiple roles in production and sales ! It ’ s a family affair and I love it !
But most importantly , Chai creates the sense of a home which I think is the essence of Southern hospitality . My fondest memories have all been around gathering together with loved ones to make and drink chai while enjoying every last sip . I ’ m grateful for having the opportunity to create this ritual with my sons but also sharing it with our customers through social media .
Q . How does a consumer get your products ? A . You can find our products at thechaibox . com or in various mom and pop / coffee shops throughout the country along with select products online at
Nordstrom , Neiman Marcus , and Anthropologie to name a few !
What else do you want us to know ?
Did you know that Chai means tea in Hindi ? So saying Chai Tea is actually redundant . Let ’ s stop saying chai tea and just call it Chai !
A . When starting the business , I wanted to set an example for my three boys and show that a business could be set up in a sustainable and ethical way . I knew the only way it would work is if I implemented