High Chai (Afternoon Tea) at Zindiya Streatery and Bar in Birmingham
We’ve been thoroughly embracing the festive season in Birmingham this year, soaking up all the seasonal cheer the city has to offer. From strolling through the bustling Birmingham Christmas Market, with its twinkling lights and festive treats, to discovering the charming Brum’s Christmas Reindeer Trail—where we tracked down Santa’s nine reindeer sculptures dotted around the city—it’s been a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit. Adding a lively twist to our celebrations, we also attended a Mamma Mia-themed brunch in Digbeth, where we enjoyed delicious food, free-flowing drinks and upbeat renditions of ABBA classics performed by talented drag queens.
With so many festive highlights already, we were thrilled to add another memorable experience to the mix – an Indian Afternoon Tea at Zindiya Streatery and Bar.
Zindiya Streatery & Bar, located on Woodbridge Road in Birmingham, is a vibrant spot created by the husband and wife team of Ajay and Shivani Kenth. They always dreamt of opening this kind of a place and they’ve brought it to life with a unique concept. Zindiya offers an immersive experience of India, where you can enjoy chai, sip on Limca (a lemon & lime-flavoured carbonated soft drink very popular in India) and savour Indian street food favourites like chaat, bhel, pav bhaji and pani puri — all in a casual, fun and welcoming environment.
Zindiya’s Afternoon Tea is called 'High Chai' and is available Tuesday-Thursday from 4pm-6pm and Friday-Sunday & Bank Holiday Mondays from 12pm-5pm.
The High Chai is a delicious blend of Indian flavours and spices and you can enjoy the following:
- Masala Chai (freshly brewed and highly recommended by us) or loose leaf teas like Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Jasmine Green or Very Berry.
- Savouries, which are a selection of popular Indian street food, like Bombay Sandwich, Aloo Tikki Chaat, Bhel Puri and Paneer or Chicken Tikka.
- Sweets like Homemade Cardamom Scones, Spiced Nankhatai, Seasonal Macarons from Birmingham’s Miss Macaroon and Zindiya’s special Gajar Ka Halwa Samosas.
When we stepped in to Zindiya, the decor immediately transported us back to India. The place was done up with art/decor that we had grown up with. The 'desi' aesthetic with references to Indian movies, ads, brands etc. was spot on point. We were shown to a table and the staff member (Anmol) explained the High Chai offering to us.
When the High Chai arrived, I was pleased to see the tea being served in a traditional Indian Chai kettle. And boy oh boy, what a delicious masala chai it was!
The savouries were tasty too with our favourite being the Aloo Tikki Chaat. Aloo Tikki Chaat is a popular Indian street food dish that combines crispy, potato patties (aloo tikki) with a mix of vibrant toppings. The tikki was served with a tangy tamarind chutney, cooling yogurt and spicy green mint & coriander chutney. It was garnished with crunchy 'sev', chopped onions and fresh coriander. The result - a delicious balance of flavours and textures. Crispy, creamy, sweet, tangy and spicy—all in one bite - just how it should be. We loved it.
The sweets came next and were delicious. The homemade cardamom scones were a real treat — warm, fresh and perfectly fluffy, with a subtle hint of aromatic cardamom that added a unique twist to this classic tea-time favorite.
The Gajar Ka Halwa Samosas at Zindiya were a delightful twist on the traditional Indian dessert. Gajar Ka Halwa which is a rich and comforting carrot-based sweet dish was wrapped in a crispy, golden samosa pastry, creating a perfect balance of textures. If you are looking to experience familiar flavours in an exciting new way, this one does the job.
The masala chai was topped up as we savoured the food. The portion sizes, we felt, were perfect and we enjoyed this Indian Afternoon Tea at Zindiya.
By the time we finished, our bellies were full, our hearts were happy and the delicious flavours brought back nostalgic memories of India. It was the perfect mix of tasty food, warm chai and a relaxed, fun atmosphere.
To book your High Chai, call Zindiya on 0121 439 0593 or email [email protected]
Post a Comment