This 100-YO Tea Stall in West Bengal Runs Without Staff, Only on Trust

There’s something timeless about a comforting cup of tea. In India, chai is more than a drink — it’s a ritual, a pause in the day, a reason to gather, talk, and to simply be. 

Whether it’s the first steaming cup at dawn or an afternoon break shared with friends, tea brings people together in ways few things can. It warms not just the hands, but the heart.

Nowhere is this spirit more alive than in a small, unassuming tea stall located in the quiet lanes of Sampoore, West Bengal. This isn’t your average roadside chai shop! 

It doesn’t have employees. It doesn’t pay salaries. And yet, it has served countless cups of chai for over 100 years, run entirely on trust and love.

Every morning, Ashoke Chakrabarti, the stall’s real owner, unlocks the shop and heads off to work. From then until 7 pm, a group of locals, mostly retirees and long-time regulars, take turns managing everything. 

They brew the tea, serve customers, collect payments, and clean up, all without expecting a rupee in return. No shifts, no rota, no fuss. Just an unspoken understanding and shared sense of belonging.

As each one enjoys their cup of chai, they serve others too, turning the stall into more than a tea stop. It becomes an adda, a cherished Bengali tradition of informal gatherings, where stories are exchanged, debates unfold, and laughter echoes.

And here’s the truly astonishing part: in over a century, not a single instance of unpaid dues has been recorded.

This International Tea Day, while the world celebrates the global love for tea, this century-old stall stands as a quiet but powerful reminder that beyond the flavour and aroma, it’s the trust, community, and shared joy that truly make tea special.

Edited by Vidya Gowri Venkatesh

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