A soft bun generously layered with butter and dipped into hot tea — this simple, comforting combination has quietly become Kerala’s newest food craze. Once associated with Mumbai’s Irani cafés, bun maska with chai is now trending across the state, driven by social media buzz, late-night food culture and the story of a young couple from Kochi.
At the heart of this viral trend are Saran Dileep and Sreelekshmi T S, popularly known as The Chai Couple.
A simple idea brewed in Kochi
After returning from abroad, the couple decided to pursue a passion-led life in Kochi rather than follow conventional career paths. For Sreelekshmi, an avid tea lover, the inspiration was straightforward: Why is it so hard to find consistently good chai?
That question soon evolved. Instead of offering deep-fried snacks common at roadside stalls, they wanted something lighter yet satisfying. Bun maska — familiar, nostalgic and affordable — felt right.
With borrowed furniture, a few charts, and their grandmother’s flask, the couple set up a modest stall outside Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kaloor. They sold limited quantities of tea and buns, unsure how the experiment would fare.
From experiment to viral hit
The response was immediate. Customers returned. Word spread. Food vloggers arrived. What began as a trial soon turned into The Chai Couple Café, with bun maska-chai as its signature offering.
“Instead of opening a full-fledged shop, we wanted to test if people liked what we served,” Saran said. “We never imagined it would turn into a statewide trend.”
The duo credits the popularity to word-of-mouth promotion and the support of Kerala’s food vloggers, while insisting they never compromise on quality.
Customers at the centre
“Our confidence comes from our customers,” Sreelekshmi said, noting that even their very first customer continues to visit. She added that one regular is now helping them develop a token system — a reflection of the strong community bond they have built.
A statewide phenomenon
Food vloggers confirm that bun maska and chai have gone viral across Kerala. Niyadh Basheer (@foodencyclopediatrivandrum) said the most common complaint he hears is that the dish often sells out. In Thiruvananthapuram, stalls now operate until 2 am, especially near Technopark, catering to tech professionals.
In Kozhikode, Devayani S Thilakan (@toastory) noted that affordability has made the combo especially popular among college students, with groups gathering near beachside stalls late into the night.
From Kochi to Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, bun maska and chai have become more than a snack — they are a shared experience, steeped in warmth, nostalgia and Kerala’s evolving street food culture.