When it’s bitterly cold out, hot tea is a go-to remedy that has been praised for centuries, no matter where you are in the world – from green tea in Asia to chai in India. In this interview, we speak with Radhika Chopra of No. 3 Clive Road, the brand behind the tea in the India Box. Her masala chai, known as Connaught Blend Tea, is hand-blended with warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom.
How did you get started?
Our journey begins in 1931 at the beautiful home where our father was born: No. 3 Clive Road in New Delhi.
With No. 3 Clive Road, we preserve the elegance of a bygone era with a range of boutique items; exclusive blended teas, a premium line of paper products, and beautifully scented candles. The inspiration for our brand is pre-independence India, based on our grandfather’s extensive personal memoir of the time. In his detailed private journal, over the course of 50 years, he writes of his personal and professional goals, he documents special occasions and details the family traditions taking place against the backdrop of a critical time in our country’s history.
Our brand was inspired by both our grandfather’s journal and our father’s memories of his childhood at No. 3 Clive Road; enchanting afternoons spent with a large family in an open home with warmth, traditions and a history shared by all. Having traveled the world with these stories of our father’s childhood, we return to where it all started, to discover traces of those beautiful old world experiences are still very much a part of our lives. With No. 3 Clive Road, we bring you the essence of our treasured family heritage, translated with a modern sensibility.
The branding and design of No. 3 Clive Road products is a modernist take on nostalgia. It evokes an atmosphere of the era whilst maintaining the modernity, freshness and elegance that positions No. 3 Clive Road as a contemporary brand.
What is your background?
I was born in India and raised and educated in the United States. Having traveled the world with the stories of my parent’s childhood, I returned to an India that is rapidly changing. With a desire to preserve those memories of India, I set out to create a timeless brand that has a link to a family history, but is also a reflection of my global experience. In addition to No. 3 Clive Road, I am actively involved with the arts in India. I hold a Bachelor of Economics from Wellesley College and Master of Public Policy from Harvard University.
Can you describe the process for your tea that’s featured in our India Box?
We use the finest hand selected natural ingredients from India, including cinnamon, cloves and fennel for a classic masala chai. Since this was the US market’s first introduction to No. 3 Clive Road, we named the blend the Connaught Blend in honor of the bustling city of New Delhi, home to our brand. We worked with a local family of block printers to create a special package that highlights the traditional pattern and color, reminiscent of the peacock, India’s national bird.
