Great ideas have always come to mind when least expected, and the inspiration for this café arose from a simple realisation—there wasn’t a dedicated space for true tea lovers or for people curious about exploring tea beyond the typical chai. And thus was born the Café Tea Trunk!
“I wanted to create a place where tea could be celebrated in all its forms—not just as a beverage but as an ingredient that enhances food and drinks in unique ways. That’s how the café was born,” says Snigdha Manchanda, the founder of Café Tea Trunk.
CREATION OF INDIA'S FIRST TEA SOMMELIER
As India’s first certified tea sommelier, Snigdha’s journey began over a decade ago when she trained in Sri Lanka under a Japanese tea master. Since then, she has tasted and profiled over 2,000 varieties of tea, developing a deep understanding of flavour notes, origins and brewing techniques.
An extension of her D2C (direct-to-consumer) brand, Tea Trunk, the café opened in August 2022. Located in the quaint neighbourhood of Fontainhas with colourful houses and winding streets, the area perfectly complements the café that’s set in a 100-year-old Goan home.
TEA COMES FIRST PHILOSOPHY
“The space itself has a timeless charm, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. It’s the perfect setting, slow-paced escape where people can enjoy tea mindfully,” she says. But what truly sets the café apart is their tea-first philosophy. While many cafés serve tea as an afterthought, here, it’s the star of the show.
“One of our best-sellers is the matcha cookies, which have a rich, earthy flavour from the Japanese green tea powder. Our lemon lavender tea cake is another favourite—it’s infused with our floral tea blend, giving it a delicate yet fragrant twist,” she shares, adding, “We focus on showcasing the versatility of tea—whether it’s through our signature blends, artisanal bubble teas or elegant high-tea experience.”
SIP ON VARIETY
Committed to creating a memorable tea experience, the menu at the café celebrates tea in familiar and unexpected ways. There’s a variety of teas—from classic brews to creative tea-infused beverages. A customer favourite is their bubble tea range, which offers playful flavours like mango mint bubble tea, matcha latte bubble tea and salted caramel rose bubble tea, each one combining bold tea flavours with the fun texture of chewy tapioca pearls.
“Most of our beverage menu is vegan-friendly, including our bubble teas and specialty lattes, along with a few vegan food items. This ensures that tea lovers with dietary preferences can still enjoy a full, flavourful experience,” she adds.
COME FOR THE DELICIOUS BITES
To complement the teas, the place also serves an all-day breakfast. Guests can enjoy dishes like the honey mustard jackfruit burger, which offers a delicious plant-based twist, or the veg poie pizza, a local-inspired treat with a flavourful topping on a Goan poie base.
At the café, the amazing team—Simone, Terry, and Kushboo—work their magic to bring you the absolute best. With one-of-a-kind creations like the Disco Fries and the flavourful Chicken Wings drenched in a tangy Mango Jalapeño BBQ Sauce, every bite is delicious, something you won’t want to miss.
For those looking for something refreshing, the iced tea selections with options like the hibiscus iced tea, blue matcha lemonade, and the floral galaxy lemonade are go to options.
EXPLORE AND APPRECIATE TEA
To help people explore and appreciate tea culture even better, the café hosts a variety of special events and workshops. One of the most popular offerings is their Signature High Tea experience.
“It’s a beautifully curated tea party where guests can enjoy a selection of tea-infused treats, savoury bites and artisanal teas. It’s a big hit with both locals and tourists who want to indulge in a leisurely, elegant experience. It’s available on pre-booking,” Snigdha informs.
A SPACE FOR CREATIVITY
Beyond tasting and blending workshops, the café also organises a range of other events, including pasta-making, kombucha-making and book readings, creating a space for creativity and community.
They recommend following their social media pages to stay updated on upcoming events, workshops and new menu highlights. This April, the café is running a special “Happy Hours" offer (buy 2, get 1 free offer) on iced teas from Monday to Thursday (4 pm to 6 pm).
Every Sunday, a barbeque brunch with steaks, wings and much more is also hosted at the café.
JUST DROP BY
Whether you a tea enthusiast or simply looking for a cosy corner with a unique vibe, Café Tea Trunk offers an experience that’s both steeped in history and refreshingly different. So, drop by, unwind and lose track of time over a perfectly brewed cup of tea.
DETAILS
WHERE: 162, St Sebastian Chapel road, Fontainhas (quarter), Altinho, Panjim, Goa 403001
TIMINGS: Open from 9 am to 6.30 pm. Closed on Wednesdays
SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram handle @teatrunk
MORE DETAILS OR RESERVATIONS: 079001 95764