KUALA LUMPUR: He cuts an athletic figure as he casually cycles around the vicinity of Brickfields. But he is no ordinary young man whiling his time away on a hot afternoon.
Kavievanan Subramaniam, 23, is a businessman peddling his secret concoction of masala tea to an ever-growing fan base using his bicycle as his mobile tea shop.
An engineering graduate unable to secure a job after the pandemic wreaked havoc on the economy, Kavie, as he prefers to be called, decided to pursue his initial passion instead – that of entrepreneur.
FMT caught up with the young man from Cheras recently after news about his mobile tea business, called Tea Thambi, went viral on social media.
“Honestly, I was never really interested in engineering. I had always dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur,” he says, adding that he wanted to start his own business after sitting for his SPM examinations.
Naturally, his parents objected, preferring him to obtain a degree first.
A self-confessed tea addict, Kavie admits he can’t go a day without his favourite brew. He explains that it was during the lockdown when he was unemployed, bored and stuck at home that it dawned on him how he could make his love for tea an actual business.
“I wanted to try something different. I had bought my bicycle earlier just to cycle around the city, and this gave me the perfect opportunity to use it to become a mobile tea vendor.”
He explains his initial apprehension about breaking this news to his parents, thinking they would insist he continue hunting for a job in engineering instead.
“So, I prepped all the items for this business venture in secret. And only when I was absolutely ready, did I muster the courage to tell them. Thankfully, they gave me their blessings.”
“It’s a secret recipe,” he grins, when asked about what goes into his masala tea.
He adds that it was his mother who first taught him how to brew the perfect cup. Over time, he began improvising her recipe, tweaking it till he was satisfied with the result.
In May, he kicked off his business venture and began pedalling around Brickfields selling his tea.
It was hard-going at first, Kavie says, explaining that people were reluctant to buy tea from a young man selling the brew from a bicycle of all things. But he reminded himself that his persistence would eventually pay off.
And he was right. Over time, apprehension turned to curiosity and people began inquiring about his product. One sip and they were hooked.
“When I first started, I began with 12 litres. Now I’ve upped it to 20 litres, that’s roughly 100 cups of tea.”
He parks his bicycle near the Hong Leong bank in Brickfields from 3.30pm to 4.30pm every day, before taking off to other parts of Brickfields in hopes of satisfying the cravings of others who can’t come to him.
Feeling environmentally friendly? You can even bring your own bottle and Kavie will gladly fill it up with tea.
And to give customers the perfect tea-time experience, Kavie even sells an assortment of biscuits and breads to pair with the masala tea. Purchased from a wholesaler, these goodies are stored in carry bags hanging from the handles of his trusty bicycle.
According to him, business was initially unpredictable because of the conditional movement control order. However, once news of Tea Thambi went viral on social media, he was swamped with calls from interested customers.
This upturn in sales has encouraged Kavie to take his business to the next level. “It’s wonderful to receive so much support but I will only be truly happy when I become a successful entrepreneur.”
He is currently planning to remodel his bicycle so that it has a more vintage look, and to add more varieties of teas to cater to more customers.
He also wants to start the Tea Thambi franchise, where budding entrepreneurs like him can learn how to make his tea and market the product using the same method.
“I already have a friend who is selling the exact same masala tea on a bicycle in Jalan Masjid India,” he tells FMT.
It’s 5.10pm and Kavie has served up his last cup. It’s been a good day for this aspiring entrepreneur and he smiles as he pedals back home.
If you’re craving a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, you can find Kavie and his mobile tea shop in Brickfields every day from 3.30pm to 6pm or you can buzz him to place an order.
Tea Thambi @ Brickfields
Contact: 018 – 390 0171