A new independent café is bringing a fresh flavour to Andover’s food and drink scene, offering residents the chance to experience authentic South Asian recipes alongside their morning coffee.
Chai Fusion, located on Junction Road, has recently opened its doors and is already attracting attention for its unique take on the traditional café experience.
The family-run business is owned by brothers Kamrul Murad, Mahmud Miraj and Mehrab Mahir, who spotted what they believed was a gap in the local market.
While Andover is home to a variety of restaurants and cafés, the brothers felt there was nowhere offering a relaxed coffee shop atmosphere combined with authentic South Asian food and drink.
Their solution was Chai Fusion – a welcoming café serving everything from freshly brewed coffee and pastries to samosas, chicken tikka toasties and traditional South Asian breakfast dishes.
One of the standout items on the menu is the café’s signature Desi Breakfast, featuring chickpea curry, flaky paratha bread and a masala omelette.
Many of the café’s most popular recipes have been developed by family members, including Kamrul’s wife, Rubaya Rafiq, who is behind the café’s karak chai, masala chai and chickpea curry recipe.
However, it is the chai itself that has quickly become the star attraction.
Unlike a standard cup of tea, Chai Fusion’s chai is brewed traditionally using milk and a carefully balanced blend of spices including cardamom, cinnamon and aniseed. The result is a rich, warming drink packed with flavour and aroma.
When asked what message he would give to people who have yet to visit the café, Mehrab’s response was simple.
“Come try our chai,” he said.
The café’s family ethos is also at the heart of the business. The three brothers work together to run the café, with their mother occasionally lending a helping hand behind the scenes.
Mehrab said: “When you’re doing something together, you feel proud of it as well.”
That sense of pride is evident throughout the café, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for customers.
Whether visitors are looking for a coffee, a breakfast with a difference, a light lunch or simply want to discover what authentic chai tastes like, Chai Fusion offers something a little different in the town centre.
The café is currently open from 8.30am until 7pm daily and is continuing to develop its website and online presence as the business settles into life in Andover.
The opening of Chai Fusion adds another independent business to the town and introduces a style of café that is currently unique within Andover.
For anyone passing through Junction Road, the invitation from the owners remains straightforward – stop by and give the chai a try.