Babu Lal Prajapati started with a small tea stall at just 15, and through dedication and hard work, has transformed his humble beginning into a thriving enterprise. Today, Babu Tea Stall has expanded to 12–13 outlets across multiple cities, earning a loyal customer base and recognition.

Entrepreneur Babu Lal Prajapati is the Proud Owner of Babu Tea Stall, located in Gumanpura, Kota. Alongside this, he also manages several other brands of his cafes and stalls within his growing portfolio, including Chaisto Café & Restaurant and Tea Mood.

Babu Lal Prajapati explains that over the years, Babu Tea Stall has earned a reputation for serving exceptional tea in a welcoming environment. What started as a small local stall has steadily grown, expanding even internationally with shops abroad, highlighting the increasing popularity of the unique Prajapati tea.

Based on his experience, Babu Lal Prajapati says he believes that the true strength of his business lies not just in the tea, but in the overall experience it offers. He says, “Our customers are always respected, and every day we try to offer something new in taste.”

At Babu Tea Stall, tea is served across a wide range—from an affordable ₹20 per cup to premium varieties priced up to ₹150—each with its own distinctive flavor. This dedication to quality and variety has made the stall immensely popular, attracting visitors from outside the city and even celebrities who come specifically to enjoy its signature brews.

Expanding further in the field, Babu Lal Prajapati has also introduced a new brand, Chaisto Café & Restaurant, located in Ramakrishna Puram. The brand currently operates three outlets, two of which specialize in tea while one is dedicated to food. The one serving food is a complete restaurant that offers a wide selection of dishes, featuring cuisines such as Italian, Chinese, South Indian, and many more. Designed as a complete family dining destination, it provides guests with a comfortable space to enjoy delicious meals, flavorful tea, and refreshing juices.

Another innovative concept introduced by Prajapati is Tea Mood, a unique tea-making setup that uses a specialized machine to prepare tea. Visitors can witness the distinctive method of brewing that sets it apart from traditional stalls. The environment here is lively and welcoming, with many medical students and young visitors frequently stopping by to enjoy a cup of tea and spend time with friends.

Recently, he also launched a tea leaf business under the ‘Tea Mood’ brand, which has received an enthusiastic response from customers. Many tea lovers have connected with him through this venture, regularly purchasing his tea leaves and appreciating their quality and distinctive flavor.

With his passion for tea, commitment to quality, and continuous innovation, Babu Lal Prajapati has transformed a simple tea stall into a growing brand. He warmly invites everyone to visit his outlets and experience the flavors, hospitality, and creativity that have made his ventures a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

Babu Lal Prajapati recalls that when he started Babu Tea Stall in 2004, a tea stall was generally considered as a very modest business. However, he was determined to change that perception. With a vision to make his stall stand out, he introduced unique varieties of tea with distinctive flavors while maintaining a strong focus on quality. Through dedication, innovation, and continuous hard work, the humble tea stall gradually grew and expanded into a well-known venture.

He also shares that in earlier times, many women and families were hesitant to visit tea stalls or roadside ‘thadis’ for tea. Understanding this concern, Prajapati made a conscious effort to create a safe, clean, and welcoming environment at his tea stall where everyone, especially families and young women could feel comfortable and enjoy a cup of tea. Gradually, more and more families and women began visiting his stall to experience the best flavors of teas. By combining a secure atmosphere with high-quality and flavorful tea, he successfully broadened his customer base and steadily expanded his business.

Talking about his personal life, Babu Lal Prajapati shares that he comes from a small village in Bundi. At the age of just 15, he left his village after failing the ninth standard. With little interest in academics and his family unable to afford further schooling, he decided to step out of the village in search of opportunities and build a path for himself.

He moved to a nearby city with the determination to start something small and independent. During this period, he began running a modest tea stall and worked tirelessly—often for nearly 18 hours a day. His consistent effort and dedication gradually began to pay off, and he eventually saved enough money from his earnings to buy a bicycle. For him, that bicycle was more than just a means of transport; it symbolized achievement, independence, and hope for a brighter future.

After that, he never looked back and consistently put in relentless effort and hard work to grow the stall. Today, what once seemed unimaginable has become a reality for Babu Lal Prajapati, as he now owns several cars, including a Hyundai Creta. Over the years, his business continued to expand, and by 2017–2018 it had developed into a recognized brand. At present, the brand operates 12-13 outlets across several cities, like in Kota alone, there are around six outlets, while others function in Jhalawar, Jhalrapatan, Jaipur, and areas near Mumbai. The business continues to grow steadily, and many individuals who have partnered with the brand through the franchise model are satisfied and progressing successfully.

Babu Lal Prajapati shares that his greatest source of inspiration has been YouTube. In today’s competitive world, he stresses, very few people offer guidance or support but through YouTube, he found the motivation to start and expand his business. Remarkably, even though he has established 12–13 outlets, he has never received any formal training and has had no personal mentor; he relied entirely on youtube motivational videos to study and learn from them.

He spends most of his free time watching motivational videos, using them to shape and guide his entrepreneurial path. Alongside videos, Babu Lal enjoys reading books, which further enriches his knowledge and provides new ideas to fuel the growth of his business.

Owner of Babu Tea Stall Babu Lal Prajapati highlights several key challenges he faced while building and running his business. One of the major hurdles in scaling up was the limited availability of skilled labor for tea stalls. Fortunately, he received support from one of his brothers, who helped provide staff capable of managing the operations efficiently. He further said that he also never received any support from the government, as running a tea stall often involves large gatherings that can disrupt local society, which occasionally affected his business. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic posed a significant challenge, with lockdowns and temporary closures impacting operations.

Despite these obstacles, he persevered, working tirelessly and moving forward with determination. Today, his dedication has paid off as he has achieved remarkable success and built a loyal customer base, many of whom have been enjoying his tea for over 20 years.

The entrepreneur behind the brand Tea Mood, Babu Lal Prajapati shares that anyone can start a business in the tea segment, as it has wide potential and offers a promising concept. He emphasizes that he and his team are committed to supporting other businesspeople and entrepreneurs by sharing their experience, knowledge, and expertise to help them grow.

His recent launch Tea Mood, is a brand that offers tea leaves designed to help young entrepreneurs create flavorful, high-quality chai. The tea leaves include all the ingredients and detailed preparation methods used in their signature recipes, allowing anyone to start their own tea business with the same authentic quality and taste. This initiative does not involve any franchise fees; rather individuals can simply purchase the tea leaves in small quantities and begin their business independently.

Drawing from his experience, he advises young entrepreneurs that success is never achieved overnight. He stresses the importance of staying motivated and consistent, as persistence leads to long-term success. He adds, “success is never easy and challenges are a necessary part of growth as the bigger the challenge, the greater the opportunity to succeed.

Chaisto Cafe Founder Babu Lal Prajapati concludes his #MeriKahani with a simple yet powerful message: “Every business faces obstacles, and without challenges, there can be no growth, thereby overcoming these challenges is an essential part of achieving success.”