A mechanical engineering graduate is turning heads with his handsome income up to thousands of Ringgit a month simply by selling masala tea from his humble bicycle in KL.
What started out as a means to earn extra money while waiting for a job offer, Kavievanan Subramaniam now has 17 employees working for him across two cafes and five stalls in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
M’sian man earns RM100K a month selling masala tea in KL
Sharing his story with Majoriti, Kavi, who runs a stall named ‘Tea Thambi’ and a Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) graduate, said he learnt the masala tea recipe from his mother.
Along the way, he made changes to the recipe based on feedback given to him by customers, adding that it took him about a year to finally hit the taste that his customers have come to love today.
I started Tea Thambi in July 2020 with an initial capital of RM500 for a drink container, tea stock, milk, cups, and some modifications to my bicycle that I used during my studies.
“I would then cycle about 10 kilometers from my home in Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, to sell tea in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. At the start, I sold only 100 cups a day. But today, I can sell between 2,000 to 3,000 cups daily, with each cup being sold from RM1 to RM4,” he said.
According to Kavi, his masala tea sales generates nearly RM100,000 a month from his two cafes in Jalan Tun Perak and Masjid Jamek, as well as five stalls located at Brickfields, Lebuh Ampang, and Bukit Bintang.
The 27-year-old also added that his masala tea is made using high-quality tea leaves and therapeutic ingredients, an aspect that makes his tea stand out from the rest.
Aside from masala tea, ‘Tea Thambi’ also sells other wares such as coffee, ginger tea, toast, vadai and curry puffs.
‘Still need more experience’
Kavi revealed that he is now receiving numerous requests from several parties to franchise his business outside of the Klang Valley.
However, he said that he needs to gain more experience in managing the business before taking the next step.
“I plan to expand further, but I’m still learning how to manage the business. It’s not all about just making money, only to have nothing to show for it at the end.
“Even if it takes time for the business to grow, it’s okay. As long as it grows steadily, that’s fine with me,” he concluded.
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