Prana Chai's StoryPrana Chai's Story
Over ten years ago, lifelongs friends Vincent Conti and Mario Minichilli opened a café in St Kilda, Melbourne after years of traveling the world together.
They fell in love with masala chai on their travels throughout Asia but couldn’t find anything at home that measured up, so they set about developing a chai blend inspired by the flavors they loved from India. As they perfected their own recipe, their customers grew to love their chai and other cafes wanted in, fate brought Koray Gencel into their lives and Prana Chai was born!
Over 10 years later, they finally outgrew their small cafe kitchen and instead have their very own factory in Melbourne, Australia, where they still hand make their chai and sell to nearly 4000 market leading coffee shops worldwide.
Our aim has always been to create really good chai out of really good stuff.
Our Journey
2009 Mario and Vincent started to brew their own sticky chai, inspired by their travels around India, to serve in their St Kilda Cafe.
Expanding Reach
2010 Koray came into the picture as a frequent customer turned friend and together the three friends created the brand Prana Chai.
Innovative Solutions
2012 Prana Chai starts to grow a loyal following and an online retail store is launched.
Accountability
2013 Chai production outgrows the cafe kitchen and we move into our first rented factory while starting to distribute overseas to Germany.
Honesty
2014 Prana Chai North America is born and we are awarded the best consumer product at the 2015 Chicago Coffee Expo
Teamwork
2015 Prana Chai Japan is born
Awards
2019 The business is growing exponentially and receives the Melbourne Business Innovation Award
New Endeavor
2023 Prana Chai moves into our very own factory!
