Mamas Chai
- Type
- Food & Ingredient Manufacturer
- Location
- Haarlem, Netherlands
- Industries
- Food ingredients & products, Food reformulation, Sustainable packaging & plastic alternatives, Direct to consumer, Out-of-home, Shortening supply chain, Plant-based, Alternative proteins
- Domains
- Plant based primary products, Almonds, Ingredients, Spices & herbs, Processed food products, Beverages, Oat
- Technologies
- Processing
About Mamas Chai
MamasChai is a Dutch ready-to-drink chai brand built around authentic masala chai. Founded by two sisters, it was created after Leonie discovered traditional chai in India and wanted to bring a more genuine alternative to the chai lattes commonly sold in the Netherlands.
The company serves both consumers and business customers. Its core proposition is a vegan, lower-sugar chai made with black tea, spices and almond drink, positioned as a natural, comforting drink that can be enjoyed warm, chilled or iced. MamasChai also presents itself as a retail and foodservice brand, with products available through stores, supermarkets and horeca channels.
Core Values
- Authenticity: The brand emphasizes real masala chai rather than powder-based chai lattes, and repeatedly highlights its use of genuine tea and spices inspired by Indian chai traditions.
- Plant-based choice: MamasChai is vegan and uses almond drink instead of dairy, reflecting a clear preference for plant-based products.
- Lower sugar and lighter indulgence: The drink is positioned as less sweet than typical chai lattes, with up to 80% less sugar and 25 kcal per 100 ml.
- Natural ingredients: The company stresses high-quality, natural ingredients and says its chai is made without artificial flavors or powder-based shortcuts.
- Relaxation and enjoyment: MamasChai frames chai as a small daily pause, a comforting moment to slow down and enjoy.
Unique Aspects
- Founded by two sisters with an India-inspired origin story: Leonie discovered authentic masala chai in India, and together with her sister Kirsten turned that experience into a brand aimed at introducing real chai to the Dutch market.
- Broad retail presence: The brand says its chai is available in Albert Heijn and Jumbo stores across the Netherlands, as well as selected EDEKA and REWE stores in Germany.
- Horeca-specific concentrate line: In 2025 MamasChai launched two premium chai concentrates for hospitality, expanding beyond ready-to-drink chai into a more flexible service format.
- Local production for concentrates: The chai concentrates are described as being produced locally in Amsterdam, which supports the brand’s freshness and service positioning.
- Crowdfunding-backed growth: MamasChai launched a crowdfunding campaign in 2023 to scale production, sales and marketing, showing an early-stage growth model supported by its community.