Albuquerque Brand Brings Back “Real Chai” — Organic Masala Spices + Functional Mushrooms, Made for a Daily Ritual

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — [June 11, 2026] — With functional mushroom coffee ads everywhere and “instant wellness” drinks filling social feeds, Albuquerque-based Chai Chai Love is offering a different kind of mushroom beverage: real masala chai. Founded by Gurumustuk Khalsa, the brand blends certified organic spices traditionally used in Indian chai with functional mushroom extracts — including reishi, lion’s mane, cordyceps and chaga — plus a touch of black tea, creating a spice-forward daily ritual designed to help people slow down.

Khalsa’s approach is rooted in lived experience. After attending boarding school in India and growing up with chai as an everyday tradition of community and hospitality, he returned to the practice during a major personal reset and began blending chai with functional mushrooms as part of his own wellness journey. The response from early tasters was immediate, he said, revealing a market gap for chai that still tastes like chai — bold, aromatic and spice-led — while reflecting modern wellness values.

The brand is also shaped by a modern reality: many people rely on caffeine to mask fatigue and push through stress and burnout. Chai Chai Love was created as an alternative to that cycle — using time-honored spices and functional mushrooms in a drink meant to nourish the body, taste genuinely satisfying, and create a small, intentional pause in the day.

Unlike many “chai” products on shelves, Chai Chai Love is not a concentrate or sugary latte mix. It’s designed to be simple to prepare at home: simmer, strain, then add milk and sweetener to taste. That small extra step is intentional — a daily ritual that creates space to pause, reconnect, and appreciate the small, beautiful moments we often miss when life becomes a constant push to the next thing.

Customers say the difference shows up in both flavor and experience. One reviewer wrote: “A chai that’s sugar-free, includes adaptogenic mushrooms, and still tastes great is not easy to pull off.”

The brand extends beyond what’s in the cup. Each package includes uplifting messages and access to wellness resources — and locally, Chai Chai Love hosts Chai & Chat gatherings designed to build connection and support.

Packaging is also part of the experience. Chai Chai Love was recently featured by Paper Tube Co., highlighting its curbside-recyclable paper tube packaging and the moment it creates when customers open the tube to the aroma of fresh spices and a thoughtful message tucked inside.

WHERE TO FIND CHAI CHAI LOVE

• Chai Chai Love office/retail space: 4203 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque (next to Burque Licks; across from Humble Coffee)

• La Montañita Co-op (Albuquerque + Santa Fe)

• Downtown Growers’ Market (Albuquerque) — Saturdays, 8 a.m.–noon (seasonal)

• Select local cafés (including Lost Cultures Tea Bar, where Chai Chai Love chai is served)

• Online: https://chaichai.love

• Instagram: @chaichai.love