Chai Stop goes national

Award winning Chai Stop frozen curries now delivered nationwide using eco friendly sheep’s wool insulation

- Holistic health through ayurvedic properties of herbs and spices- Naturally grown local and organic produce- Outside catering and dinner parties- Free local delivery
Chai Stop, the award winning authentic hand-made frozen curry company based in Minster, Kent are now available nationwide, thanks to the innovative use of sheep’s wool as an eco friendly insulating material. A recent trial order successfully completed the 250-mile overnight trip to Bath. The dishes arrived still completely frozen and the customer was so delighted that she has set up a weekly “curry club” for her friends.

Chai Stop’s Indian and Thai curries have been available to in East Kent direct from their own and local farm shops since 1999. The company currently sells around 500 curries a week, with production set to double having just won a prestigious Taste of Kent Award for Best Kent Food Producer from Produced in Kent, allied to the nationwide distribution.

The company is run Tina Cesbron and Isobel Moore, who share a long-standing interest in holistic health from the ayurvedic properties of herbs and spices and, sourcing as much local produce as they can. All its meat is reared outdoors and the vegetables, lentils & pulses are organic wherever possible. All dishes are what and gluten free.Indian customers are curious how “two English ladies” make curry just like their own mothers. Testament to their skill is being asked to cater for Indian celebrations. “The integrity of the cooking comes from years of experience, trying and testing recipes and listening to our customers,” said Tina Cesbron, who displays an honest love of cooking and a passion for naturally grown local produce.
Isobel’s father was bought-up India, spending the first few years in an orphanage. His mother meanwhile trained as a cook and went on to become head cook at the boarding school he attended, just to be close her son. Isobel has acquired a treasured hand-written book of recipes from this time.

Tina was brought up in the family catering business and after extensive travels to India, where she was trained by master in Indian cookery, she came back inspired by the sheer colour, vibrancy and variety of India that transcends into its food.
The curries are made in small batches of between 30 and 50 servings, “Any larger than that and it’s impossible to maintain the authentic taste of real curry,” said Tina. “Despite following traditional family recipes which have been perfected over the years, each batch has tasted throughout preparation and the ingredients adjusted.” With fresh and natural ingredients, the taste of spices can vary according to the weather conditions in which they were grown and harvested.

The business’s origins go back over 20 years – ladling-out platefuls of steaming homemade curries from a van, to hungry students at Kent University. However, with small children and a van that kept breaking down, the pair would have “thrown-in the towel” but for a couple of mums at the school gate asking them to stock-up their freezers with the curries.

The Chai Stop came into being in 1999 when Tina and Isobel went into partnership, cooking at Isobel’s house in Whitstable. Business went from strength to strength, eventually outgrowing Isobel’s kitchen. A chance encounter led to Ebbsfleet Farm near Sandwich, where they were able to design and install their own kitchen in the original dairy. The recent addition of a new member of staff, who is being training in the art of cooking curry, takes the team to six.

Invigorated by the Taste of Kent Award, Chai Stop is making its frozen curries available nationwide. Its delivery company uses sheep’s wool as an insulating material. Which is good news for the country’s sheep warmers. International wool prices are at an historic low and wholesale prices do not cover the cost of shearing. Some farmers are resorting to burning wool in the field.

We plan to continue growing step-by-step, ensuring we retain the very essence of the Chai Stop – which is genuine hand-made authentic curries, cooked in small batches to ensure the finest quality.

Chai Stop offers a complete outside catering service for dinner parties, business seminars, fund raising events, weddings, private functions, and film locations The services includes menu design, equipment, seating, table and tableware, waiting staff – even the washing up.

Main dishes cost around £4.95 to £5.95, vegetable dishes cost £3.60, dhals cost £3.40.