Irani Cafe

Designer: Sakeena Tayebji, Priyal Gupta, Vedika Merchant
Location: India
Project Type: Student Project
School: Pearl Academy, Mumbai
Tutor: Madhu Amodia
Packaging Contents: Chai, bun, mawa cakes
Packaging Substrate / Materials: Paper

The story of how humble and delicious the Irani cafe food and beverage is, needed to be translated into our branding and packaging. The checkered floors and vintage interiors were some elements that inspired the branding. The three most popular items off the menu across cafes in Bombay were the Irani chai, bun pao maska and the mawa cakes. The packaging was kept decidingly simple to reflect the essence found in the Irani cafes. We wanted to retain its sustainable packaging habits and stay rooted to its authenticity.

What’s Unique?
The packaging has been inspired by the techniques used by these cafes to wrap their buns and cakes. The aesthetic has a authentic looks and feel and retains the ideologies of the Irani culture and food eating experience. Most of the takeaways from cafes like these are daily commuters of the Mumbai local train or office workers who need a quick ‘chai break’. The large paper for the buns and cakes act as a mat for urban commuters who can have their tea and snacks on the go.