Inko Tea
Our Story

One More Cup.One More Success.

Inko means “One More” in Telugu — our motto celebrates the joy of that perfect cup you can’t resist. Founded in 2021 in Hyderabad, INKOTEA has grown to 40+ outlets across India, bringing comfort, affordability and quality in every serving — and is now expanding aggressively through our Social Cafe format.
What's in every cup

The careful the selection, the tastier the tea

Quality is not a marketing line. It's eight non-negotiable standards that every INKOTEA outlet follows, every shift, every day.

Premium Tea Leaves

Sourced from Tier-1 gardens — full-bodied, aromatic, never bitter.

Hand-Pounded Ginger

Fresh, local, hand-crushed daily for that ghar-wali kadak chai feel.

RO Purified Water

Every cup starts with safe, clean water — non-negotiable.

Fresh Whole Milk

Daily-procured buffalo milk — never powdered, never reconstituted.

Zero Artificial Flavors

We chose taste over shortcuts. No essences, no compromise.

Brewed To Perfection

Slow boil, perfect strain, the right temperature — every single time.

Hygienic Preparation

Standardized cleaning checklists across every outlet, every shift.

Sulphur-Free Sugar

100% sulphur-free sugar in every cup — your health matters.

Our Journey

From a single kiosk to a multi-city retail brand

2021
First Outlet & First Franchises

Launched our first outlet in April at Miyapur, Hyderabad. In June, our first franchise sale was given in Mulugu, Warangal — followed by our first Andhra Pradesh sale in October at Narasaraopet.

First outlets
2021
First Outlet & First Franchises

Launched our first outlet in April at Miyapur, Hyderabad. In June, our first franchise sale was given in Mulugu, Warangal — followed by our first Andhra Pradesh sale in October at Narasaraopet.

First outlets
2021
First Outlet & First Franchises

Launched our first outlet in April at Miyapur, Hyderabad. In June, our first franchise sale was given in Mulugu, Warangal — followed by our first Andhra Pradesh sale in October at Narasaraopet.

First outlets
2023
First North State Sale

Crossed beyond South India — our first North State franchise sale was given in November at Lucknow, opening the brand up to a national footprint.

First North State
2023
First North State Sale

Crossed beyond South India — our first North State franchise sale was given in November at Lucknow, opening the brand up to a national footprint.

First North State
2023
First North State Sale

Crossed beyond South India — our first North State franchise sale was given in November at Lucknow, opening the brand up to a national footprint.

First North State
2026
40th Outlet

Hit the 40-outlet milestone in May at Bachupalli — a proof point of the scalable franchise model and consistent brand experience across cities.

40+ outlets
2026
40th Outlet

Hit the 40-outlet milestone in May at Bachupalli — a proof point of the scalable franchise model and consistent brand experience across cities.

40+ outlets
2026
40th Outlet

Hit the 40-outlet milestone in May at Bachupalli — a proof point of the scalable franchise model and consistent brand experience across cities.

40+ outlets
What makes us different

The middle ground tea retail was missing

Traditional Tea

Traditional Tea

Inconsistent quality

No brand recall

Unstructured operations

Cafe Chains

Cafe Chains

Expensive pricing

Premium niche only

Slow to scale regionally

INKOTEA Way

INKOTEA

Affordable Premium

Mass + Lifestyle positioning

Scalable, system-driven

What guides us

Vision, Mission, Philosophy

Mission
Build India's most scalable premium mini social cafe network

Standardize chai retail and enable micro-entrepreneurs across India through compact, brand-driven outlets at every footfall.

Vision
Modern social cafe spaces — across cities and towns

To create community-driven cafe spaces across India through tea, conversations and community — combining traditional Indian beverage culture with a contemporary cafe experience.

Philosophy
"The Feeling of One More"

Not just taste — it's the habit, the emotion and the connection that makes one cup turn into the next.

Watch our story

The INKOTEA experience

A glimpse of the chai culture, cafe ambience and community spirit we bring to every neighbourhood.

About the Founder

Srinivas P. Mahendra

Founder & CEO

Srinivas P. Mahendra is the Founder of INKOTEA, a passionate entrepreneur with a vision to redefine the tea cafe experience by blending quality, affordability, and strong franchise opportunities. He launched the first INKOTEA outlet in April 2021 at Miyapur, Hyderabad, with the dream of building a proudly Indian tea brand that could reach every town and city.

Under his leadership, INKOTEA has rapidly expanded across multiple locations and states through a scalable franchise model focused on consistency, customer satisfaction, and innovative business ideas. His entrepreneurial journey reflects dedication, practical execution, and a strong belief in empowering young entrepreneurs through affordable business opportunities.

Apart from INKOTEA, Srinivas is also actively involved in renewable energy and startup innovation sectors, bringing a modern and growth-oriented approach to every venture he builds.

Vision
“To build INKOTEA into one of India’s most trusted and loved tea cafe brands by creating premium beverage experiences at affordable prices, while empowering entrepreneurs through sustainable and scalable franchise opportunities.”
Srinivas P. Mahendra
About the Co-Founder

Naresh P. Mahendra

Co-Founder

Naresh P. Mahendra, the Co-Founder of INKOTEA, has been a strong pillar behind the brand’s growth journey. Being one of the younger brothers of Founder Srinivas P. Mahendra, Naresh played an important role from the very beginning — including suggesting the brand name “INKOTEA,” which later became the identity loved by tea enthusiasts across regions.

With his practical involvement in operations, outlet setup support, franchise coordination, and training assistance, Naresh continues to contribute actively toward maintaining quality and consistency across INKOTEA outlets. His energetic approach and ground-level understanding have helped the brand expand smoothly into multiple cities and states.