Buddies Cafe Ooty: A Tea Boutique In The Nilgiris Serving 200+ Varieties Of Brews

Disclaimer: The author visited the cafe at her own expense. This is not a sponsored article. The images used in this article are the author’s personal photos and are not to be reused for any purposes whatsoever. Read about our editorial policies.

I chanced upon Buddies Cafe during my solo trip to Ooty last month. Being a hardcore tea lover, the cold Ooty weather and a heavy lunch naturally kicked up my yearning for a hot cup of chai. While a quick search on Google revealed numerous options, this particular tea cafe piqued my interest.

Buddies Cafe by Danjo Teas started as a small tea room in Coimbatore 12 years ago, which served just 15 tea varieties. They have now grown into a successful business that offers over 200 varieties of premium teas from around the world as well as artisanal teas from surrounding tea estates. The cafe is backed by the Tea Board of India.

A quick glance around the cafe evoked the kind of feeling I often get when I step into an old library – a familiar scent that invigorates passion, subtly entwined with nostalgia. As I breathed in the intoxicating aroma of tea, my heart picked pace knowing I was about to embark on an exciting tea-tasting experience. 

In this article, I will tell you why this is one of the best cafes in Ooty and a must-visit for all tea lovers. Let’s begin with the best parts of my visit. 

3 Highlights Of Buddies Cafe

# The Wall Of Tea

The great wall of tea is the first sight that catches your attention. Buddies Cafe has an entire wall dedicated to numerous varieties of tea from around the world. Its white shelves are stacked with half-filled jars of tea gleaming in the rays of the afternoon sun. Quite a romantic sight, indeed! 

I inevitably found myself musing over the labels on each jar. Each label detailed the ingredients and the health benefits of that particular tea infusion. There were the familiar black, green, and white teas, and the not-so-familiar exotic fruit and herbal teas. We’ll get into their tea collection in more detail in the next sections. 

# Serving Style

What’s unique about Buddies Cafe is that you have people who are passionate about tea serving you. A prepared beverage is not brought to your table. Instead, the tea is freshly brewed before you. They use simple yet beautiful glassware and keep a check on the time with hourglasses. 

The entire process, from measuring the infusion, steeping it in a teapot to tilting the hourglass is done with such finesse, that you naturally end up relishing the art of preparation even before the final beverage is served. 

# Great Location

Buddies Cafe is just a 4-minute walk from the Government Botanical Garden, which is one of the popular tourist attractions in Ooty. This makes the cafe easily accessible for tourists. Being right adjacent to Tribes India, the Resource Centre For Tribal Development, Buddies Cafe also enjoys the advantage of a spacious parking space (paid) for its customers, despite being located on a busy street. 

In case you are looking for unique stays in the hill station, you can also check out our review of Willow Hill, a nature resort in Ooty.

The Ambience At Buddies Cafe

Simple yet inviting is the best way to describe the ambience of Buddies Cafe. It was about 3 pm when I entered the place. The occasional rains in Ooty had left a mild chill in the air. Off-season coupled with an odd time gave me the perfect opportunity to bask in the cafe’s homely atmosphere as the only customer. 

As I sat at one of their wooden tables, a soft light filtered through the window, casting a sepia-hued charm over the place. There was wooden furniture for seating, one wall was stacked with tea jars, and another with packs of Danjo Teas and tea accessories. The leftover spaces on the walls were covered with colorful posters displaying quotes on tea, brewing instructions, health benefits, and other interesting information. It had enough tea tales to keep a bibliophile engaged while they waited for their tea. 

A board filled with great reviews scribbled on sticky notes proved the cafe’s popularity among tourists and locals. I also spotted a couple of great sketches and poems among those reviews, elaborating on their experience at the cafe. Hence, it’s fair to say that Buddies Cafe is one of the must-visit spots for all tea lovers who visit Ooty. 

TWT Tip: Buddies Cafe has another branch on Commercial Street, Ooty. If you prefer a posh set-up, we suggest you head to this branch. Buddies Cafe – Commercial Street is more spacious, has fancy decor and also a little library.

Food & Drinks At Buddies Cafe

After careful consideration, I thought it was best to ask the store lady her favorite tea among the hundreds stacked on the shelf, and she promptly replied, “Peppermint tea!” And this was just the start.  

She allowed me to get a whiff before brewing it, and a refreshing scent of mint filled my lungs. 2 gms were meticulously measured out and allowed to sit for 3 minutes. As I sat breathing in the slow-rising steam from the teapot, I decided on the 3 other flavors that I wished to try. 

My next choice was ‘Curvy Hips’. As exotic as its name, this particular herbal infusion was a unique blend of antioxidants like rooibos, hibiscus, rose petals, orange peel, and rose hips with orange, lemon, and vanilla flavors. The gorgeous reddish hue turned out to be absolutely delicious, with the tartness of hibiscus, and a sensual aroma of orange and rose.  

A big fan of the summer fruit, the tea I tried next was called Mango Magic and it was yummy. It had real pieces of dry mango that gave the tea a beautiful color and flavor. This is also one of Danjo Tea’s best-selling fruit flavor teas. 

The last one I tried was called Chamomile Orange. It had dried Chamomile flowers and orange peel. An interesting combination that had the smooth subtle sweetness of Chamomile and the alluring aroma of orange. A flavorful tea that you can enjoy both hot and cold. 

Their menu also includes the old school Classic Tea, Ginger Tea, Cardamom Tea, and Masala Chai, which make a perfect cup for the cold Ooty weather. These are also very affordably priced. However, a couple of other teas that I wish to recommend are Red Velvet Flavored Black Tea, Peach Tea, Tiramisu Black Flavored Tea, Old Memories Tea, and Raspberry Champagne Tea. Apart from hot teas, Buddies Cafe also serves Ice Teas and Kombucha. 

Their food menu offers a wide variety of snacks such as sandwiches, momos, pasta, french fries, and others that complement the teas. Though I was here only for their teas, the food served here is well-reviewed on Google by many customers.  

You can also purchase their exotic teas and brew them in the comfort of your home. You need to buy a minimum of 30 gms and the teas are beautifully packed in zip-lock covers that help preserve their aroma for a long time. You can also order most of these teas online from Danjo Teas’ official website. The cafe also sells chocolates, cakes, desserts, non-alcoholic wine, and herbal oils.

The Service At Buddies Cafe

The service at Buddies Cafe is quick, attentive, and warm. The lady who attended to me patiently explained the ingredients in each brew and mentioned its health benefits. Their good service is also praised on Google reviews and mentioned on the sticky notes in the cafe’s review board.

Tea Tasting Sessions At Buddies Cafe

Buddies Cafe holds a special tea-tasting session where you get to experience a variety of premium blends with their founder and CEO, Mr. Nirmal Raj. The session lasts for about 2-3 hours and costs INR 3500 for a group of four. 

TWT Experience Summary At Buddies Cafe

Buddies Cafe is certainly one of the best cafes in Ooty, created specially for all tea lovers. A warm, cozy tea room that is passionate about giving its customers a wholesome tea-tasting experience. So, next time you are visiting Ooty, don’t miss the opportunity to sip on some mouth-wateringly crafted, exotic tea blends while basking in the natural beauty of the Nilgiris. And before you leave their store, make sure to pack in a little tea souvenir for your loved ones. 

Inclusivity checklist:

✅Wheelchair-friendly

✅Vegan-friendly

✅LGBTQ+ friendly

✅Kid-friendly

✅Family-friendly

✅Accepts reservations

✅Parking

✅WiFi 

Price Of A Meal For 1: Teas at Buddies Cafe range from INR 30-180 depending on the blend. A minimum price of a meal with food is likely to cost you around INR 250-500. 

Address: RCTC Building, Garden Rd, Pudumund, Ooty, Tamil Nadu – 643001

Landmark: Beside Tribes India, Ooty 

Contact: 82208 04250

Timings: 11 am to 9 pm (Monday- Sunday)

Other Branch: Buddies Cafe – Commercial Road

Frequently Asked Questions About Buddies Cafe

1. How many branches does Buddies Cafe have in Ooty?

Buddies Cafe has two branches in Ooty. The smaller one is located in Garden Road and the bigger one is in Commercial Street. However, their tea menus are the same in both branches.

2. How many varieties of Black Tea does Buddies Cafe offer?

The Buddies Cafe offers 9 varieties of Black Tea that can also be purchased online from their website. These include Clone Tip (traditional Darjeeling Black Tea), Earl Grey (Darjeeling Tea infused with bergamot flavor), Rare Muscatel Gold (a second flush black tea from premium China tea bushes), Handmade Black Tea (Naturally withered and hand harvested premium blend), and Vintage Black Tea (Second flush tea), Golden Tips (Buttery textured tea with subtle notes of chocolate and honey), Black Sheep Tea (artisanal tea), Classic First Flush (2022), and Classic Second Flush (2022). 

3. Can we taste the teas at Buddies Cafe before purchasing?

Yes, you can taste all varieties of tea that you wish to purchase. However, the tea-tasting service is not free, you will be charged for the cup. I had tasted all four varieties of tea before purchasing.

4. Can Danjo Teas be ordered online?

Yes, most of their tea blends are available online. You can order them from Danjo Teas’ official website. 

 

 

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