custom pet portraits
small batch chai blends
gift boxes
apparel
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benefitting non-profit animal shelters
Meet Tipala
chai wala, artist, dog lover
Hi! I'm Tiff. 'Tipala' is an affectionate nickname from my Ba. Few things about Ba: she is my paternal grandmother, she prefers black olives on her pizza, and she really didn't like when I pranked her with rubber snakes as a kid (understandably). She has a heart of gold- in fact, her favorite song is Heart of Gold by Neil Young, so clearly she also has incredible music taste. My favorite time to hang out with Ba is cha time (cha=chai: sweet, milky Indian tea). Her morning routine includes spicy & sweet cha paired with delicious Indian biscuits that are way too dunkable. Living with my dad as a teen, he would make this tea every morning, and I thought it looked and smelled so delicious. I asked him to make me a cup, and I was in love. There was something about the spicy ginger kick with sweetness and creaminess, combined with cozy spices. Now, I'm sharing that love with as many people as I can!
So thank you for being here! I'll keep it simple and straight forward.
My two greatest joys in life are cha and dogs.
You may know it better as "chai". My family has roots in small villages in Gujarat, where the popular slang for this magical tea is "cha". The perfect balance of sweetness and spice, paired with aromatic whole spices and teas, simmered with fresh ginger and creamy milk (or in my case, mylk)... what's not to love? A cup of cha is a treat to the body, mind, and soul. Truly a nourishing and comforting break in the day, it's no wonder India dwellers commit to savoring these sweet moments every few hours.
Is there anything quite like the love from your dog? Since I was a tiny baby Tipala, dogs have been a source of love, joy, and protection. The face of Tipala's Cha is Forrest aka Noe aka Moishi. A true mutt, he is the smartest, goodest boi you'll ever meet. I adopted him from Austin Pets Alive, a truly remarkable no-kill shelter.
I carry the most love for the underdogs; mutts, shelter seals, breeds deemed unadoptable and illegal. Since it is unrealistic to believe I will adopt every homeless dog and give them the life they deserve (maybe someday though??), I am taking a more feasible approach.
A portion of Tipala's Cha proceeds goes to various no-kill animal shelters and organizations around the country. Together we can help those sweet pups stay warm, safe, and loved until they find their furever homes.
click here to see where donations are currently going
cha blends
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masala
caffeinated
CTC assam & rooibos tea come together in harmony with freshly ground star anise, green cardamom & other traditional spices to create a comforting aromatic chai
sale!
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autumn assam
caffeinated
the smell of your kitchen after brewing this tea will warm you up! CTC assam tea, pink peppercorns, dried orange peel, clove & other Fall spices make this seasonal blend oh so cozy. this used to be a seasonal blend, but I like it too much so now it's year-round.
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balsam moon
slightly-caffeinated
this blend is very special to me. nourishing, balancing, and comforting, this is dedicated to any person experiencing the many ebbs and flows of menstruation, peri/menopause, hormone changes. and please remember: menstruation is inclusive and intersectional - not every woman menstruates and not every person who menstruates identifies as a woman.
Balsam gift box coming soon!
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golden hour
non-caffeinated
bright turmeric, sweet cinnamon, & black pepper pair with rooibos tea for a non-caffeinated & anti-inflammatory tea
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orange anise
caffeinated
when I traveled to India, a yoga teacher recommended I bring orange essential oil to smell when I'm feeling home-sick or a bit down. in homage, dried orange peel and star anise pair joyfully with assam tea in this uplifting blend
cha dust
spice blend to sprinkle atop your cup of cha
aka tea masala, a blend of spices to top off your aromatic cha. this gives it that extra little spark of flavor, and it looks oh so cozy in your cup. highly recommend for my "I like it strong" chai lovers.
included in all gift boxes
gift boxes
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everything you need to brew your own Tipala Cha blends at home
first things first cha gift box
for the tea lovers
the ultimate gift for anyone who cherishes their pet and loves chai (not as niche as you'd think! I'm always pleasantly surprised at how common that crossover is.)
pet portrait + cha gift box
for the animal lovers
this gift box is not exclusive to people with periods, but it is definitely designed with them in mind. a box of soothing and grounding goodies to encourage rest & recovery during menstruation. makes a very thoughtful gift for people enduring Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, PCOS, Dysmenorrhea.
balsam moon restful gift box
for the ceremonial menstruators
for that person who has ruffly 1,278 photos of their pet in their phone. is that you? because that is definitely me.
custom pet
portrait
for the animal lovers
hand painted with quality acrylics on 9 x 12in canvas board, easily framed
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cutie lil mini portraits! excellent for head shots and side profiles
custom pet
portrait
for the animal lovers
hand painted with quality acrylics on 4 x 4in canvas board, easily framed
mini
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