Five things we’re loving this week

Note from our sister Souk team: We’re a team of dedicated (okay, addicted) hunters of cool products, who finally have an excuse to do what we love best, which is to spend tons of time window-browsing for the good stuff & sharing it with everyone we know.

Each week we pick five new things we absolutely love. Some of these are practical. Some are delightful. Most sit somewhere in between. What they all have in common is that they’re not obvious, and that’s exactly why we love them. At least one of them will make you think: I didn’t even know this existed… but now I want it.

PS: There are a ton of more shopping recs over at Souk. Check them out already!

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Immunity Loose Leaf Green Tea

The wannabe-vegan member of our team (who shall not be named) is always on the lookout for good hot beverage alternatives to cow’s milk tea and coffee, and this green tea might just make the cut. We like that it's a loose leaf green tea (no horrible microplastic-leeching tea bags), and that the ingredient list is both clean and short: green tea, turmeric, ginger and black pepper. Considering the number of folk in our circle of family and friends who've been cycling through colds, fevers, and assorted respiratory nonsense lately, and the constant AQI discourse that seems to be the new normal, this feels like a good time to add an immunity-boosting green tea to our routine.

In 1917, the owner of Goodrich Tea Estate in Kaulagarh, Darbar Sahib, was on the verge of losing his estate to the British as collateral for unpaid dues. Seizing the moment, Sheo Parsad (who ran a modest provisions shop in Dehra Dun where he also sold tea sourced from Goodrich Tea Estate) stepped in, covering the debt under the condition that the estate be leased to them. Fueled by the success of this venture, the families expanded their holdings, eventually earning the respected title of the ‘Chaiwalas.’ By 1960, the Chaiwala tea estates spanned across India, producing an impressive 10 million kilograms of tea annually. Wah Tea Estate was established in 1857 in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, by the British.In 1953, the Chaiwala family took over Wah Tea Estate, and today, it is nurtured by the third and fourth generations.

Kodak Digital Camera Keychain

We’ve been seeing the Kodak CHARMERA keychain camera all over our Instagram, and like most shoppers who are chronically online, we’re intrigued. It sits right at the intersection of three things the internet currently can’t get enough of: retro, low-fi aesthetics, blind-box unboxing culture, and a small rebellion against overly perfect smartphone photos. It’s ridiculously tiny, oddly adorable, and truly, a collectible, meant more for vibes and experimentation than for pixel-peeping. By most accounts, the video quality is firmly lo-fi, the screen is tiny, and you’ll need to add your own microSD card. But that’s also kind of the point: this is about leaning into imperfect, physical-feeling memories over pristine, AI-smoothed ones. Consider this our official petition to bring back physical media and slightly chaotic documentation of life.

Shikekai Scalp Scrub

The ingredients in this hair mask—Brahmi, Neem, Shikekai, Amla and Vatjata—all work together to cleanse, condition, hydrate, and strengthen the hair and scalp, and hence help improve hair resilience and scalp health with regular use. We think The Volume Company's recommended routine comprising of their Curry Leaf Hair Oil, Shikekai Scalp Scrub, Shikekai Hair Mask and their Neem and Palash hair spray, would make for a solid wash-day routine for when you're in a mood for a proper hair reset!

Ikat Print Fitted V-Neck Top

We’ve been obsessed with the bohemian clothing brand Farm Rio on Instagram for a while now. They’re a collective of creatives from Rio de Janeiro who believe that “to dress in happiness is to express yourself in the most authentic way possible,” and we think their vibrant, nature-inspired, culturally-rich prints help you do just that. We were today years old when we discovered that they're now available in India via AJIO Luxe (authorised seller, bless), and even though most pieces are already sold out in several sizes, this chic V-neck top is still available in sizes S–XL at the time of writing, so, run!

Pure Kokum Extract

We love our Kokum sharbat and Solkadhi, and we love that this Kokam Agal (pure fruit extract of the kokum fruit) from Aazol is free of all sugars, preservatives and artificial colours. Aazol sources its Kokum Agal from the Konkan region of Maharashtra, and embowers rural women and communities by partnering with over 25 women-led self-help groups and tribal communities across 16 districts of Maharashtra. They also emphasize eco-friendly practices, such as using manual pounding methods and plastic-free packaging like kraft paper and glass bottles.