Prabhakar Prasad, who hails from Patna, Bihar, has become a topic of discussion in America these days. After losing his job in an IT company in Los Angeles, he did not give up and started selling tea. Now he is earning well by selling Indian flavored tea and poha there. People have started knowing him by the name of ‘Bihari Chaiwala’ on social media and he is often seen in his desi style.
How much is the price of tea and poha?
Prabhakar Prasad sets up his stall in areas like Hollywood and Fairfax of Los Angeles. The price of a cup of tea here is 8 dollars i.e. about 780 rupees. Whereas if someone eats Poha, he has to pay around Rs 1350 to Rs 1500 for a plate. In good days, their sales go up to 300 to 400 dollars, which is equivalent to 25,000 to 33,000 rupees in Indian rupees. He often speaks to customers in Hindi and works wearing a Bihari gamchha.
Expenses are also heavy along with income.
Even though daily earnings are seen in thousands, the cost of living in Los Angeles is also very high. Prabhakar recently told that the money that comes is not the entire profit. They have to pay around Rs 2.5 lakh every month only as rent. Apart from this, car insurance, maintenance and fees for setting up a stall in the market also have to be paid. In America, to sell goods on the street, many types of permits and licenses are required, which cost separately.
Stalls are held only a few days a week
Prabhakar Prasad currently opens his shop only for 7 to 8 days in a month. They mostly go to the farmers market held on weekends where there is a crowd of people. Seeing the demand, they are now planning to add Khichdi to their menu. They say that they are happy to be free from the shackles of corporate jobs and are making their culture known in a foreign land.