Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Jaipur Avenue

Tea Description:

A celebration with delicate fragrances, luxurious cream and soft spice.

Learn more about this chai here.

Taster’s Review:

Oh my goodness … this is like comfort food in liquid form!  It is so creamy and delicious.

This Vanilla Chai mix is different from the Original Masala Chai mix in a couple of ways, most notably that this chai is very vanilla-y.  I’ve tried several different vanilla chai blends in the past, but, this one takes vanilla to a whole new level.

The spices are more of an accent to the vanilla.  In most cases, I’d be disappointed by that, but with this particular chai, it’s hard to be disappointed because it is so good.  SO GOOD!

The black tea is noticeable, but, it is somewhat masked by the creaminess of the vanilla and the milky notes.  I will say that I found the black tea flavors to develop as I continued to sip, and despite the fact that the flavor was somewhat obscured, this chai definitely has the energizing factor of a black tea.

This would make a good chai mix for someone who likes their chai on the mild side (rather than the spicy), although, I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who dislikes sweet drinks.  That’s because this is sweet.  It could easily replace a dessert.  It has a decadent creaminess to it, like a warm, liquified vanilla spiced custard.

As for me, I absolutely love this.  It is incredibly decadent and rich and oh-so-yummy.  My sweet tooth highly recommends this one!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Jaipur Avenue

Product Description:

An adventure through spicy notes, soothing aromas and velvet textures.

Learn more about this product here.

Taster’s Review:

Wow!  This mix makes an unbelievably good chai!

I must admit that I was a bit skeptical about this product before trying it, because I’ve not always had the best of luck with chai mixes.  Many that I’ve tried have been way too sweet, but this one, while it is sweetened, isn’t too sweet.  It has a very pleasant balance of spice and sweetness and creaminess while still allowing the flavor of the black tea to come through.

The black tea is the least distinguishable of the flavors of this cup, but that does not mean that it is indistinguishable.  It is a full-flavored black tea which lends a very pleasing backdrop for the spices of this blend to do their thing.

And those spices do their thing very well!  They begin very subtle, but within the time that it takes to take two or three sips, I noticed that the warmth of the peppery ginger began to heat the back of my throat.  The spice blend tastes spicy and exotic, and what I’m enjoying most of all about the blend of spices used here is that while it does create a spicy cup, I think it is at a level that even those who tend to steer clear of spicy teas can enjoy it.

This may be due in part to the addition of dry milk to the mix, which lends a soft, creamy note to the cup and allow the delivery of the tea and spices to be a very smooth one.  In other words, your palate is not set afire by the spices in this product, it is warmed gently, allowing the temperature of the spices to build gradually, making for a very enjoyable chai experience!

I prepared this product according to package instructions:   I poured the contents of the package into a mug, added a small amount of boiling water, then stirred it until the powders were dissolved.  Then I added more boiling water and got out my frothing tool and began frothing it.  The result is a rich, foamy cup of deliciously spicy chai that not only helped warm me up on this chilly winter’s morning, but also helped to wake me up!

This stuff is awesome!

Tisane Information:

Leaf Type:  Yerba Maté

Where to Buy:  Fusion Tea Room

Tisane Description:

A spicy take on a traditional Argentinean brew. This fusion of yerba mate, and freshly ground whole cardamom, cinnamon sticks, star anise and ginger bits create a delicious and warming cup. Great iced or with sweetener and a touch of soy milk.

Learn more about this tisane here.

Taster’s Review:

Over the last couple of days, it’s been very windy here in the Pacific Northwest.  Windy and chilly!  When it’s like this, the chill seems to saturate me, and even my bones feel cold.  It’s perfect weather to stay inside and enjoy a hot cup of chai!  The warmth of the masala spices helps to warm me from the inside out, and makes me forget all about that howling wind outside.

I like this Chai Spice Maté from Fusion Tea Room very much.  The flavors of masala spice and Yerba Maté are balanced very well.  The earthy/vegetative quality of the Maté is very prominent, and usually that would be something that I’d find off-putting, but, I’m really enjoying how the earthiness of the Maté and the earthy notes of the spices work together.

The spices are very warm but not what I’d consider spicy.  I wouldn’t call them “mild” either, they’re somewhere in between the two – very pleasantly warm and exotic without overpowering the palate with spice.  One of my favorite spices is star anise, and I like that the flavor of the anise comes through very nicely here, giving a licorice-y kind of taste that lingers well into the aftertaste.

A wonderfully warm and energizing cup of chai!  This one will help get you going!

Tisane Information:

Leaf Type:  Rooibos

Where to Buy:  Jennifer’s Tea Garden

Tisane Description:

Based in organic rooibos, this blend with an invigorating aroma and luxurious spices makes a full-flavored treat! Best with steamed milk. Naturally caffeine free.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review: 

My favorite winter-y tea is chai.  Not chai as in tea but chai as in the warm blend of spices combined with tea (or in this case, rooibos and honeybush!)  Nothing warms me up better than a delicious chai.

And this one is quite yummy!  The “usual” spices are all there:  cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and ginger.  In this blend, there are a couple of other spices too:  anise seed and fennel.  These two spices are not as noticeable in the flavor as they are in the aroma, but, they do add just a hint of licorice-y flavor to the cup which is really quite lovely.

One thing that is also a little unusual about this particular blend is that the ginger has a softer flavor than I’m used to with chai.  Yes, I can taste that peppery heat from the ginger, but it is more of a mild, gentle kind of heat.  It doesn’t have that prickly, peppery effect on the tongue that ginger sometimes has.

The biggest effect that the lighter ginger flavor has on this cup – at least, in my opinion – is that the flavor of the cloves and cardamom are really coming through very distinctly.  Especially the cardamom!  Citrus-y and exotic, and pleasantly soothing.

I’ve said before that I really like the combination of rooibos and honeybush together.  I find that the honeybush helps to curb some of the funkier flavors of the rooibos.  The result is a nutty flavor that is honey-sweet, and that’s what I’m tasting here.  It compliments the spice tones of this blend quite well.

Overall, a nicely balanced chai that is not too spicy or sweet, but, somewhere in between.  I brewed mine extra strong and then added a bit of steamed, frothed milk and it became a dessert-like treat.  Sweet and delicious, it didn’t even need honey!

I hope you’ll bear with me as I do something a little different with tonight’s post.

As a subscriber to the Steepster Select program, I receive a box with three different teas.  Each month there is a different theme.  This month’s theme is “The Big Chill.”  The box also includes a postcard size card that offers some insight on the theme, as well as the teas that are chosen.

Here is the description of The Big Chill:

For when winter seeps into the bones and dull skies numb the spirit, we have just the teas to warm you through and through.

A smokey black tea, fire crackling at your feet.
A chai with warming spices, heat spreading from sip to fingertips.
A peppermint-blended green tea, the remembrance of holidays past.

Seasons greetings from Steepster.

This month, I have already reviewed the smoky black tea and the chai with warming spices, but have not yet reviewed the peppermint-blended green tea.  That’s because I already reviewed this tea back in November, and since it was such a short time ago, I didn’t feel the need to review it once again.  My thoughts on this tea haven’t changed:  it still tastes crisp and minty and refreshing. However, I didn’t want to let January close without having mentioned the third tea.

The teas that were chosen for this month’s Steepster Select were all wonderful teas and were perfect for the chosen theme.  The smoky tones of the Lapsang Souchong evokes thoughts of a warm, cozy fire roaring in the fireplace.  The spices in the chai warmed me from the inside out, helping me to stave off winter’s cold.  And this delicious Moroccan Mint from Earthbound Tea is cool and sweet, reflective of the crisp chill in the air.

I can’t wait to discover what next month’s Steepster Select has in store!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Yogic Chai

Tea Description:

Organic Assam Tea, Organic Green Cardamom, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Cloves & Organic Ginger.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I’m quite sure I’ve said this (or something like this) before, but it bears repeating:  When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing quite as comforting as a cup of chai.  The heat of the masala spices warms you from the inside out.

And Yogic Chai makes some of my favorite chai blends.  And this blend is where it all started!  The blend is a perfectly balanced combination of just four spices:  cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and ginger.  These are the four “usual suspects” when it comes to chai blends, and there are some tea companies that add some other spices, while others may omit one or two of the usual suspects, sometimes in favor of other spices, sometimes not. But really, when it comes to chai, the combination of spices that Yogic Chai uses is classic, but they have blended them masterfully as to create one of a very memorable chai.

Smooth, rich Assam tea makes up the base of this chai.  It is strong enough to offer a distinct flavor contribution, even though it is immersed in some rather spicy surroundings.  It has a malty character and does not taste bitter (although, as with all teas, I recommend not over-steeping as this may produce a bitter taste).

This is my second tea from my Janauary Steepster Select box, and it is a good one.  I’ve tried many teas from Yogic Chai, but this is the first time I’ve tried the Original!  Delicious served straight and it makes an awesome latte too, although I think its best served without the milk, adding just a little turbinado sugar to accent the spices.  This way I get more impact from the spices, as I think that the addition of milk seems to mute the spices just a bit.  This one is yummy any way you choose to serve it!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Dr. Tea’s Tea Garden

About This Tea:

The story goes that Lapsang Souchong was first created when the Wuyi region’s annual tea drying process was interrupted by army movement. To compensate for the missed drying period, tea farmers hung their tea over pinewood fires, consequently imparting a distinctive smoky flavor and aroma. Our Lapsang Souchong is sourced by Mark Ukra, co-owner of Dr. Tea’s Tea Garden, who comes from a family of Middle Eastern tea merchants dating back 400 years. Drink Lapsang Souchong plain or try it as a spice or rub for cooking.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

January’s Steepster Select box brought teas that to help warm us up from Winter’s Chill.  The first tea that I tried from the box was this Lapsang Souchong, which is a little unusual for me since it’s one of my least favorite teas (well, not this Lapsang Souchong, but Lapsang Souchong in general is one of my least favorite teas).

But this is no ordinary Lapsang Souchong.  This is easily the best that I’ve ever tried.  Now, I can’t say that I’ve tried a lot of Lapsang Souchong teas, as it is one of those teas that I tend to avoid, but I have tried a few, and I’ve even managed to – slowly – get my palate more accustomed to the unique flavor experience of Lapsang Souchong.  While I am slowly gaining an appreciation for this strong, smoky tea, it is still sometimes difficult for me to get past it.

This Lapsang Souchong from Dr. Tea’s Tea Garden has been a real eye-opening experience for me.  I am not just “appreciating” this tea … I’m LOVING it!

The first couple of sips are quite smoky.  But once I get past those first sips, I find wonderful flavors await me.  I can actually taste the pine here, and that is something that I didn’t really experience in previous Lapsang Souchong tastings.  I may have tasted mere hints of pine in the distance, but, mostly what I tasted was smoke and the caramel undertone.  Here, the pine is quite distinct and it is lovely.

The caramel undertones are there as well, giving a very pleasant sweetness to the smoky overtones.  But what I find especially enjoyable is the way that the caramel undertones meld with the pine notes.  The flavors here are deep and intriguing.

A very unique Lapsang Souchong, and I have Steepster Select for bringing it to me!

We are nearing the finish line.  These sampler boxes are a fun way to count down the days until Christmas, especially if you’re like me and have difficulty with time.  I often blame it on the artist in me, but whether or not that is the case, I don’t know.  What I do know is that I have a real issue with the concept of time.

And I bring that up, because, well, an Advent calendar seldom works for me, because I can’t usually wrap my brain around the fact that it’s December 1st when it is.  So, even if my intentions are good and I happen to buy an Advent-type, countdown calender, I probably would end up forgetting about it and not start it until mid-December anyway.  This cuts the time in half for me, I can handle 12 days.  25 days … well, I probably COULD handle it, but, knowing the struggle it would pose for me, I rather not put myself in that situation.

Yes, I’m babbling.  Basically my point is, this kind of countdown – 12 Days of Christmas – works for me.  Even though, technically, the 12 Days of Christmas isn’t actually supposed to start before Christmas and be a “countdown”, but actually, should start on Christmas Day.

Enough already!  Let’s get on with today’s tea, shall we?

Here is the tenth tea of Christmas …

CARAMEL VANILLA CHAI

This chai appearing in the box was a very happy surprise, mainly because it was the first chai in the box (and possibly the only chai!) and Chai is just so warm and cozy and comforting that I expected there to be at least one other Chai tea before this, the tenth day.

Assuming that this is the only chai in the box this year, I guess that this is a good choice for that one chai.  It is certainly yummy.  Although, truth be told, I would have selected the Gingerbread Chai which is my favorite chai from 52Teas.  However, since it was last year’s 12th Tea of Christmas, I didn’t really expect it to appear in this year’s box.

But, all that aside, this is a really yummy chai, so long as it is brewed correctly.  The first time I brewed this (it’s been a couple of months now), I brewed it too strong and it caused the Assam to taste really harsh.  Normally, I like to brew my chai really strong, but this is not a normal chai, so don’t treat it as such!

A very flavorful chai, the black tea base is bold and invigorating, the spices do not overpower the delightful flavors of caramel and vanilla.  I wrote my full-length review of this chai back in October, and I think I’m loving this now even more than I did back then, and that just may be because I am enjoying this “latte” and – just as I stated back in October – it is an over-the-top treat.  It is AMAZINGLY good, and even if you don’t think you need to go over-the-top, I do recommend trying it … at least once!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Rooibos

Where to Buy:  Tea Forté

Product Description:

Classic spices familiar to chai drinkers evoke the aromas of the holidays in this crimson rooibos herbal.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Even though I’ve already tasted this tea and reviewed it, I received more of it as part of the Warming Joy Collection that I received, and enjoyed it so much that I decided to feature it again. 

Interestingly enough, when tasting it this time, it struck me as hauntingly similar to  the Vienna Cinnamon tea (also from Tea Forté) that I reviewed just recently.  Then, after reading through my previous review and the description and ingredients list on this tea, I realized that the cloves is what gives these two teas such a similar taste profile.

The overall flavor is sweet with a gentle, warming spice.  The lemongrass plays to the fruitier tones of the rooibos, and helps brighten the flavors.

I think I’m enjoying this more this time around than I did the first time I tried it.  It certainly has a comforting effect – it is warm and soothing – and it is a very welcome addition the the Warming Joy Collection!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Culinary Teas

Product Description:

This Spiced Chai has seasonal Malabar Coast spices, the sweet caramel comes to the fore front with a sensuous Belgian White Chocolate finish. Spices include Ginger, Cardamom, Coriander, Cinnamon, Cloves and Black Pepper.

Taster’s Review:

Wow!  What a wonderful way to wake up!

The black tea is a blend of teas from India and Sri Lanka.  It’s a pleasant black tea flavor:  strong but not overwhelming, astringent but not too much, while offering hints of malt and a caramel-y undertone that enhances the flavor delivery.

The description above is pretty spot-on, in my opinion.  The sip starts out smooth and sweet with caramel flavor.  The spices are fairly mellow, but that’s really what’s called for in a blend like this.  It’s not all about the spices and it shouldn’t be.  Instead, the spices are warm and comforting, and work well to highlight that delectable caramel flavor as well as the white chocolate, which emerges at the finish.

It is also near the finish where the spices come forth with a peppery kick.  Not a strong kick, but just enough to let you know that this is a chai you’re sipping.  The tea finishes sweet, chocolate-y and with a slightly dry, cleansing astringency which prepares the palate for a softly sweet, very pleasant aftertaste that is almost as enjoyable as the sip itself.

This is a real treat!