Tea Type: Chai Tea (Black Tea Base)
Where To Buy: Empire Tea Services
Product Description:
The same authentic Chai with added Vanilla flavor.
Tasters Review:
I LOVE Chai…but it has to be something that stands out…something different…something versatile.
Chai with Vanilla from Empire Tea Services has all of those qualities and more!
I really like this chai! And here’s why…
The spices are nice and even and not over powering and the vanilla is an awesome accompaniment to everything! I can pick up on a bit of a citrus note but the aroma is wonderful!
For kicks I tried a 2nd infusion with this one and here is what I found…it’s still yummy! A little less vanilla but still very aromatic and tasty!
This is one chai I LOVE!
Chai Vanilla from Empire Tea Services
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Empire Tea Services
Description of Chai:
High elevation Tea blended with aromatic Sri-Lankan Spices. Can also be used in a coffee maker. Directions enclosed. Micro-blended. Ceylon tea and Sri Lankan (Ceylon) Spices make a great combination. We are the only company that offers Ceylon Chai.
Description of Chai Vanilla:
The same authentic Chai with added Vanilla flavor.
Taster’s Review:
I really love the vanilla accent in this chai. It lends such a deliciously creamy, sweet taste!
The dry leaf is a traditional, finely ground blend of leaves and spices, almost like an espresso coffee grind! While much could be (and has been) debated about the quality of tea derived from whole leaf vs. cut/ground leaf, it has been my experience that some of the very best chai that I’ve ever tasted are brewed from finely ground leaves and spices such as this.
The flavor of the tea is robust! It really surprised me to learn that this is a Ceylon base, because it has such a bold, strong flavor. It certainly isn’t the wimpy Ceylon tea that I have sometimes encountered. This tea has the gusto needed to hold its own with these strong spices.
The spices are blend very well. So well, in fact, that I am finding it difficult to discern one note from another! The medley of spices have unified into one “super-spice” which provides a very pleasant smoothness to the cup. The addition of the vanilla further enhances that smooth quality. While this isn’t the spiciest chai I’ve tasted, it is certainly one of the smoothest!
This is a chai I would recommend to those who would like a mildly spiced chai, or perhaps someone who might be looking for an interesting vanilla spice tea. I recommend drinking it hot with a dollop of honey (I actually used turbinado sugar in my cup, and I like the way the molasses notes meld with the spice) and a bit of steamed milk. Froth it if you like a foamy top. This is an absolutely delightful way to start the day!
Adawatte Estate Pekoe from Empire Tea Services
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Empire Tea Services
Product Description:
An excellent tea from the Uva region famous for the ‘Uva’ flavor.
Taster’s Review:
This is a delightful Ceylon tea – very flavorful!
Typically, when I drink a Ceylon tea, it is as either part of a blend or the base of a flavored tea. I don’t drink a lot of “unflavored” Ceylon teas. Not because I don’t like them, but because, for the most part, they are quite ordinary. Mind you, I said “for the most part,” because there are exceptions to this. Like this tea, for example.
This single estate Ceylon is very brisk and rich in flavor. It has a pleasant level of astringency with a slight pucker at the very end of the sip, imparting a tangy note on the tongue for the aftertaste. No bitterness to this tea, although I don’t recommend over-steeping it. It has a very well-rounded flavor that features notes of fruit, flower and even hints of earth. It’s invigorating enough to serve as a breakfast tea, and makes for an excellent pick-me-up in the afternoon.
I like the smooth, even flavor of this cup, it takes well to additions like milk and honey, if you want to add them, or if you prefer your cup straight up, this one does well served clean too. It is especially nice with a thin slice of citrus and makes a refreshing iced tea.
It is a perfect “go-to” staple that every tea cupboard needs!