Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Roasted Yerba Mate, Black Tea, Green Tea, White Tea, Pu’erh,
Where to Buy: The Tea Spot
Tea Description:
A super-charged blend of teas, spices and herbs formulated to provide a refreshing daily lift for people with active, high-energy lifestyles. Climber’s High is a high-powered way to increase your intake of beneficial antioxidants such as flavonoids and catechins, as well as a host of healthy vitamins, trace minerals, beneficial phyto-constituents, and caffeine. It was originally conceived to assist people in adjusting to higher altitudes. This spiced yerba mate chai tea is both good for you and a pleasure to drink.
Ingredients: roasted yerba mate, black tea, green tea, white tea, pu’erh, ginger root, cinnamon, green cardamom, licorice root, ginseng root, saffron, black pepper, clove, fennel, safflowers, peppermint, tulsi, and cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla flavoring.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Chai is on my mind lately with the change in seasons where I live, yet honestly chai was not on my mind at all when I reached for this sample from one of my SororiTea Sisters! I simply wanted something that would set well with my upset tummy I have had for the last couple of days, also something minty as I have not been really able to taste much either. Last night I was drinking some vanilla mint tea after trying unsuccessfully to enjoy some other samples. Today I grabbed for this and even though I am still a little stuffy I could smell such yummy aromas and I knew in that moment I could stomach it! So it got steeped.
This is not your typical chai yet it has many chai elements. One may think that they threw everything in here but the kitchen sink and thus may not really end up tasting like anything favorable but surprisingly it is wonderful. You don’t need to be sick, or needing to adjust to altitude sickness to enjoy this savory cup! They even put a little chocolate in there for the sweet tooth and the chocolate does come through nicely but is not over done. This is not a “chocolate tea” it is savory yet every now and then I get a little bit of sweet on the lips and a subtle chocolate taste on the palate.
The yerba mate gives you a nice kick start to your day without leaving you jittery or nervous, while the pu-erh is grounding and centering. I tasted the black pepper notes, which I always enjoy in a tea, the cinnamon, clove, ginger and other savory elements are all quite present but the mint is what seems to linger the longest in a minty sweet manner, as if I had just had a light candy mint. I also do pick up the vanilla as well. Truly this tea has it all and then some and yes at times the flavors get muddled a little as a true blend should but it is quite easy to pick out singular flavor elements as well.
If I was not aware that there were so many types of tea in this blend and I had to tell someone from taste alone what the base tea was I would admittedly be confused, but if pressed I would say mate, pu-erh, then black in that order.
For me, the best part of this discovery is that I have a new favorite chai. I have about three chai now that I absolutely love and will rotate in my stash all winter long.
Sanctify from Hari Tea
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Spice Melangé
Where to Buy: Hari Tea
Tisane Ingredients:
Ginger, fennel, cinnamon, cocoa shells, anise, cardamom, tumeric root, black pepper, cloves.
Taster’s Review:
Life is stressful. At least, it is – at the moment – for me. My oldest daughter is getting married. My youngest daughter is a “tween” who is a little more TEEN than child. My husband has been working some crazy hours. Like I said: life is stressful.
Times like this, I want a tisane that understands that and can help me relax and allow the things that stress me to disappear. And this tea from Hari Tea accomplishes just that.
And it not only helps me to calm the mind and soothe the spirit, but, it is also pretty darned tasty too! The fennel and anise give it a licorice-y note, while the cocoa shells give it a nice chocolate-y note that contrasts nicely with the peppery notes of ginger and black pepper, and the warmth of cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. And when I “say” it like that, it sounds a lot like a chai. It tastes a bit like it too … except that this doesn’t come across so much as spicy or invigorating the way a chai would normally taste. This, instead, tastes very warm, soothing and comforting.
What I like best about this tisane is how well the chocolate and licorice tastes go together. It is sweet without tasting candy-sweet or cloying, and that sweetness comes naturally without adding anything to it, which makes it a good choice for later in the evening when you just want to unwind.
Usually when it comes to “relaxation” teas, I think chamomile or lavender, but, this is a deliciously different relaxation tea for those times when you want something a little different.
Peach Fuzz Chai from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Here’s a tongue-tantalizing blend of premium white teas, dried peaches, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, clove and black peppercorns with natural flavors. My wife thought we should call it Peaches & Herb after the disco duo. All of our younger customers are now thinking, “Who????” which is why I decided to go with Peach Fuzz Chai.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is one instance where I wish I hadn’t read the description of the tea before writing the review. Because now, I can’t get the song Shake Your Groove Thing by Peaches and Herb out of my head. Aarrgh! Seriously, I had to go straight to my music collection and listen to something to rock that groove right out of my head. If you’re suffering from the same irritation, click here.
Now, I can talk about this tea.
This is quite tasty. The spices are really lively in this, which is how it should be for a chai. I taste the clove very prominently, with the cinnamon and cardamom filling in the background notes. The ginger and black pepper provide a nice little peppery bite that lingers into the aftertaste. I find myself wondering how some star anise might do with in this, as I love that licorice-y taste of anise. But, as it is, I like the way these spices have been blended.
The peach starts off a bit soft, and isn’t really too noticeable at the start. It isn’t until about mid-cup, and in the aftertaste, when I notice the peach tones, and they are delicious and offer a nice sweetness to contrast with the spicy notes.
And the white tea is not lost in this blend! Even though it’s in there, beneath the spices, I don’t have to search for the white tea flavor. It has a light, crisp flavor and a smooth texture, with hints of hay notes that seem to brighten up the whole cup.
While this isn’t my favorite 52Teas chai, it’s really good, and a vast improvement over the Apple Vanilla White Chai. I think that this one will be excellent iced too!
Vanilla Chai from Culinary Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Culinary Teas
Product Description:
A traditional chai tea with the addition of creamy vanilla.
Taster’s Review:
YUM! I know I’ve said it often, but I do love a good chai. I fell in love with Chai well before I really discovered loose leaf tea, as it was my favorite beverage at the cafe in Borders Bookstore (I miss Borders!) Shortly after that, I started discovering loose leaf tea, and the rest is history … but my love of chai continues even though I’ve fallen in love with other teas too. (I hope chai isn’t the jealous type!)
What is nice about this particular Chai blend is the addition of vanilla, which gives it a chai latte taste even without the addition of milk (although, I’m sure a splash of steamed milk wouldn’t hurt). It tastes creamy, rich and sweet – DELICIOUS!
The black tea base is a blend – I suspect there is some Assam in there, although I don’t know that it is an all Assam base. Perhaps a blend of Ceylon and Assam? It has a bold taste to it and hints of malt in the background. Very rich and solid background of flavor from this black tea blend.
The blend of spices used in this blend includes ginger, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, cloves and black pepper. It is very well balanced. No one spice overpowers the others – it is a very cohesive combination of flavors that creates an overall flavor of warm spice rather than strong individual spice notes.
It is the vanilla in this particular blend that offers a stand-out performance, and I think that’s appropriate. This chai delivers what it promises. Smooth, creamy vanilla and deliciously warm chai – and it is a perfect cuppa for this chilly autumn afternoon.
Cochin Masala Chai Tea from Culinary Tea
Tea Type: Chai (Black Tea Base)
Where To Buy: Culinary Tea
Product Description:
This traditional Indian Chai is named for the city that is the birthplace of chai. Cochin Masala includes Ceylon black tea, ginger, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, and black pepper. When brewed this full body tea produces a spicy aromatic flavor. Superb with milk and sugar.
Tasters Review:
Many of you know I am a Fickle Pickle when it comes to Chai. I like them – not overly spiced, not underly spiced, not too hot, not too cold…but JUST RIGHT! And this one is JUST RIGHT for my Chai Tastes!
It has a nice KICK of spice but it’s backed by a heavy Black Tea taste which I LOVE! It’s a real eye-opener! Perfect for my mornings and to ‘light a match under your butt’ in the afternoon!
Another thing I like about Cochin Masala Chai from Culinary Teas is that it holds up to multiple infusions! I have gotten as many as 6 sturdy infusions during one of my infusion tests!
Tea-riffic!
