This tea comes in… a bag? A BAG? WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE TAKE ME FOR? A PEASANT?
(Just kidding. Great teas can come in bags.)
This chai has one of the heartiest, butchest bases I’ve ever had. It’s described as a “malty Assam” on Choice’s site, which I think is apt. That phrase is better than anything I would have typed on my own. What I would have typed is:
“This is a rugged-man base tea. Not smoky, like the Marlboro Man. More like Wolverine, after a long day of fighting villainy. He comes home to a dark, crusty bread he just eats whole, without fussy butter or knives.”
Yes, the two manliest men I can conjure up offhand are the Marlboro Man and Wolverine. After that, my brain supplies up John Cena, the Rock, and that hot werewolf from True Blood. (In case you were wondering. Which you most likely were not.)
While the tea’s in your mouth, you’re in Dude Land. As you swallow, the chai spices check in with you to see how your day’s going. This is, technically, a chai (cinnamon in black tea, guys), but I think it’s more of a black tea — with chai elements.
I could see grabbing a box of this and taking it traveling with you. Boxed tea is great on-the-go. I drag along a steeping ball on my vacations, along with a bunch of loose teas, and I worry that some TSA agent is going to think my tea is, well, NOT tea.
And then they’d call in the sniffer-dogs to check, and then — and this is the worst part — they would NOT LET ME PET THE SNIFFER DOG. My hand would reach toward that beagle/lab/Germie and they would be like “NO, YOU TEA PSYCHO. YOU CANNOT PET HIM. HE IS WORKING.”
And I’d cry in the middle of the Pittsburgh airport.
And I am an UGLY CRIER, squad. Pink face. Snot. Puffing up. The whole shebang.
So I guess what I’m TRYING TO SAY HERE is that 1) bagged teas have a time and place, and 2) this is a good example of one that I enjoyed.
See how I tied that digression in? I wasn’t sure it was going to be possible, especially when I got into the airport thing.
Hope you enjoyed this review, and this tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Choice Organic Teas
Description
Spice things up with this bold classic, featuring malty Assam tea from India’s Brahmaputra River Valley. We blend rich, robust black tea with masala spices for a spirited cup that warms your body and soul. It blends perfectly with milk and sweetener for an authentic cha
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Horizon Hot Ginger Green Chai from Teaoke. . . .
Every time I try a new Chai, I feel like a traitor to the last one I tried because it seems like I’m always discovering a new favorite. I guess I’m fickle when it comes to my Chai, but I truly do love them all!
I was super excited to try this Horizon Hot Ginger Green Chai because I am a sucker for ginger, and with a name like hot ginger it has to be good!
The first thing I noticed when the boiling water hit the tea is a wonderful spicy but also roast-y aroma. The smell filled my whole kitchen. And when I tasted the tea, it has an amazing spicy kick, but again this amazing roast-y flavor that I really, really love. It reminded me a little of coffee just in the depth of flavor.
This is definitely not your traditional Chai, but it is absolutely amazing! I want to drink this everyday for the rest of my life.
I imagine this would be a wonderful tea to have when you come home on a very cold day, it would warm you right up!!
This tea does have caffeine, but it’s low caffeine, only 25 milligrams per serving for those like me who try to watch their intake.
This is seriously outstanding tea. Such rich spicy flavor that just wakes your senses. This is of course, my new favorite Chai!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Teaoke
Description
A bright & intense palate pleasing blend of ginger and chili pepper with a lemon zest… Heating up your senses while igniting your spirit.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Waking Up With A Strong Cuppa Chai from Chai Safari. . . . .
Assam Masala Chai from Chai Safari. Rarely do I need to step back and have multiple go-arounds with a tea before I come to a conclusion of how I feel about it. But this was in that rare group of teas that I had to put in that basket.
I literally couldn’t BELIEVE just how strong this chai was when I tasted it! I thought maybe I used way too much of the loose leaf. That isn’t unusual for me – because I LOVE a really LOUD tea – so I tend to double the amount of loose leaf and cut the steep/infusion time in half. Word to the wise…YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THAT WITH THIS CHAI! You don’t even have to do that with this chai if you think you should! Seriously! It’s peppy enough on it’s own! Low and Slow here people! Low and Slow! Use the suggested amount of loose at the appropriate time and ENJOY! No need to over shoot! It’s EXTREMELY SPICY on it’s own! If this isn’t the spiciest chai I have had – it’ HAS to be up there!
The Assam is strong but the chai spices are even stronger! It infuses to a VERY dark cup with EXTREME aroma to match! This chai isn’t for the wimps, the wusses, and the faint of heart! This is for the seasoned chai crowd! It’s for the bold and the strong! It’s for the durable and daring! If this chai sounds like your cup of tea – I know you will enjoy it!
It was a surprise for me – it opened my eyes and my senses! I’m proud to be among those who have been awakened by Assam Masala Chai from Chai Safari!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Chai Safari
Description
The Robust CTC from Assam is even more perfect with the savoury taste it offers with the combination of Ginger, Cloves and Black Pepper. The ginger and back pepper provide the strong base of spice in the tea where as the cloves give a distinct flavour and aroma to it. Its as close as one can get to having summer in a bowl. This drink is also an amazing combination for ailing cold, headaches and sore throat.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Roasted Almond Chai from Fava Tea Company . . . .
Snowy days always make me want to curl up on the couch with a cup of hot chai and a really good movie. Come to think of it, every day makes me want to do that i’m not going to lie. So even though there is a raging blizzard outside, not much has changed I suppose. Tea, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings is my favorite way to relax when I’m not chasing after my 7 month old daughter! So what better way to use my free time than to dig into the awesome tea swap blends that I received the other day?
I used to like chai a lot more than I do today. I used to order chai lattes like they were going out of style! Its interesting how your tastes change, especially when you are constantly trying new flavors when it comes to tea. The reason why I am no longer a huge fan of chai at this point in my tea-journey is because I don’t really like things to be spicy or hot. You know those red cinnamon candies? Yeah, I hate those. I don’t like hot cinnamon and I feel like a lot of chai’s taste this way, they just are too spiced. So in order to “wow” me by your chai blend, it cant be too overpowering.
When I received my first ever tea swap package and I saw Roasted Almond Chai by Fava Tea Company, I was intrigued. I love anything with nuts, especially almond. Ive never had a nut chai before. Ive had cinnamon chai and vanilla chai…but not almond chai. I could imagine that it is pretty delicious though, cinnamon and almond tend to go very well together. So, I opened up the sample bag and could smell the delicious sweet and nutty almond and chai spices. Yum! This stuff smells like Christmas. I brewed up a cup and took a sip. Not going to lie, the chai spices are very present. However, the sweet almond tones them down so they really aren’t overpowering. Fava did a great job with the almond flavor in this one. It isn’t artificial, it is sweet and nutty.
This is a rooibos blend, so the woodiness from the rooibos mingles well with nutty almond and chai spices. It is a delectable cup that is great for a snowy evening! I wish they made a black tea version so that I could drink it throughout the day for a caffeine boost, but it is just as good as an after-dinner dessert tea. If you like Forever Nuts by DAVIDsTEA and if you like chai, you will definitely like this blend. It honestly tastes like a chai and Forever Nuts had a baby and that baby was named Roasted Almond Chai! I definitely suggest you check this out.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Fava Tea Company
Description
This is the sweet taste of almond magically blended with rooibos and chai spices. Smooth, delightful and a perfect compliment with dessert. Or in place of dessert! Either way, enjoy! Blends well with Yoga, Toasted Caramel Rooibos, Chocolate Cream Rock Sugar.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Caramel Chai from The NecessiTeas. . . . .
Yum yum yum!
This pu’erh chai has a lovely sweetness that turns it into a dessert. The sweetness is so strong I didn’t even put milk in it. (Is this chai blasphemy?) The pu’erh has a depth and strength that puts a dimension into it that a normal black chai doesn’t have. It’s a study in contrasts, and it totally works.
One of my high school friends loved chai so much he had it incorporated into his AIM screen name. (That’s what the kids were doing pre-texting. Oh, the 1990s.) He’d always get it everywhere he went. He was like a craft beer snob, but with chai. I talk to him very sporadically — but I specifically contacted him to point out this one. He needs this.
If you’re a chai aficionado, you need to try this, too.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Pu’erh
Where to Buy: The NecessiTeas
Description
Enjoy the warm, sweet buttery taste of caramel as it mingles with a full-bodied pu-erh and traditional Indian spices. Smooth enough to drink straight or steeped in milk for an authentic chai experience.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!