I am an incredibly finicky chai drinker. I’ve never been a huge fan of cardamom or cloves and have always found chai spices to be overpowering. Here and there I have found chai blends that I’ve enjoyed and typically I can always make a chai into a latte where the spices are mellowed by the addition of a frothed milk topping- making them more to my tastes.
So when I received the email from BlendBee asking me what blends I wanted this month, I noticed that Mountain Chai was one of their newer blends. One of the wonderful attributes to BlendBee is that if there is an ingredient in a blend that you may not care for, they do their best to accommodate. So I simply responded back to their email with a note asking for the cardamom and cloves to be removed and they happily obliged. Not only that, but they responded back with a few more questions, helping to customize this blend just to my taste. You can’t get better customer service than that.
About a week later, my monthly box arrived with Mountain Chai and one other blend. I prepped my water, grabbed my new squirrel infuser and brewed myself up a cuppa. I could’t wait to try this new customized chai.
Without the heavier spices I was a bit worried that the ginger would take over. But that isn’t the case at all. Each sip starts off with a lovely cinnamon and brown sugar sweetness with a slight ginger twist. The green tea base is the perfect background for this tea, adding a note of buttery smoothness. Each sips ends with that familiar marshmallow root flavor that I adore.
I didn’t even pick up the licorice root that was in the mix, which is unusual for me. I asked my hubby to try the tea and he really liked this blend as well. I see us buying more of this tea soon. We are going to go thru this bag fast! Just the perfect amount of sweetness and spice. I can’t get over how much I’m loving the brown sugar and the additional marshmallow root that was added in for me. This may just be the most perfect chai for my taste buds.
If you haven’t checked out BlendBee, I encourage you to do so. With their fabulous customer service and the ability to custom blend to your own tastes, you really can’t go wrong!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: BlendBee
Description
A mountain of green tea spiced to perfection.
Aromatic Organic Green Tea Chai, inspired by our stunning Sierra Mountains. Designed to warm you up on a crisp day. Perfect brewed with warm milk & honey.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Chocolate Marshmallow Spicier Chai from 52Teas
I was super excited to see a spicier Chai! I love Chai, and I love spice too. This chai is different in that there is no anise, but there is crushed red pepper! It also has vegan white chocolate chips, and vegan dark chocolate! It’s a beautiful tea just to look at really. I enjoyed a cup of this Chai this morning with a touch of coconut sugar, and a little coconut milk. Wow, I know I keep saying it but this might be my favorite Chai ever! Don’t worry about the crushed red pepper, it only adds a little spice, it won’t burn any throats! This Chai is creamy, and sweet and just totally something different from the usual Chai. I didn’t immediately think marshmallow when I tatsed this tea, but I did detect the white chocolate right away. As a vegan I really appreciate that they used vegan chocolate so everyone can enjoy this!
If you enjoy mellower, sweeter Chai’s with a little kick, this will blow your mind. This is my new winter beverage!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This is actually a reblend of sorts – let’s call it a reinterpreted blend since I did take some artistic freedom with this blend because while I did very much enjoy the original, I thought that it could have been spicier. And, I must confess that up until this evening, I had it in my head that the name of this tea was Chocolate Marshmallow Spicier Chai, but I realized as I posted my thoughts about this tea on Steepster that it was actually Chocolate Marshmallow Spicy Chai. Not Spicier – just Spicy.
So when I blended this, I thought I was blending Chocolate Marshmallow Spicier Chai and my memory of the original was that it wasn’t spicy enough to be a “spicier” chai and I added more spices to make it spicier. First, I added some chili pepper flake. Not a lot – but enough to give this a nice, spicy kick – or should I say Spicier kick! There’s a good amount of heat from the chili pepper but not so much that it’s sending me running to the kitchen for a drink of water to extinguish the heat.
And since I am a chocoholic, I added more chocolate flavor with the addition of cacao shells, mini vegan chocolate chips and vegan white chocolate chips. I like the addition of the white chocolate especially, I think that it enhances the marshmallow flavor just a bit. Another change: I didn’t add anise to this blend. Now, I love anise. LOVE it! But I wanted to try it first without the anise because anise can add a rather strong, distinctive licorice-y flavor and I didn’t think I wanted a licorice-y note to this. Maybe at some point, I’ll do a chocolate anise blend or something, but for now, I’m quite happy with this just the way it is!
If you enjoyed the original but thought it needed more spice – you should definitely try this!
organic ingredients: black teas, secret blend of spices, marshmallow root, cacao nibs, cacao shells, mini vegan chocolate chips, vegan white chocolate chips and natural flavors.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Firebird Chai from Wendigo Tea Co
I regret to inform you, darling Tea-ple, that there is nothing I could possibly say about this tea that has not been said better on the tea’s own description.
Said information implores you to “brace yourself” for “an imposing beast” that “leaves scorched remnants of other Chai teas far 
below ferocious wings.”
Have I just been schooled?
Does Wendigo keep its own Starling! on staff? An even more super Super Starling! ?
The tea’s description also touts the tea as a “unique masterpiece” that requires no additional flavoring because its base is not cheap, icky tea like other chais. You are encouraged to “enjoy your ride.”
This tea DOES have a flowery sweetness that I can’t seem to explain based on the ingredients. I think it’s a note on the black tea, which is superior to a LOT of black teas I’ve had. It really does require no milk or honey to avoid being bitter or overwhelming.
Despite the floral notes, I dare say that this FireBird has MELTED MY FACE OFF, Raiders of the Lost Ark style.
Climb on, kids.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black/Chai
Where to Buy: Wendigo Tea Co.
Description
FireBird
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Masala Chai from Hope and Glory
I love that chai is the mingling of the world’s tastes. It’s the tea culture from China; the spice from India; and the English’s ability to spread and co-mingle the two.
It’s impossible to untangle chai from its history. Britain colonized India around the time America escaped it. It was called “the jewel in the British crown” because it was so profitable. The English used their property in India and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) to grow tea for its citizens in order to lessen their dependence on China.
The English’s obsession with tea fused with India’s love of spice, and here we are.
Hope & Glory has made an excellent example of the genre. This chai is beautiful. It’s spicy, rich, and zingy. It’s a great pick-me-up.
I find it comforting that at least one lovely thing came from hundreds of years of fraught cultural relations. Chai is a reminder that every cloud has a silver lining.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Hope & Glory
Description
A full-bodied blend of organic Ceylon black tea and spices, Masala Chai derives from the Hindi literally meaning ‘mixed-spice tea’. Spices such as cardamom and cinnamon have been expertly blended to give a warming, rich blend of flavours and a sweet aroma.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Thyme Chai from Balcony Teas
When I first saw this, I thought it had to be a mistake. When I think of traditional chai tea, I think cinnamon and anise and all those sweet, warming spices, and I just can’t imagine thyme lingering in the mix. I love thyme when I’m cooking up some hearty, savory dishes, but in tea?
I resisted trying this tea for awhile because well, fear. But finally, I decided to open my mind and give it a try. This chai is less cinnamon-y, and more vanilla-y.
As a matter of fact, it has none of the usual chai spices. But even so, vanilla and thyme? I learned that there is no reason to be scared. The thyme adds an herb-y element to the tea, but it doesn’t taste specifically like thyme. It’s like the vanilla and the thyme merge together and make this sweet, herbaceous tea that is unusual, unexpected and totally delicious! It’s mellow, and very soothing.
According to Balcony Tea’s website, the Romans believed thyme to be a mood enhancer. Believe it or not, I did feel a little happier after having this cup.
This tea quickly went from being a tea I feared to one of my favorites. It’s a very calming cup of tea to have first thing in the morning. It kind of gently welcomes you into your day.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Balcony Tea
Description
This is what my papa called “a signature tea”: refreshing in summer and protective in winter. We love the distinctly herbaceous, yet sweet and comforting taste of this black tea.
Ingredients:
Black Tea – The finest Ceylon tea. Fortifying, yet refreshing.Wild Thyme – Our thyme is wild-harvested in the Mediterranean to ensure its intense aroma and taste. The Romans believed Thyme to be a mood enhancer. My family used to drink it whenever we were feeling under the weather.Vanilla Pieces & Flavour – Smooth, sweet and luxurious
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
