Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: For more information about this product including how to purchase, visit: Bhakti Chai
Product Description:
Original Blend with a splash of cold-pressed organic coffee.
Taster’s Review:
I realize that I run the risk of sounding redundant here… but I love Bhakti Chai! So far, I have tried their original concentrate and their unsweetened concentrate and I enjoyed both of them… and now I am tasting their “Coffee Blend” – which is essentially their original blend with a little bit of coffee in it.
This is vibrant and full of flavor. The ginger is not quite as peppery tasting as it is in the other blends, perhaps the coffee mutes some of the strong spice. That is not to say that the spices are gone, they’re just a little bit softer than I remember them from the previous tastings. It is still very gingery, and very delicious.
Now, I am not a big fan of coffee. As I’ve said before, I used to drink it regularly, but, I realized that it was upsetting my stomach so I stopped drinking coffee and switched to tea. I’m happier now that I’ve switched… but, this chai offers me a little opportunity to enjoy that coffee flavor that I miss sometimes… only time will tell if this particular blend will upset my stomach the way that drinking coffee did… I’ll have to report back in a few hours with the verdict!
Revisiting one day later: I sit here with another cup of this chai in hand, and I must say that yesterday I did not notice any ill-effects from my first cup. I suspect that this might have something to do with the ginger in the tea (which has a soothing effect on the tummy), and perhaps it might also have something to do with the polyphenols in the tea and it also regulated the caffeine in the coffee. I will also say that I didn’t notice a jolt or spike in energy levels after I drink this, so perhaps it is the polyphenols at work here.
Either way, this is an excellent variation on chai. I am quite enjoying the addition of coffee in this blend, it adds a very pleasant flavor! I do believe I’m developing an addiction to Bhakti Chai!
PRODUCT REVIEW: Unsweetened Bhakti Chai Concentrate from Bhakti Chai
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: For more information about this product including how to purchase, visit: Bhakti Chai
Product Description:
Absolutely zero sugar added. Try with honey, agave nectar or stevia.
Taster’s Review:
OK… so basically, this is the same formula as the Original Bhakti Chai that I previously reviewed, except that this does not contain the “touch of evaporated cane juice” that the Original has.
This is every bit as good as the Original too, even without the cane juice! Sure, it tastes different without the sweetener, but, it is still very tasty. I find that the spices come through a little differently without the cane juice, as sweeteners tend to help accent the spices. The ginger still comes through loud and clear though. It’s the other spices that need a little encouragement from the sweetener. But that’s not to say I don’t enjoy this latte without sweetening it!
The first time I tried it, I tried it without the sweetener. The second time I tried it (within a half an hour of the first tasting!) I decided to make myself a chai latte float! I didn’t add sweetener to that either, because I figured the vanilla ice cream was plenty sweet enough without additional sweetening. And I was right.
To make my float, I simply measured out 1 cup of the chai concentrate and heated it, and then I added a scoop of ice cream to the measuring cup, along with enough milk to make 1 cup. When the chai concentrate was good and hot, I added the milk and ice cream. The ice cream melted pretty rapidly, but it still made for a deliciously creamy, vanilla-y, chai treat.
Today, I am sipping this for the first time with a little bit of sweetener added. I used a teaspoon of Turbinado sugar, and this is a delicious chai latte. I love the amount of sweetness with this, not too sweet or cloying. It would also be nice with some raw honey, but I wanted to see how the molasses-y note would work with the chai ingredients. YUM!
Having now tried both the original and unsweetened chai concentrates from Bhakti Chai, I must say that I think I prefer this unsweetened version because it gives me the freedom to determine just how sweet I’d like it to be. Both are absolutely delicious, though. Certainly one of the very best chai concentrates I’ve EVER come across!
PRODUCT REVIEW: Organic Peach Black Tea Concentrate from Third Street Chai
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Third Street Chai
Available on Amazon
Product Description:
International Tea Master Barry W. Cooper travels the globe in search of the finest tea leaves for use in his signature blends of iced teas. Third Street has partnered with Barry to brew and bottle these special concentrated organic tea blends.
Now you can enjoy a glass or pitcher of real, artisan brewed tea in just seconds!
Peach Black Tea: A refreshing black tea with a full-bodied and rounded note of peach flavor.
The co-branded tea concentrates are made from real brewed tea leaves, are USDA Organic certified, and contain no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Each 1 quart bottle makes 2 gallons of brewed tea (in less than 1 minute!)
Taster’s Review:
Making a pitcher of iced tea has never been simpler! Simply measure out 1 part tea concentrate to 7 parts fresh, cold water (I recommend filtering your water for best results), stir, and enjoy! And since this is a sweetened concentrate, it doesn’t even need sweetener. Great if you want to enjoy a refreshing glass of iced tea but just don’t have the time to brew it, and tastes much better than that instant powder from the grocery store.
The black tea base is brisk but not what I would consider strong or bold. A mild tea with a lot of flavor. The real star of this iced tea concentrate is the peach flavor! It is so deliciously juicy! It tastes like a freshly picked peach.
This pre-sweetened concentrate makes an iced tea that is a little sweeter than if I would have brewed it myself, but even as it is, it isn’t as sweet as many of those ready-to-drink iced teas in a can or bottle that taste more like liquid sugar than tea. I can taste the tea with this product!
It is a very pleasant, refreshing beverage that was just perfect for this evening – I came home with a take-out dinner and didn’t have any tea made. I just opened the bottle, measured the concentrate and water, and presto! I have delicious iced tea to enjoy with my dinner!
PRODUCT REVIEW: Original Bhakti Chai Concentrate from Bhakti Chai
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
For more information about this product including how to purchase, visit: Bhakti Chai
Product Description:
Antioxidant-rich black tea, fresh organic ginger, milled spices and a touch of evaporated cane juice.
Taster’s Review:
Oh. My. Goodness! This is SO good. This is so good, that I am on my second cup within a half an hour!
According to the website, Bhakti Chai uses fresh pressed ginger as opposed to dried ginger. The difference this makes can be tasted! The ginger tastes zippier, zingier, and ginger-y-er!
The black tea base here is a smooth tasting tea, but really, the focus of this chai concentrate is the spices. And, that’s quite alright with me, because this is so delicious that I wouldn’t want to change it. It’s absolutely perfect.
The ginger is the dominate flavor, and I can taste the black pepper supporting the flavor of the ginger. The cardamom and cloves are a bit more subtle but can be tasted, providing that familiar background chai flavor. The fennel is also quite subtle, but, I taste a hint of licorice-like sweetness in the distance.
One spice that seems to be “missing” is cinnamon – which is a common chai ingredient. But, even though it isn’t in this chai, I’m not missing it. Don’t get me wrong, I love cinnamon, but, like I said before, this tastes so good that I wouldn’t want to change it.
The ginger provides a lot of warmth (or “agni”) and offers a very warm, comforting sensation starting at the back of the mouth and permeating its way to the belly. This is a perfect cuppa on those cold winter-y days. Like today!
This original concentrate is sweetened, but, I am not finding it too sweet. Bhakti Chai also offers an unsweetened version, which I will review at a later date.
If you like Chai Latte – this is definitely one you should try. I love this stuff!
PRODUCT REVIEW: Authentic Chai Concentrate from Third Street Chai
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
For more information, visit: Third Street Chai
Product Description:
A generously spiced blend of fine black tea and freshly-milled aromatic spices.
Ingredients: Filtered Water, Evaporated Cane Juice, Fair Trade Certified Organic Black Tea, Organic Cardamom, Organic Clove, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Ginger, Organic Black Pepper, Organic Fennel, Organic Nutmeg, Citric Acid.
Taster’s Review:
Having already tried the Spicy Ginger Chai Concentrate from Third Street Chai, I felt confident that I’d also like this “Authentic Chai” Concentrate from the same company.
And I do. This is actually quite similar to the Spicy Ginger Chai except, obviously, it isn’t as spicy. While this chai still has some detectable ginger flavor, it isn’t nearly as spicy. This is the chai for those who like their chai lattes to be a little more gently spiced.
But make no mistake, the spices are still here. This is much more like a coffee house chai – smooth and rich in flavor, but even-tempered enough to enchant even those who are otherwise put-off by the spicier things in life. Personally, I like the heat of the ginger in the Spicy Ginger Chai. That being said, I think that this slightly milder version is a better accompaniment with meals and especially with that morning scone!
YUM!
I really love these chai concentrates from Third Street Chai. It lets me enjoy a delicious chai latte any time of the day with very little mess or fuss. And the price of one 32-ounce concentrate bottle is about the same price as one chai latte from the local coffee house! This chai from Third Street Chai is the best of both worlds: convenience and value!