Thé des Fakirs (Green Tea Chai) from Le Palais des Thés

the-des-fakirs

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Le Palais des Thés

Tea Description:

A tasty, scented blend of green tea and spices (cardamom and clove) with a hint of citrus. Delicious hot or iced.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I love spiced chai blends, and I’ve said that on more than one occasion, I’m sure.  However, I am usually partial to chai blends crafted with a black tea base, and I’m not always as excited over the green tea based chai blends.  However, this Thé des Fakirs (Green Tea Chai) from Le Palais des Thés is making a believer out of me!

This blend does not contain all the “usual” spices that I typically find in a chai blend.  This blend focuses on just cardamom and clove, and personally, I think it was the right decision to omit the stronger spices of cinnamon and ginger, as these can be rather aggressive spices and can sometimes overpower the more delicate green tea base.  By eliminating the cinnamon and ginger (and other spices like fennel or pepper), the drinker can enjoy not just the warmth and exotic flavor of cloves and cardamom, but also the sweet, lush notes of the green tea.

This tea offers a really lovely balance of flavors.  The orange brightens the cup, adding just a touch of sweetness.  The spices are warm but not overwhelmingly spicy.  The green tea is sweet and slightly buttery.  It’s a really nice combination of flavors.  I found this to be delightful served warm (just a tiny drizzle of honey helped bring out the spices a little bit without making the cup too sweet) and it was also really good as the cup began to cool … this would make a really nice alternative to the typical glass of iced tea!