Being in the midst of Fall, pumpkin is everywhere. So is Chai. DAVIDsTEA decided to bank on the two beloved flavors at the same time when they combined the two in their Pumpkin Chai tea blend complete with cute little pumpkin sprinkles. This tea has been a fan favorite for years which has led to it being incorporated in several recipes on the DAVIDsTEA blog. One of the recipes, the Pumpkin Chai Maple Latte, caught my eye.
The recipe includes the following ingredients:
1 Perfect Spoonful of Pumpkin Chai tea
1½ cups 95°C/200°F water
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground ginger
1 cup canned coconut milk (coconut milk from a carton will make the latte thinner)
½ cup canned pumpkin puree
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp maple syrup or to taste
It is a fairly simple recipe. The steps are as follows:
1. Add water, tea and spices to a small saucepan and bring to a slow boil.
2. Lower heat and simmer for 8 min.
3. Add coconut milk, pumpkin puree and maple syrup, and let simmer for another 3-5 min.
4. Strain into mug(s) and enjoy!
One thing I will note is that the last step, straining the mix, is not easy if you don’t have the right utensils. I tried my gravity steeper but that almost immediately got clogged. I think I had to use about 4 strainers from my nordic/perfect tea mugs and slowly let the tea drain out as I stirred the mix in the strainer to push it through. In the end, I got about 12-16 ounces out of the pot and the rest was stuck in the steeper and strainers.
So with that in mind, is it worth the straining disaster? Well, that depends…do you like pumpkin? This is like a rich, creamy, sweet pumpkin soup – a little touch of spice from the cinnamon and ginger and a lot of sweet from the brown sugar and maple. It is very thick which is what is making me think soup as opposed to a beverage, which means it is also very filling. If I am being honest, I’ve never had pumpkin pie, but if someone took the filling, slightly liquefied it and added some ginger to make it a touch more savory, this is what I imagine the result would be. Except with some caramel maple syrup drizzled on top.
For me, this is a little bit weird. I think the slight hint of the pumpkin puree texture that still remains is making me feel like I am trying to drink something that I should be eating with a spoon. It also has a disconnect between the sweet and spice. At first, I get the pumpkin’s natural sweetness with spice but then caramel and maple pop out at the end of the sip and though they are nice flavors, they don’t blend smoothly.
For me, this is likely a recipe I won’t repeat. I have never been a HUGE pumpkin lover and this was too much work (after all the cleaning especially) for something I didn’t love. It was certainly fun to try though.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: DAVIDs Tea
Description
The forever fall must-have. This rich premium black tea is the perfect way to kick off the season. It’s got all the warmth of cinnamon and cloves, plus the sweetness of caramel and pumpkin candy. For a truly unforgettable pumpkin chai latte experience, top it up with steamed milk and stir in a spoonful of brown sugar.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Cocoa Chili Pumpkin from Tiesta Tea. . .
Tis the season for all things pumpkin and spooky. I love this time of year. Being a huge fan of the horror genre, I love stealing away any time I can and enjoying a scary flick or indulging myself in the latest spooky book. And honestly, the best partner to any scary book or movie is a marvelously brewed tea possibly turned into a latte.
Cocoa Chili Pumpkin has been my go to pumpkin tea for the last couple of weeks. I can’t get enough of this tea. Typically I stay away from black flavored spicy teas. In my experience, the spices tend to burn your taste buds or the flavors are just incredibly muddy. Not with this tea.
Being one that isn’t a huge chocolate fan but a HUGE pumpkin fan, I wondered how I would feel abbot this combo and I have to say, it is delightful! Each sip starts off with this lush smooth pumpkin dark chocolate combo that mingles with the malty tone set by the black tea base. Here and there you pick up a bit of heat that does just that. Brings some heat that truly elevates the tea to a different level. The spices are blended perfectly and are not overdone by any stretch.
What draws me to this tea the most is the combination of sweet and spicy flavors. I’ve never been one that has been drawn to spicy teas in the past, but I just can’t get enough of this particular tea. I’m not sure if its the pumpkin dark chocolate combo that I can’t get enough of or if it is the heat this tea brigs. Either way, I’m going to need more of this tea soon. My bag is about gone and we still have a few more weeks until winter is officially here.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tiesta Tea
Description
Ingredients: black tea + chocolate chunks + ginger + cinnamon + pumpkin cubes + natural flavors + cloves + chili peppers + cardamom + pink peppercorns + marigold petals (CONTAINS MILK)
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Elevating Your Tea Game: Pumpkin Brulee Lattes With a Kick!
Sometimes you just need an added kick to wind down from your day. This is exactly what I did with Pumpkin Brulee from The NecessiTeas.
If you aren’t familiar with The NecessiTeas, I encourage you to check them out. They offer amazing fresh teas with wonderful flavors that provide that soul soothing love that you can only get from a proper cuppa. Over the last few weeks, I have really found myself falling more and more in love with them. Particularly this tea.
So before I chat about the latte and how I prepared it, I wanted to properly review the tea itself. If you are a fan of pumpkin, I highly recommend checking out this tea. This is a black flavored pumpkin tea with chunks of caramel, butterscotch and spices, topped off with a dusting of brown sugar. Need I say more? This tea literally tastes like a caramel pumpkin dessert in a mug (without the calories!) One of the best pumpkin dessert teas I’ve had for sure and one that I’ve spent a good portion of the day with. For a flavored tea, the flavor has lasted thru several infusions. Gotta love that!
My husband and I aren’t huge drinkers but we do love a properly mixed drink now and again. I’m always trying to find ways to incorporate a shot of this or that into my tea and I think I have figured out the right combination.
Brew your tea like your normally would. Pour into your cup, leaving room for the topping.
Take 1/2 cup of milk (I use almond) with a shot of Irish Cream. Mix together and pour into your cuppa. Top with whip cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice on top and you are done! Nothing hard by any means but a fun way to enjoy the tea and add a special little touch.
Earlier in the day I did froth up milk with my Breville frother and created an amazing pumpkin latte that rivaled the ones at the coffee and tea shops. It was rich, creamy, and perfectly pumpkin!
Highly recommended this tea for the upcoming holiday season. There are so many different ways you can spruce the tea up or just drink it on its own. I know I’ll be drinking a lot of these tea cocktails over the next couple of months!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The NecessiTeas
Description
A bountiful harvest of sweet, spice and everything nice. This warming black tea is the perfect accompaniment to crisp Fall days. A blend of warm pumpkin and flavors of sweet caramel, butterscotch, brown sugar, and creamy vanilla create this seasonal indulgence. Enjoy with a touch of milk and sweetener of choice.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Pumpkin Spice from Simpson & Vail
As with any seasonally-significant stereotype (I love them ALL, you guys), pumpkin spice is my jam. I’ve tried a fair number of pumpkin teas in my day, and let me tell you– they can be tricky to nail down. Too often, the pumpkin flavor comes across as fake, or barely-there, or the “spice” is way overdone, leaving no “pumpkin” to be found. I was eager to try this blend from Simpson & Vail as in my experience, they always knock it out of the park when it comes to flavors.
Did they capture a delicious flavor? Totally. Was it entirely pumpkin-y? I’m still not sure. This tea has absolutely none of the fake-y pumpkin flavor I’ve come to despise in my seasonal teas (woo hoo!), but it’s coming across more gingerbread-y to me in my first cup. Maybe my brain is just jumping ahead a season or two, but while the spices are on point, I’m having a hard time picking up pumpkin in my freshly-steeped cup. As it cools, however, the pumpkin begins to sneak in a bit more, and I’m greeted with a delightful cup of fall goodness.
Later, I try it as a tea latte with a scoop of pureed pumpkin stirred in and a splash of coconut cream and maple syrup, and BAM– there’s that autumnal flavor I was looking for! I’ll definitely be drinking this one again.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Description
The stories of pumpkins, both in history and fables, make this fall fruit a staple in American diets. Their importance in American history began when the Native American Indians saved the Pilgrims from starvation by sharing this fall favorite. From fairies creating a pumpkin coach for Cinderella to Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater to the endless faces of Jack-o’-lanterns, we have grown up with pumpkins as a part of our culture. Every Fall I watch with delight as the pumpkins reach maturity, anxiously awaiting the tastes of pumpkin soups, pumpkin breads, and, of course, pumpkin pie!
This blend combines black teas with pumpkin and spice flavor to create a deep amber cup that is velvety smooth and aromatic. Its light, delicious taste is reminiscent of pumpkin custard. This tea, enjoyed year round, just adds another sensory delight to the mystique of the pumpkin!
Ingredients: black teas, pumpkin flavor and marigold petals.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
