Product Information:
Product: Chai Cola – a bottled, micro-brewed soft drink from Natural Brew.
Where to Buy: New Seasons Market or where Natural Brew products are sold.
Product Description:
Chai is the Hindi word for “tea,” a centuries-old beverage often mixed with a complex blend of spices. By using only the finest natural ingredients, Natural Brew® Chai Cola offers a spicy, aromatic pleasure accompanied by a unique and refreshing taste.
Learn more about Chai Cola here.
Taster’s Review:
As some of you may be aware, I’m not only a tea fanatic, but somewhat of a foodie too. I write about my foodie adventures on another blog, and I even subscribe to the Foodzie monthly tasting box. Every month, we choose from three different boxes with different themes. In February, I selected the Valentine’s Box which was loaded with chocolate goodies (did I mention that I’m also a chocoholic?), but there was one product in another box that really piqued my interest: Chai Cola. Since that time, I’ve been on a mission to find some Chai Cola so that I could try it.
I don’t know if the Chai Cola that was in the February “Movie Night” box was from Natural Brew, but, when I found a four-pack of this cola in New Seasons yesterday, I had to have some! And while I don’t drink cola or soda on a regular basis (you may have noticed that I drink a lot of tea instead), I really like what I’m tasting here!
This has a totally different taste from most commercial sodas on the market today. It actually tastes as though it was made with care, rather than mass produced, a result, perhaps, of the micro-brew process. As a result, I find that this is a beverage with more flavor, and less of a syrupy sweet concoction that inundates the palate with sweetness rather than anything of substance.
It is sweet, of course (sweetened with cane juice), but after the first couple of sips, I find that the spices of the chai really start to come alive, and help offset the sweetness of the beverage. I taste hints of ginger, a little cinnamon and even some clove in there! It doesn’t taste overly spicy, but it has a gentle spiced tone that contrasts pleasantly with the sweetness of the cola.
And then there is the tea! I was actually surprised to read in the ingredients list that it is a decaffeinated tea that they use, I suppose that the “cola” part of this already has caffeine in it and the caffeine of the tea might have been too much? I don’t know what their thinking was when selecting the tea. But that being said, it doesn’t taste like a decaffeinated beverage, nor do I get a chemical-y taste from the decaffeinated tea … but I do taste tea. Of all the flavors that I do taste here, the tea is perhaps the mildest of them, but I can definitely taste it.
Overall, I find this to be a very delicious cola … I still prefer tea, but, for a soda … this is definitely my cup of tea!
PRODUCT REVIEW: Saffron Chai Tea Mix from Jaipur Avenue
Product Information:
Product: black tea – instant chai tea mix
Where to Buy: Jaipur Avenue
Product Description:
An escapade into sensuous notes, floral fragrances and romantic sweetness.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh my goodness! This is so good!
Having already tried Jaipur Avenue’s other chai blends, I knew I was in for a treat with this one, but I really wasn’t prepared for what the saffron would add to the mix. Of the five mixes that I’ve tasted … this one is definitely my favorite!
Unlike the Ginger Chai Mix or even the Cardamom, which had a spicier profile, this Saffron Chai Mix is more subdued, but in a very enchanting way. The flavor is smoother and well-rounded, as the saffron brings a gratifying sweetness to the cup that enhances the flavors without amplifying the spicy tones. It brings out the more exotic and savory side of the spices in this blend, giving the overall cup a very indulgent, satisfying flavor.
Like the other chai mixes from Jaipur Avenue, this is incredibly rich and creamy. It is indeed sweet, and while I don’t think I could drink more than one of these at a time, I don’t find the one cup to be too overwhelmingly sweet. Instead, it has a really excellent balance between sweet and spice, with a pleasing earthiness that grounds the cup so that it doesn’t become too confectionery.
I have really enjoyed these chai mixes from Jaipur Avenue. I like them because not only are they delicious but they are also very easy to make: just add hot water and stir! I used my frothing tool which gave it a light froth on top, but if you don’t have a frothing tool, this still tastes wonderful without the froth. This mix gives you the tasty results of a chai that’s been simmered in milk on the stovetop without all the mess, and that’s a win-win in my book!
PRODUCT REVIEW: Cardamom Chai Tea Mix from Jaipur Avenue
Product Information:
Product: black tea – instant spiced chai mix
Where to Buy: Jaipur Avenue
Product Description:
A retreat into green/woodsy undertones, refreshing aromas and natural sweetness.
Learn more about this product here.
Taster’s Review:
Nice!
In some chai blends, I have a difficult time discerning the cardamom because of the stronger flavors of cinnamon and ginger. Yes, cardamom on its own can be a strong spice, but when united with cinnamon and ginger, these two warmer spices can be very aggressive and often overpower some of the subtle complexities of the cardamom.
I’m loving that this chai mix focuses on the cardamom!
With this chai mix, I can taste the light citrus-y tone of the cardamom, and that sun-kissed fruit note gives this chai a brightness that I seldom experience with a spiced chai. This citrus-y flavor weaves its way throughout the sip, and is most prominent in the aftertaste where I can taste a light, orange-y kind of flavor. This tastes lighter and more refreshing while still maintaining that warm spiciness that I love about chai.
I can taste the other spice flavors: most notably, I can taste notes of ginger and cinnamon. But these spices that often dominate a chai have taken a back seat with this chai, allowing the cardamom to drive for a change. The black tea is also there, peaking its way through every now and then. This chai mix also has the latte already mixed in – giving it a smooth, rich, creamy flavor that is absolutely luxurious.
This chai mix has been sweetened, and while this is a little sweeter than I would have made for myself, my sweet tooth doesn’t seem to mind.
I’ve really enjoyed this … my only complaint? It’s all gone now, and I want more!
PRODUCT REVIEW: Ginger Chai Tea Mix from Jaipur Avenue
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Jaipur Avenue
Product Description:
An awakening with zesty notes, stimulating aromas and heartwarming spice.
Learn more about this chai here.
Taster’s Review:
I have tasted and reviewed three of the five different flavors of chai mixes from Jaipur Avenue, and I think of the three that I’ve tried thus far, this one is my favorite.
What can I say? I love a good, hot, spicy cup of chai, and this one fits the bill. The extra ginger in this blend gives it just the right kick of peppery, zingy ginger flavor. It is warm and invigorating, but, the creamy aspect of the latte tones down the ginger just enough so that it isn’t TOO peppery hot.
It is spicy and just toes the line at the point where my tongue feels like it’s on fire… you know? It’s like it’s almost there, but not quite. And that’s just the way I like it to be! I want a chai to warm me up with its spices but I don’t want it so hot that all I taste is spice. I don’t want to be so overwhelmed by the spice that I can’t enjoy the other aspects of the chai – and Jaipur Avenue hits the nail right on the head with this blend. Spicy, but not overpoweringly so!
I can also taste the other spice notes here, I taste hints of cinnamon and a nice backdrop of cloves and cardamom. The black tea is there too, providing a pleasant flavor in the background that is bold and energizing. The creamy milk for the “latte” adds just the right creamy texture and flavor to the cup.
And yes, these chai mixes are sweetened, but, even with the sweetener, I don’t find them too sweet. And here’s a bonus: each package whips up a creamy, smooth latte that’s just 90 calories. That’s right, all this sweet, creamy, deliciously spicy flavor for just 90 calories! AWESOME!
PRODUCT REVIEW: Vanilla Chai Tea Mix from Jaipur Avenue
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Jaipur Avenue
Tea Description:
A celebration with delicate fragrances, luxurious cream and soft spice.
Learn more about this chai here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh my goodness … this is like comfort food in liquid form! It is so creamy and delicious.
This Vanilla Chai mix is different from the Original Masala Chai mix in a couple of ways, most notably that this chai is very vanilla-y. I’ve tried several different vanilla chai blends in the past, but, this one takes vanilla to a whole new level.
The spices are more of an accent to the vanilla. In most cases, I’d be disappointed by that, but with this particular chai, it’s hard to be disappointed because it is so good. SO GOOD!
The black tea is noticeable, but, it is somewhat masked by the creaminess of the vanilla and the milky notes. I will say that I found the black tea flavors to develop as I continued to sip, and despite the fact that the flavor was somewhat obscured, this chai definitely has the energizing factor of a black tea.
This would make a good chai mix for someone who likes their chai on the mild side (rather than the spicy), although, I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who dislikes sweet drinks. That’s because this is sweet. It could easily replace a dessert. It has a decadent creaminess to it, like a warm, liquified vanilla spiced custard.
As for me, I absolutely love this. It is incredibly decadent and rich and oh-so-yummy. My sweet tooth highly recommends this one!