I LOVE a good strong black tea. The Classic Masala Chai from Tea Safari is strong and bold without being overwhelming. I found it to be best with milk and sugar – and I used a little more milk than what I usually add to other black teas. The strength of the tea allows for multiple steepings, and the spices seemed to be more prominent upon the second steeping. It pairs well with a sweet treat!
The Chai Safari website is fairly easy to navigate and has a neat feature that shows what the tea leaves look like for each blend. When you click on the leaves, it shows what the tea will look like steeped in a cup. Their prices are very reasonable, and the customer will get the most bang for their buck with free shipping on orders over $50.
I enjoyed this nice cup of tea during a spring evening on the porch – the first evening where it was warm enough to sit outside, yet cool enough to enjoy a nice hot cuppa tea. The Classic Masala Chai was a delightful accompaniment for a lovely evening.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Chai Safari
Description
The Classic Masala Chai is India’s most popular chai. India’s own home grown recipe and consumed as a staple beverage across the country. This blend of exotic spices is the experience that will take you for a trip on this journey. The chai has dominant flavours of dried ginger and cardamom pods with a touch of black pepper’s spicy aftertaste. The sweet undenotes are delivered by cinnamon, Tulsi and a pinch of Saffron.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Saffron Kahwa from Tea Trunk . . .
A saffron tea had me intrigued. This is not an ingredient usually used in tea blends so I was interested to see what it contributed. I had no idea what to expect but there is a creaminess here that I am at a loss for where it is coming from (would saffron add creaminess? I think that seems off. Maybe it is the almonds?).
In addition to the saffron and the almonds noted above, this tea boasts a chai tea profile with rose petals. All on a green tea base.
Tea Trunk recommends this as a detox tea, one to be had to cleanse the palate after a heavy meal and I can see why. For a tea composed of so many chai spices usually associated with warmth and fall/winter tea drinking this tea is surprisingly light. Though still spicy and warm. It is an interesting combination.
So this is creamy and spicy but also quite sweet. I’m thinking the almonds are playing a big role here contributing both the creamy and sweet notes and helping support the warmer notes of the spices atop a nutty foundation. In that regard, it probably also creates a bridge between the green base and the other ingredients.
The rose, on the other hand, is pretty hidden in the mix. Perhaps it adds sweetness but there is no floral component here that I can detect.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Tea Trunk
Description
Green tea is infused with saffron strands, cinnamon bark, cloves, ginger, cardamom pods, rose petals and sweet almonds. This luxurious blend is known for it’s detoxfying properties and is rich in antioxidants and nutrients. Wear your invisible tiara/ crown, and sip with regal grace.
