Chai Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Chico Chai
Chai Description:
African Red Tea (Rooibos) and exotic organic spices are hand-blended to create this naturally caffeine-free herbal chai. Blended in small batches, by hand in Chico, California. Only Organic Ingredients and Fair Trade Organic teas are used to make Chico Chai.
Learn more about this chai here.
Taster’s Review:
This Loose Leaf Red Chai Rooibos Blend from Chico Chai is a really pleasing rooibos chai! What I’m really liking about this is that the base tastes very mild, allowing the spices to come through in a really warm and delicious way.
The first flavor I notice immediately is a licorice-y taste – Anise! Then notes of cinnamon and a slight peppery note come through. The other spices are more difficult to pick out … because they’ve melded together to offer a very unified sort of “spiced” taste. I like that … I like it when a chai just tastes “spicy” without it tasting like too much of one spice or another. There is a really enjoyable balance here.
Another thing that I’m LOVING about this rooibos chai is this creamy note that I taste just beneath the spices. The creaminess is something that I can’t ever recall tasting with other rooibos chai blends … and that’s what is setting this apart. That creamy note gives this an almost “latte” sort of taste without the milk, and it softens the edges of the spices too.
This tastes warm and cozy – like a big, comfortable blanket that keeps you warm when the weather’s cold outside. It’s the kind of flavor that you want to curl up to in front of a fire. It tastes sweet and spicy without any sweetener, but as with most other chai blends, I do prefer this with just a little bit of sweetener (I went with organic turbinado sugar!) – sweetener helps bring out the flavor of the spices just a bit, and I like how the sugar and spice create a cup that’s nice. (OK, a silly little rhyme, but I couldn’t resist it … sorry.)
A really awesome rooibos chai – and that’s coming from someone who is less than enthused about rooibos blends in general. This is something I’d happily drink daily!
Organic Matcha Chai Green Tea from Aftelier Perfumed Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Aftelier Perfumed Teas
Product Description:
Our Organic Matcha Chai Tea is grown under diffused sunlight in Nishio, Japan, where the leaves are then ground into a fine vibrant emerald-green powder. I create our exceptionally delicious green Chai tea by flavoring the naturally creamy and sweet ceremonial-grade organic matcha with Aftelier Chef’s Essences: vanilla absolute from Madagascar, organic cinnamon from Vietnam, organic pimento berry from Jamaica, and organic cardamom from India.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I was very excited to try this new Organic Matcha Chai Green Tea from Aftelier Perfumed Teas, because I have really enjoyed the perfumed teas that I’ve tried from Aftelier Perfumed Teas in the past and this was a Matcha Chai! YUM!
One thing that stands out to me about this tea is the ingredient list. This is not your “usual” run of the mill chai spices. There are a couple of “usual suspects” here, like the cinnamon and cardamom, and vanilla is another flavoring that is often used in chai blends these days. But pimento berry (aka allspice)? And no ginger or clove?
Not to say that these changes are bad … they’re just different and it’s my job to spot things like that and point them out.
Another thing that is definitely different with this Matcha Chai from some other Matcha Chai blends that I’ve tasted in the past is that this is a VERY high grade of Matcha. This is apparent in the color of the powder, the bright, vivid jade hue of the liquid, and all that frothy foam on the top of my freshly prepared bowl of Matcha!
It’s also apparent in the flavor. I can taste the quality of the Matcha – it is sweet and slightly vegetative, with a delicious buttery tone. It’s so creamy and smooth.
The spices are on the milder side of “chai” – that is to say that this is not a spicy chai … it is warm with cinnamon, cardamom and allspice, but it isn’t peppery or spicy-hot. It’s a very “autumnal” sort of taste … like spiced cider or something (but without the apples). The vanilla adds a luscious creaminess which enhances the natural creamy quality of the Matcha.
The Matcha isn’t grainy on the palate … it’s very smooth and silky. And even though the product description of this tea states that its
It is normal for a bit of the powder to remain in the bottom of your cup…
the Matcha stays incorporated in the water. There was no sediment when I reached the bottom of the bowl. Of course, if I had let it sit for a while, there may have been a different result. But as it is, it was so delicious that I finished the bowl before I could finish typing the review.
This is REALLY good. If you’re a fan of Matcha … this is one to add to your shopping list. Oh … and it’s a lot of fun receiving a package of tea from Aftelier too! Their packaging makes me feel special. It’s like receiving a beautifully wrapped gift rather than getting an order in the mail. Gorgeous packaging for a superb product … this company really delivers!
Original Loose Leaf Chai from Chico Chai
Chai Information:
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Chico Chai
Chai Description:
Fair Trade Organic black tea and exotic organic spices are hand-blended to create this spicy, aromatic tea. Blended in small batches, by hand in Chico, California. Only Organic Ingredients and Fair Trade Organic teas are used to make Chico Chai.
Learn more about this chai here.
Taster’s Review:
As some of you may remember, I’ve already reviewed the strong brew original chai concentrate from Chico Chai, and I loved it. But sometimes, I want a cup of spicy tea without the latte … and that’s when a loose leaf tea like this Original Chai from Chico Chai comes in. This gives me the spicy flavor I’m craving without the heavy creaminess of a latte. Don’t get me wrong, I love that thick, rich, creamy taste of a chai latte. It’s yummy … but sometimes I just want spice without the milk.
Of course, you can easily turn this into a latte too by simply brewing it extra strong (add an extra teaspoon or two of the loose leaf to your teapot when you steep it) and then adding steamed milk to the brewed product. A frothing tool will add that light, creamy top of the latte that you’ll get in a coffee shop (and pay six bucks a pop for!) Or … if you really want to go traditional, you can prepare this “stovetop” by simmering the spices in a milk/water combination and straining the spices. That produces a really delicious chai … but it also produces a mess which is why I prefer to make my lattes brewing it strong in water, and then adding steamed milk to the brewed tea.
But … if you’re like me and like to enjoy a good, spicy cup of tea without the latte sometimes … this loose leaf Original Chai from Chico Chai is just the thing. It’s a really flavorful chai! Lots of spice to it – including a really nice touch of anise in there! I love that licorice-y taste! – but I like that I can also taste the rich, malty Assam in this blend too.
I like that the cinnamon does not overpower the cup, I taste the cinnamon, but I also taste the peppery edge from the ginger and black pepper. And the warmth of the cardamom and I think I even taste a hint of vanilla to this too … nice!
There is a hint of nutty nutmeg flavor in this, and I love it when a chai has nutmeg. I think it’s one of those very underused spices for chai … something that is often overlooked as a spice but something that adds such a wonderful dimension of flavor that it’s so awesome when I do find a chai that has nutmeg.
I think I should also take a moment to mention the tin that this chai was packaged in. It’s a double lidded tin, with a tight fitted inner lid that seals in all the spice. I really found myself appreciating this tin as I was opening it this morning, because as I was opening it, I found myself wondering why I hadn’t yet had my senses overwrought with the aroma of spice. The inner lid managed to seal in all the spices so that I couldn’t smell them until I got that lid open! I think that how tea is packaged is something that is often overlooked by some companies, but I like that Chico Chai thought about this when they selected their tins!
This chai has a really nice balance of spices that is deliciously warm without setting my palate on fire. This makes a perfect cuppa for cold, wet autumn days like this one! Have I mentioned lately that I’m glad that autumn is finally here?
Mate Chai from Chico Chai
Chai Information:
Leaf Type: Yerba Mate
Where to Buy: Chico Chai
Chai Description:
Organic Yerba Mate is blended with fresh-ground spices to create a unique spicy tea.
Blended in small batches, by hand in Chico, California. Only Organic Ingredients and Fair Trade Organic teas are used to make Chico Chai.
Learn more about this chai blend here.
Taster’s Review:
After having such a positive experience with Chico Chai’s Strong Brew Concentrate, I really looked forward to trying some of their loose leaf offerings. Fortunately, the good people at Chico Chai sent me a “Chico Chai Sampler,” and let me just say I love this little box! It’s a small box that is just big enough to fit four small tins of tea – one of each of the chai blends that Chico Chai offers. This is an awesome way to sample each of the loose leaf chai blends from them. Everything is packaged beautifully … this is the kind of thing that I love getting in the mail! And it would make an excellent gift for the chai lover on your gift giving list, too.
The first of the loose leaf chai blends that I decided to try was the Mate Chai from Chico Chai, mostly because I really needed that vigorous SHAKE awake that Yerba Mate provides. I have been feeling sluggish today, like I could easily go back to bed and sleep another couple of hours, but, I’ve got stuff to do! I can’t nap the day away.
So, it’s Yerba Mate to the rescue!
This has a delightfully spicy fragrance, and what I like best about the aroma of this chai is that no one spice stands out amongst the others in this blend. I smell notes of all the components, and it smells like a mouth-watering medley of warm spice that evokes thoughts of chilly autumn days (they’re coming! they’re coming!)
I brewed the tea strong (using a little extra leaf) in near boiling water – I find that when I use boiling water for Yerba Mate, it results in a slightly bitter tasting mate. Drop the temperature to 195°F and you can brew this herb for ten minutes (or even longer) and I don’t taste any bitterness! I brewed it extra strong because I wanted a latte.
But, I did try it first without the “latte” … and while it was strong … it is a very flavorful chai! Lots of peppery spice … this chai is not for the weak! If you tend to cower at the idea of spicy heat … this chai is too much for you … but for those of you who like your chai to bite you when you take a sip … this is one you need to try!
As a latte, the spices are softened somewhat … that is, they aren’t quite as edgy as they were when I tried it straight up. But, there is still plenty of heat from this chai when served with a splash of warmed milk. The ginger and pepper are prominent, and I can feel their warmth develop at the back of my tongue and radiate to the top of my throat. It warms me so wonderfully … this is just what I need on a chilly day like today!
I like that while this chai seems to focus on the ginger and pepper, I can also taste the cinnamon, cardamom and the nutmeg. It’s sweet and spicy and earthy … and with the addition of the milk, it’s so nice and creamy too! It tastes really good served warm but it’s also delicious as it cools. (An iced chai latte, anyone?)
And the Yerba Mate did in fact help energize and WAKE me up! This chai gets two enthusiastic thumbs up from me.
Mandarin Masala Chai from Blue Lotus Chai
Chai Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Blue Lotus Chai
Chai Description:
Our latest variety has the lush and delicious flavors of our secret mandarin orange/tangerine blend, in addition to the masala spices that our BLC lovers find so scrumptious. A new favorite!
Learn more about this chai here.
Taster’s Review:
This Mandarin Masala Chai from Blue Lotus Chai is really different than I expected. As I was preparing it, I kind of expected a sort of “holiday-ish” type black tea blend … you know what I’m talking about, right? The usual “cinnamon and orange” type holiday black tea.
But this isn’t that holiday orange tea at all! That’s not to say that I don’t like those holiday orange teas – I enjoy them! I’m just saying that this tastes quite different from what I was anticipating it to taste like.
Before I wrote this review, I tried this tea a couple of different ways. The first preparation – I prepared it the way I had prepared the other Blue Lotus Chai teas that I’ve enjoyed in the past, with a 1:1 ratio of hot water and steamed milk, and a heaping scoop of the Mandarin Masala Chai mix. (The most adorable little bamboo scoop is included in the package!) Then I stirred vigorously until the mix was completely incorporated. Then I got out my hand held frother to give the top a little bit if a foamy texture.
It’s yummy prepared this way. The tangerine/orange flavors together with the milk give a sort of “creamsicle” type of flavor, which is actually more of an accent flavor than a strong presence in the cup.
The spices are the main focus of this chai (as well they should be … this IS a chai!) I can really taste the nutmeg here. In the other Blue Lotus Chai blends, I could taste the nutmeg … but here, it really comes into its own … perhaps it’s the orange-y notes that really play to the nutmeg here to bring it out. The pepper is well-pronounced. The other spices are also strong … but, unlike some of those aforementioned holiday blends … this is NOT all about the cinnamon. This is not one of those sweet, cinnamon red-hot kind of teas. This is a chai and I taste the ginger and the black pepper … I taste the cinnamon and the nutmeg … and I taste the cardamom and the cloves! It’s a magnificent blend of spices! The black tea is also discernible, but, as I say … the spices are the main event here.
For my second cup of this chai, I decided to omit the milk and prepare this with just eight ounces of boiling water to see if the orange/tangerine flavors are more pronounced in just water versus the water/milk combination.
I actually prefer this particular chai from Blue Lotus Chai without the milk. It’s still nice and spicy, but I taste the tangerine and orange notes better. It’s brighter and more citrus-y … it’s really ZESTY like this … the spices seem to literally dance on the palate. It is spicy and absolutely delicious!
So, there you have it … I’ve tried all five of the chai blends that Blue Lotus Chai offers … and I’ve enjoyed them all. My favorite is still the Star Anise Masala Chai, but I would recommend all of these chai blends to anyone looking for a delicious chai! And since autumn is nearly here (I hope so, because I’m really tired of the heat!) the time is perfect for a yummy chai!