La Vida Java

Thank you Jaime for sending me a sample of this to try. I was very curious to try this after your tasting note!

This tea is so sweet and it tingles so nicely down the throat. I have to be careful to take small sips or the fire is a bit too much and I cough.

I enjoy this the most when it is at it’s hottest. It’s almost syrupy in flavor. I like it!

Thank you Jaime for sending me a bit of this tea!

This one definitely has some kick. The black tea is a smooth base and I can taste a bit of a caramel-y sweetness to it that tastes delightful with the spice in this blend… I like the contrast of sweet and spice.

Very nice!

Have put a dash of French Vanilla creamer in it…it seems to actually increase the intensity of the spice rather than tame it. This is not a tea for the faint of heart.

ETA: I may be conceding to the Matador. Mouth is on fire, and I’m not usually one to say no to spicy. Put a dash more creamer in…ouch. Couldn’t finish the final cup. If anyone is brave and wants some tea that could potentially be used as chili seasoning, let me know. I’m thinking this was my last cup.

I bought this tea at La Vida Java, a coffee spot in Louisville. I’m not sure if they blend their own teas, or if there’s a source tea, but I’ve googled the bejeebus out of this name and can’t find it from any other company.

I bought an ounce of this, untried, and when I got home, used my basic black tea prep: boil water, steep 5 minutes. OMG, it burns. Literally, my mouth hurt from the spicy heat. It’s been sitting in my stash for a while now, whilst I readied myself to try it again.

So I tried it in my One-Touch, boiling water for 3 minutes. Also used a smidge less than a teaspoon per cup. It’s still hot, but not quite to the “please, give me ice water and milk and an antacid” level. There’s definitely chili powder in this somewhere, and some flowers. The black tea base is good, or what you can taste of it is. And it definitely starts the roof of the mouth tingling from the hot spice.

It’s spicy. Really spicy. And I’m still not sure if it’s my thing. Definitely clears out your sinuses, though. Going to rate it a 50, but reserve the right to change it.