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[OLD Blend!]

Got a sample of this one from Veronica. Thank you muchly. (:

In hindsight I should have done a quick rinse before brewing. Oops. This was the last scoop in the bottom of (what looks like) a 1oz bag, so I went in knowing that the ratio of spice blend to tea was going to be a little skewed. That’s okay though. Smelling the dry leaves, I recognized a light smokiness that is very similar to the smokiness of Manistee Moonrise (am I right?). Brewed, the tea liquor was a deep reddish gold. The smell is campfire smoke, spice, and a hint of sweetness.

It calls to mind specific images, like red autumn leaves littering the forest floor. A fire crackling as dusk turns to night. Tree bark. It’s earthy and grounding. The blend of spices is pleasant and it reminds me of VT’s chai spice blend, which is the first chai I ever really loved. There’s a nice balance between all of the flavors; smoke is ever-present in the foreground. (Almost overwhelming, but not UNpleasant. Like I said: should have rinsed first!) There’s a slight bitterness along with the earthy, woodsy tones. It seems to fit and I can’t explain how. As the tea cools a silky sweetness steps up and just hangs around in the back of my mouth. It’s kind of caramelly. It’s gooood.

In the second cup, the smokiness is turned way way down. The liquor is a mellow gold and I can pick out the scent of cinnamon and clove more than I could in the first cup. I’ve learned by now that this is a tea better served medium-warm, so that’s how I drink it! And oh is it good. The smokey notes are more suggested than stated. Kind of wispy, like after a candle is snuffed out—not like the smoke coming off of a roaring fire. This cup is more woodsy. (For the record I LOVE the smell of wood.) The sweetness is more intense, curled around the spices like a cat’s tail. The spice leaves a nice tingle in the back of my throat and the sweetness lingers long after I’ve taken a sip. If I push my tongue around my teeth, the sweet flavor is paired with the sensation of biting into a puffed marshmallow. That’s the only way I can think to explain it. Really unusual and unexpected! I like it. There’s a slight drying quality to it as well.

I wish I had more of this tea to play around with. (: As far as chai goes, I’d say it’s definitely one of my top 5.