We don't know when or if this item will be available.
“Day 12 of the 52teas advent calendar. I made this as an oat milk latte because the word “chai” always makes me think I should add oat milk. The spice balance here reminds me a lot of the...” Read full tasting note
“The 12th Tea of Christmas! Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it, and to those who do not, Happy Holidays! I wish everyone a very happy & healthy new year! So, this tea! Today, I brewed it...” Read full tasting note
The 12th Tea of Christmas 2024!
Merry Christmas to all! I hope your holiday is happy, healthy & full of cheer (& of course, TEA!)
This is my fourth & final “new” tea for the box & I picked an amazing tea to serve as the last new tea!
I know that one of my first Christmas teas with 52Teas was a Roasted Chestnut tea, but this one is different because I also added the warmth of chai spices! I combined two great tastes in one cuppa & the result is fantastic (if I do say so myself!) The flavor is pleasantly roasted & a tad bit smoky, but it’s also sweet & spicy.
This blend starts with a black base of Yunnan, Assam & just a teensy bit of Lapsang Souchong to bring that warm, slightly roasted flavor to the cup. Then I added lots of spices (cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom & black pepper) & just a touch of nut-free chestnut flavor as well as a hint of vegan butter essence to create a magical holiday flavor that’s organic, vegan, gluten-free & allergen-friendly – not to mention DELICIOUS!
organic ingredients: black teas, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, black pepper & natural flavors
to brew: shake the pouch gently before you measure to ensure that all the ingredients are well-incorporated. Use 3 ½ grams of tea to 12oz of near boiling water (205°F), steep for 3 minutes & strain. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to develop fully.
serving suggestion: I know that I’ve said it more than once, but I prefer my chai teas to be served hot. Sure, they taste great chilled, but there’s something that’s just so perfectly cozy about a hot, cozy cuppa chai! Whether you choose to serve it hot or chilled, I do recommend adding just a teensy bit of sweetener (it’s great with honey!) to encourage those wonderful spice notes to pop! Also, this tea makes for a wonderful latte – just brew it a bit strong (use a little more leaf when steeping) & add a splash of your choice of dairy to the cup (I love this with a bit of oat milk! So good!)
At 52teas.com, you will find unique, hand-blended artisan loose leaf teas: a new limited edition creation every week of the year. We pride ourselves on offering truly unique, one-of-a-kind tea blends that you won’t find anywhere else.
Day 12 of the 52teas advent calendar. I made this as an oat milk latte because the word “chai” always makes me think I should add oat milk. The spice balance here reminds me a lot of the gingerbread blend, in a favorable way. The cinnamon, clove, and pepper are clear but not overpowering. Not sure I’m getting “chestnut” per se, but there’s a nice creaminess that goes deeper than the oat milk. Another one that’s risky because of my stomach but I’d recommend for flavor.
Overall, this continues to be an excellent advent. There were some returning favorites (banana eggnog oolong! candy cane marshmallow treat genmaicha!) as well as some new and new-to-me blends that I found quite enjoyable. The gingerbread green and raspberry lemon linzer black were particular highlights there. The quantity of tea is just right – enough to play around with but not so much that it ends up sitting around forever. This calendar has quickly become a constant in my advent lineup; I expect that will continue to be the case.
The 12th Tea of Christmas!
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it, and to those who do not, Happy Holidays! I wish everyone a very happy & healthy new year!
So, this tea! Today, I brewed it a little strong so that I could go latte with it, because I was in the mood for something creamy. I really enjoy this chai, there is a rich, roasted chestnut flavor (thanks not only to the vegan & nut-free chestnut flavor but also the touch of Lapsang Souchong in the blend) & a really nice blend of warm spices. The black tea blend is rich & flavorful even though it’s a latte.
This one makes a really nice latte, I do recommend brewing it strong though (using extra leaf to do so rather than steeping it longer) so that the flavors are not masked by the presence of the dairy.
The 12 Teas countdown is over, but tomorrow, I think I’ll start counting down the 10 teas to getting caught up! :)
