Chai Tea

I got a few bags of this from my hairdresser several months ago. While visiting her I was going on and on about loose leaf tea and how much I loved it. She said, “I have this chai that’s really good. You gotta try it. Just boil it in some milk.” She pulled a bunch of these bags out and put them in a ziploc. I smiled politely and thanked her, thinking ‘hmmmmm’.

When I got home I put them aside and forgot about them. Until tonight. I wanted something easy to drink and not worry about ruining it.

I threw two bags into my red sweater nordic mug and let it steep for about 4 or 5 minutes. I was surprised at how thick the brew looked after steeping. I added cream and maple syrup. I tentatively took my first sip. Hey! It’s not bad! Not something I’d reach for on a daily basis, but in a pinch, it would do.

The spice is light, but it’s there. I have four more bags which I’ll have no problem finishing.

So went with something easy to drink after getting my wisdom teeth out. Had to let this one cool down a bit cause of my teeth. The tea started out a little bland. As it cooled down the spices were more prominant. This remained pretty bland as far as chai’s though.

I was surprised. After trying about a dozen bagged chais, mostly expensive natural brands, and finding them all to taste fake, this one is quite acceptable. It’s inexpensive and available at the supermarket. It has a nice spice flavour: not overpowering, yet not so weak that it can’t be drunk with milk. This is a good standby for on the go.

I found this at my local grocery store while looking for a convenient option for morning-time rush, and my eyes quickly settled on this. I vaguely remembered a friend mentioning it as her favourite, so I bought it. I have a problem with impulse buys, but that’s okay. Anyways, when I got home I immediately put my groceries away and set about brewing this tea. It was very quick, and I added some sugar and milk as per the instructions. The first sip was a little bland, but the predominate note was definitely cinnamon. As I went through the cup, the flavour became stronger, and I could taste limited amounts of other spices. Overall, my favourite thing about this tea was the interesting way it made me feel. It made me feel very sleepy, despite being a black tea, and like my stomach was heavy and full. It was quite pleasant as a whole, and I would recommend it for after a particularly difficult bout of studying and such.

Not the best chai, but vertainly a good option when you just want a bit of spice. It is a good go-to, not expensive, easy to find. Not something I would carefully prepare or drink, but a nice anyways. Good overall!

I recommend you go for Tetley’s Vanilla Chai tea rather than this. It tasted too bitter for me. I would have liked it better if there was a bit more of the spices and a bit less black tea.

Steeped the bag in a mug 3/4 full of hot water for 4m30s. Topped with milk and a bit of sugar. Result is just ok, spices are a lot weaker than I like. Maybe a longer steeping time would help?

I’m not going to lie, this tea has been sitting in my cupboard for probably years. I went home in Oct 2012 and it had been at my desk in the office for at least 2 years. I remember trying it originally and feeling as though it tasted like licorice, meaning too much anise or fennel maybe. But I kept it, partially because it stacked nicely and if I got rid of it it would mean for uneven stacking of the Tetley Brands I do keep in the cupboard. This morning was the day. I figured why not? It is not bad actually. It is a bit soft in the flavour profiles but I was modest in my steeping times. I added cream and sugar to it and it perked up. I think I will try brewing stronger next time.

Gwaaagh. This is like, the king of my tea cupboard. I cannot live without this! Sooooo good.

So you kinda know going in that this isn’t going to be the world’s most Indian Chai tea. In fact, the ingredient list kinda stops at “tea, cinnamon, flavours”. But if you’re looking for a tea you can buy almost anywhere, or are a newbie to this flavoring, then give this tea a try!