Hazelnut Chai

Free sample time!!! I ordered 3 samples awhile ago and they just arrived the other day. I’m surprised there isn’t a review of this one yet. It smells extremely similar to the Government and the Inspector blend from Adagio. Just a little more anise/clove seems to be the biggest difference. Steeped this smells a bit like hazelnut, but with those dried cinnamon sticks in it.
Dang. This is more cinnamon than anything! It says ginger on there, but I’m not seeing any of that. I am pretty sad that this is so overwhelmingly cinnamon stick. I’m really not liking this one.

Free sample from Twinnings. This was pleasantly and surprisingly delicious! The chai was much subtler than other chais I’ve tried (and hated), and hazelnet was definitely there. I normally avoid chais because they are too strong and normally are strongly gingered flavored, but I asked for a sample of this thinking chai would be more amenable to me in tea bag form.

I was right! This was super yummy. Light but still flavorful without punching me in the face with the chai flavor. I may need to keep a box of this at my desk.

I think this might be y favorite of the Twinings chais. I really like the chai spices mixed with the nutty and rich hazelnut. It also adds some thickness, sweetness, and body to the cup. I find the vanilla is creamier and has more vanilla than the vanilla chai.

Not bad, tastes like a winter holiday dream. Perfect for a chilly December day by the fireplace. Unfortunately, I’m drinking it on a fairly warm, though semi-overcast day in April. Strong, slightly artificial, nutty hazelnut taste. Strong spice flavor, mainly clove and cardamom, with some cinnamon taste. I added plenty of nonfat milk, a splash of half & half, and a generous helping of organic brown sugar. The longer it’s steeped, the richer and more satisfying the taste.

Really lovely morning tea. Drinking it with a little honey and milk and the hazelnut flavor is definitely quite prominent. The spice notes are a little flat or overwhelmed though, and it doesn’t taste too much like a chai. It does have some spice notes, but the spice isn’t quite balanced with the hazelnut. Quite pleasant tea nonetheless, but those looking for the spice that usually goes with a Chai might be a bit disappointed.

This and the Twinings Christmas Tea were the first two teas to start my tea journey. I picked them up at Big Lots and went back to get every one they had lol I had tried a very peppery chai a long time ago and that turned me off chais so this really mild chai, with undertones of Hazelnut, was absolutely delicious and made me want to try more varieties. I’ve just gone through Twinings Spiced Apple Chai and Ultra Spice which I’m reviewing but this is my favorite of the three for smooth tastiness.

It makes a light soothing cup of hot tea and an incredibly refreshing iced tea. I didn’t taste the cinnamon very strongly they way Tamm did, I’d agree more with Dani that it’s pretty mild for chai but delicious.