My first encounter with Oprah’s Chai was iced at the local Starbucks, as it was quite a humid spring weekend. I thought what I was given was alright, considering how most Starbucks Chai teas and lattes can be, it was comparably better. Keep in mind, a specialty tea shop had opened recently, conveniently across from the local Starbucks, so I also had much more quality tea to compare it to as well.
Both dry and steeped leaves give off the very familiar scent of Teavana’s very own Maharaja Chai Oolong, which is one of my very favorite teas, a nice robust spicy blend. It is possible there is more spice than the Maharaja Chai Oolong, as Oprah’s Chai gives a shorter and stronger kick of flavor, which might be the result of the black tea. The spices do not linger, nor do they overwhelm; it is surprisingly soft for the kind of bite it provides. Nonetheless, there is still that similar flavor of spices with a naturally lightly sweetened body.
Alone, with no milk or sugar, this tea is outstandingly great as an alternative to the Maharaja Chai Oolong, with an appropriate kick, followed by a gentle finish.
