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Scheherazade drank Tulsi Basil Masala Chai by Vahdam Teas

2238 tasting notes

327/365

Another from the chai sampler! Some of these combinations strike me as being partiularly odd, and this one’s no exception. In practice, though, it works better than I thought it would.

It’s kinda herby – much more tulsi than chai. If you don’t like tulsi, this is definitely isn’t the blend for you! There’s only a very small amount of CTC black amongst the other ingredients (primarily tulsi, but also some spices – cardamon pods, the odd clove, and a lot of powdered spices). Of the spices, the cardamon is most prominent, which works for me since I quite like cardamon in general. I’m not a huge fan of ginger or clove, but they don’t come across too heavy handed here, which is nice.

It occurred to me while I was drinking this one that it’s more refreshing than I expected. I like it – lots more than I anticipated. It’s always nice to be surprised!

Preparation

185 °F / 85 °C 4 min, 0 sec 1 tsp

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Hi :) I’m Sarah, and I live in Norfolk in the UK. My tea obsession began when a friend introduced me to Teapigs a good few years ago now. Since then, I’ve been insatiable. Steepster introduced me to a world of tea I never knew existed, and my goal is now to TRY ALL THE TEAS. Or most of them, anyway.

I still have a deep rooted (and probably life-long) preference for black tea. My all-time favourite is Assam, but Ceylon and Darjeeling also occupy a place in my heart. Flavoured black tea can be a beautiful thing, and I like a good chai latte in the winter.

I also drink a lot of rooibos/honeybush tea, particularly on an evening. Sometimes they’re the best dessert replacements, too. White teas are a staple in summer — their lightness and delicate nature is something I can always appreciate on a hot day.

I’m still warming up to green teas and oolongs. I don’t think they’ll ever be my favourites, with a few rare exceptions, but I don’t hate them anymore. My experience of these teas is still very much a work-in-progress. I’m also beginning to explore pu’erh, both ripened and raw. That’s my latest challenge!

I’m still searching for the perfect fruit tea. One without hibiscus. That actually tastes of fruit.

You’ve probably had enough of me now, so I’m going to shut up. Needless to say, though, I really love tea. Long may the journey continue!

My rating system:

91-100: The Holy Grail. Flawless teas I will never forget.

81-90: Outstanding. Pretty much perfection, and happiness in a cup.

71-80: Amazing. A tea to savour, and one I’ll keep coming back to.

61-70: Very good. The majority of things are as they should be. A pleasing cup.

51-60: Good. Not outstanding, but has merit.

41-50: Average. It’s not horrible, but I’ve definitely had better. There’s probably still something about it I’m not keen on.

31-40: Almost enjoyable, but something about it is not for me.

11-30: Pretty bad. It probably makes me screw my face up when I take a sip, but it’s not completely undrinkable.

0-10: Ugh. No. Never again. To me, undrinkable.