Yogic Chai

Today has been a weird day. Mondays are typically weird days for me, because hubby is off work and we’re running around doing all sorts of errands and I don’t have a lot of time to sit down and have a cup of tea. And today has been a weird Monday … weirder than usual.

So this is my first cup. When we were at the grocery store, I found gingerbread marshmallows – they’re back! I don’t like grocery store marshmallows, I find them to be just … awful, and I’m a handmade marshmallow fanatic all the way (you MUST try http://240sweet.com/ ) but, these gingerbread marshmallows called out to me last year (they’re shaped like little gingerbread men, and they do taste like gingerbread!) and I loved them so they are the very rare commercially produced marshmallow that I’ll eat.

I love them in my chai! I grab a few and toss them in my cup before pouring the brewed tea into the cup, and let them melt… they add a little bit of sweetness and creaminess to the cup … YUM.

So, at least my first cup of the day is a yummy one.

When I first saw this was part of the January Steepster Select box, I was a little disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, I love chai and I LOVE Yogic Chai, but, I thought that I had tried this one already. And while I have tried a BUNCH of Yogic Chai’s blends, I haven’t tried their original… so, no longer disappointed! Instead, I’m really thrilled to finally be trying the original after having tried the other blends.

And this one is so good. Nice balance of spices, not too spicy, not too mild… but just right. The Assam does not taste bitter, it is strong and malty and makes a very smooth base for these spices. Yum! I took my first few sips without additions, then added a bit of turbinado sugar, and then made a latte… I like it all three ways, but my favorite is with just a little turbinado sugar. The spices are stronger; I think that the milk in the latte sort of mutes the flavor just a bit. Still delicious and warming, though!

This is a solid and clean masala chai. I am currently drinking it without milk. I will say that it is still a pleasant drink without milk. Some masala chais can be overpowering without milk, but this one holds up nicely. I am going to take some home and prepare it with milk to compare. I will post another note when I do that.

This was a nice and interesting change. I added a tiny bit of coconut sugar and some coconut milk powder to this to make it milky. The puerh made for a nice, earthy, solid cup of chai. I love the balance of spices that Yogic Chai uses, so it was pretty much a guaranteed success.

Also, it made my kitchen smell awesome!

I made this with vanilla almond milk and agave nectar and it is very good. The spices are balanced and it’s solid without being heavy. Very yummy.

Fantastic masala chai. The flavors were very clean and precise. My 93 year old mother enjoyed it, my wife enjoyed it, and I enjoyed it as well. I prepared it per instructions on their website (added the tea to boiling water, steeped 2 minutes, added about 1/4 milk, and some sweetener) and voila, wonderful and enjoyable tea. Delicious, delightful, and I ordered more.

So delicious! Water/coconut milk on the stove top. This really blows away all the other chais I own. It’s just so much more potently spicy without being sharp or causing that weird feeling I can get in the back of my throat from cinnamon. I guess it just tastes fresher. I can taste each of the spices and they’re perfectly balanced. The coconut is understated but I love what it adds to this.

This is so very good. I seem to want it every day, even today despite the warm weather, and am really wishing I got more. I must drink a lot more tea before allowing myself to buy any more, but I’m going to be upset to run out of this creamy, sweet, spicy, kukicha goodness.

Oh yum.

I got three little pouches from Yogic Chai. I feel like I should have started with the original, but this one has been beckoning to me for months.

It is a tasty chai. I did it on the stovetop in the milk/water mixture suggested and the one I typically use for chais. So good! Creamy, roasty, nicely spiced and well-balanced.

good and smooth. Not one spice is over the other.

This is so unusual but I really like it! It has lovely white tea with mellower blueberry and chai flavors! Unlike anything I have ever tasted and it’s pretty darned nifty!

This is my favorite Masala chai blend. It’s a well balanced with a mix of traditional whole spices. They use curled assam, the same tea used in authentic Masala chai, which really gives it a nice full depth to the flavor. Most American Masala chai suffers from a lack of cardamom, but this blend has just the right amount. An excellent well rounded blend that you can add to if you prefer.

Whee! I’m sitting in the courthouse for jury duty. I knew that I would need some serious fortitude to get me through the monotony so I picked this for breakfast this morning.

As always, this tea is impossible to mess up. I had it with milk and sugar and it was smooth and spicy. Quite warm for a rather cold, early start. Hopefully it will be my good luck charm and get me done early, too…

I really need to stop ever buying other chais. Even the 52teas ones (as tempting as they sound). None ever measure up to this.

It is always perfectly spiced, strong, and never astringent. Doesn’t really matter how I prepare it, what amount of leaf I use, whatever. It turns out balanced and smooth each time.

This is another one I need to be taking home to visit with the boyfriend’s parents…

I always love this.

Today, a five minute steep with a splash of milk was perfect – smooth and spicy, and great for a morning wake up.

You know, this pairs really well with dark chocolate on a cool fall night. It was perfect as is – no milk or sugar needed.

Every time I drink it I’m reminded of how much I want to try the coconut version, though. One day I’ll get it. You know – that same elusive day where I’ll drink all of my existing tea so that I’ve actually got room for it in my cupboard. :)

You know, I’ve really come to enjoy this latte style paired with school work in the afternoon. It keeps me from stressing out overly much and that helps me think more clearly and get it all done faster.

It is the best chai I’ve ever had, but I think when I buy more I will opt for their coconut chai – adding some dried of my own really was amazing the one time I had it on hand…

I flaked and added half as much leaf as I usually do, which means it’s not as strong as it usually is. :(

Oh well, it’s still a nice drink to have on a cold, January morning.

Prepped stovetop style and added a clump of toasted coconut in just to see if any magic would happen. (I know that it’s the oils added, and not the chunks of fruits/flowers that give a tea that extra flavor, but coconut seemed strong enough for me to give it a go).

It’s so bold and spicy, and yes, there is a hint (I think the milk helps) of coconut at the edges of the sip. This is fabulously warm and comforting, something I needed to get me through these last few hours before the weekend…

First chai of fall, for me! Made latte style on the stove.

Yum – I decided on a whim that I wanted apple scones with this for breakfast, so I made both up this morning. Aside from mixing up baking powder with baking soda (Grrrr..) both were tasty and went well together.

I love how the spices in this come together so well – I really can’t pick out any one – they all combine to form a flavor of their own, and that flavor is magical. :)

Mmm.. iced chai latte.
I know I’ve said it before but it bears repeating: this is such a nice blend of spices. I am having fun going through my stash of this…

Study time!

I’m dragging so I need the caffeine and the spice to wake me up a little bit. Also, the stovetop way of making chai provided me with a nice distraction and way to relax.
I made two cups of chai (half milk, half water) and used 2 tsp. of the leaf. It’s the perfect amount of spice and once I tweak the sweetener I will be hard pressed to stop drinking it.
This is such a well-balanced tea – all of the spices blend perfectly and none stick out – it just is.

I actually kind of hope I get a few more cold days so that I can perfect it hot before moving on to iced!