I’m really curious. Has anyone participated in Earth Hour today?
Let’s get this straight. I’m über picky about chai. Deathfully picky. In my home city, there is this chai bar owner who took six years to perfect his recipes. He imports all his spices from India and they’re packed with flavour, depth, and complexity. So naturally, most stuff I try pales in comparison to his genius.
I figured Verdant would give him a run for his money. Sadly, for me, this chai misses the mark. Not what I would even consider a chai. It’s thin and lacks depth.
Sure, the cardamom is punching you in the face and the marigolds have declared war on said cardamom, but the base is lacking. The ginger is present but blends in almost too much with the marigolds. No chocolate or vanilla.
I’ve had this without any additives, and with a bit of coconut milk and honey. The latter produces better results, but it still lacks depth and complexity.
The second steep brought out the ginger a bit more, maaaybe the chocolate, but there is still an imbalance.
I’m going to have to try subsequent steeps with this sometime. Glad to say I experienced this though.
People who liked this
Comments
Tell me the name of the said chai god!!
The place is called Remedy Cafe, and his name is Zee. :) There is one on 109th street, and another own downtown. I have a feeling the one on 109th will become your second home at uni. It’s like a five minute walk from campus. OMG, I miss that place. I always went there to study and sip on chai. He has two different recipes too, and both are amazing.
I totally missed it. First time I have missed it and I feel bad. I want to make it up somewhere else.
Ah, don’t beat yourself up. I asked my roommate earlier today if she ever participated in it, and she wrinkled her face and said no. I said it was for a good cause and she gave me some neutral response. Sure enough, the light was on in her room during Earth Hour, watching TV. And there I was writing my paper in the dark. So um, ok.
So yeah, you’re still doing well haha. At least you’re aware.
I was on the ferry. :) I was hoping they’d power off and drift for an hour, but it’s kind of awkward to do that when the boat is in dock. I was thinking of adding a stronger base to this tea, as I do like the unique spice blend.
My feeling about chai is a bit like curry. Everyone has their own mix, (we’re not talking about commercially bottled curry), and you really can’t compare them side by side. The ingredients are all different! You like some better than others,and love a few. Many are eh to one’s taste but not to another.
Yeah, you can say that about all tea in general. Taste is subjective.
OMGsrsly, I was thinking of doing the same thing, mixing it with something else to give it some depth. Glad the ferry didn’t actually power off! That would have been weird haha.
Maybe some Bailin Gongfu Black! :) or some Big Red Robe from Teavivre as well.. both are cheap and delicious
Not exactly. Chai isn’t a straight tea (the way we’re defining the word chai) but a blend. But taste is indeed subjective.
I use the term loosely instead of going on a long-winded response on categories and sub-categories since all of us here do know the difference anyway. That’s semantics for you. :)
Your suggestions sound lovely, Lynn-tea! Is that what you ended up trying with yours since you’ve had a similar experience with this?
I’m sick today and shouldn’t comment on anything anyway. Not going to review a tea and still in my pjs. Every time I loosely use the term chai someone seems to pop up and correct me, letting me know that chai is the name for tea in much of the world. Groan. I should have kept quiet.
Yeah, I was actually just talking about this with a friend the other day, how chai just means “tea” in Hindi anyway, and basically anything steeped is “chai” but it seems that in the western world, at least in Western Canada, the term “chai” is used to refer to a Masala type of chai, a blend of spices and actual tea leaves. Hell, throw in some ground pistachios and roses on top.
But yeah, I mean, people should be able to use terms like “chai” and “tea” loosely without being “corrected” since dialects and varieties differ, and ultimately, we do all know the intent behind people’s words anyway.
Nope I have not had a chance to try it yet, but I’m drinking the BRR right now and it’s sweet and chestnut flavours would go well with the chai I think. BGB would be amazing too since it’s so malty and chocolatey on its own it would help hold up the overpowering spices better than whatever they used for the base of this tea.
My opinion only though :)
I serve this chai steeped slowly in whole milk and clover honey.My grandchildren are very fond of the frothy goodness. And yes,it is a more subtle chai.
Tell me the name of the said chai god!!
The place is called Remedy Cafe, and his name is Zee. :) There is one on 109th street, and another own downtown. I have a feeling the one on 109th will become your second home at uni. It’s like a five minute walk from campus. OMG, I miss that place. I always went there to study and sip on chai. He has two different recipes too, and both are amazing.
I totally missed it. First time I have missed it and I feel bad. I want to make it up somewhere else.
Ah, don’t beat yourself up. I asked my roommate earlier today if she ever participated in it, and she wrinkled her face and said no. I said it was for a good cause and she gave me some neutral response. Sure enough, the light was on in her room during Earth Hour, watching TV. And there I was writing my paper in the dark. So um, ok.
So yeah, you’re still doing well haha. At least you’re aware.
I was on the ferry. :) I was hoping they’d power off and drift for an hour, but it’s kind of awkward to do that when the boat is in dock. I was thinking of adding a stronger base to this tea, as I do like the unique spice blend.
My feeling about chai is a bit like curry. Everyone has their own mix, (we’re not talking about commercially bottled curry), and you really can’t compare them side by side. The ingredients are all different! You like some better than others,and love a few. Many are eh to one’s taste but not to another.
Yeah, you can say that about all tea in general. Taste is subjective.
OMGsrsly, I was thinking of doing the same thing, mixing it with something else to give it some depth. Glad the ferry didn’t actually power off! That would have been weird haha.
Maybe some Bailin Gongfu Black! :) or some Big Red Robe from Teavivre as well.. both are cheap and delicious
Not exactly. Chai isn’t a straight tea (the way we’re defining the word chai) but a blend. But taste is indeed subjective.
I use the term loosely instead of going on a long-winded response on categories and sub-categories since all of us here do know the difference anyway. That’s semantics for you. :)
Your suggestions sound lovely, Lynn-tea! Is that what you ended up trying with yours since you’ve had a similar experience with this?
I’m sick today and shouldn’t comment on anything anyway. Not going to review a tea and still in my pjs. Every time I loosely use the term chai someone seems to pop up and correct me, letting me know that chai is the name for tea in much of the world. Groan. I should have kept quiet.
Yeah, I was actually just talking about this with a friend the other day, how chai just means “tea” in Hindi anyway, and basically anything steeped is “chai” but it seems that in the western world, at least in Western Canada, the term “chai” is used to refer to a Masala type of chai, a blend of spices and actual tea leaves. Hell, throw in some ground pistachios and roses on top.
But yeah, I mean, people should be able to use terms like “chai” and “tea” loosely without being “corrected” since dialects and varieties differ, and ultimately, we do all know the intent behind people’s words anyway.
Nope I have not had a chance to try it yet, but I’m drinking the BRR right now and it’s sweet and chestnut flavours would go well with the chai I think. BGB would be amazing too since it’s so malty and chocolatey on its own it would help hold up the overpowering spices better than whatever they used for the base of this tea.
My opinion only though :)
I serve this chai steeped slowly in whole milk and clover honey.My grandchildren are very fond of the frothy goodness. And yes,it is a more subtle chai.