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The base tea for this blend has changed since I last had it! I ordered an ounce of the new one, and this is only my second cup. It certainly is different. The smokiness is more pronounced, melding perfectly with the peppery spices. It’s making the back of my throat and tongue tingle a little. It’s very woodsy! Makes me think of campfires. There’s also an earthy, grounding quality to it as well. While the old tea base tended towards caramel, marshmallow sweetness (at least for me), this tea base tends towards honey sweetness with an undercurrent of freshly cut wood. Honestly, I prefer the former in a black tea…but that’s not to say I don’t like this one too. Looking back at my other tasting note, I mentioned that there was bitterness in the other cup. There’s NO bitterness in this one. Going back to the spice blend for a second…I like it. It’s warming, like an afghan thrown across your lap as you stare lazily into a roaring fire. Yeah. It’s nice. The peppercorn seemed a little strong in the first cup. I think that’s what made my throat tingly. The base tea comes through much better in the second infusion: it’s smoother, less smokey, more wood and honey. Would I reorder this? Not sure. I think there are other chai blends I prefer, but this would be nice to have around in the winter months.