I was in the mood for a mild chai, and this certainly hit the spot. It’s a mix of Irish Breakfast and Masala Chai, and that’s pretty much exactly what it tastes like.
The dry leaf is gorgeous; it’s full of bright red peppercorns, and absolutely nothing makes me happier than that in a chai tea. Steeped, this smells divinely spiced. Mostly cardamom and cinnamon, with the ginger taking a backseat. It’s still there, just not as “in your face” as I often find ginger to be.
Taste is mildly spiced, with cardamom being the most prominent flavor to me. The Irish Breakfast is definitely noticeable – you aren’t going to mistake this one for a pure chai, that’s for sure. But that’s perfectly ok with me, since it’s not supposed to be one! The end of the sip is where you can detect the pepper, sitting nicely with a teeny bit of pleasant astringency from the tea leaves. (I think this is the first time I’ve ever put “pleasant” and “astringent” in the same sentence, but for some reason, it works for this blend.) I think this will make a great wake-up tea to have with breakfast.
Glad you liked it.
The new Aries bled (the one that comes in a tin) in a completely new blend; the previous reviews pertain to my old signature blend.