I really love Cost Plus World Market’s coffee (the pumpkin seasonal one is divine!), so when I first got into loose leaf tea and saw they had a bunch of jars of tea, I figured I couldn’t go wrong with any of their offerings. Ultimately, I grabbed this Coconut Chai. I haven’t quite hit the best by date on it yet, but I’m getting close, it’s been so many years and I’m still trying to finish it off, I dislike it that much. It is a really weak chai. The base of the tea even looks weak in the cup, and there is just something that tastes sort of… chalky or barky about it. It just doesn’t have a nice, smooth blend of spices like other chais I’ve been spoiled by, and for a coconut chai, it doesn’t even have coconut in it! The coconut notes are only imparted through flavoring. Would adding some coconut flakes have been too much to ask for in a coconut chai blend? There is a mild spiciness to the cup, but the whole thing is just underwhelming. In order to finish it off, I’ve mainly been massively overleafing the brew and making it by the quart iced, and then adding a bit of vanilla almond milk and coconut milk creamer to actually give it some coconut flavor. It’s still not the most exciting chai latte, but it is tasty enough to drink (the coconut creamer is a definite improvement!)
Flavors: Coconut, Spices, Sweet
Preparation
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It’s too bad you didn’t like this one. I’ve found Zhena’s gypsy tea to be better than most brands. Their rooibos “fire side chai” is the best chai I have ever had. Maybe the black teas are less spectacular, I’ve only ever tried the herbal blends.
The black base definitely felt really weak. I don’t care for my blacks really strong or astringent, but they need enough flavor to carry the blend, and this one just felt kinda like when a soda goes flat… hints of flavor but a dry sort of blandness. And the coconut just felt too syrupy sweet and artificial tasting. I was on vacation when I picked this up and haven’t seen this brand in my local stores; compared to most bagged teas I wouldn’t doubt it’s a better alternative, though I still would be hard-pressed to buy this particular flavor again. If I could easily get ahold of it, the lavender and rose blends actually sound quite nice, I’m quite a floral fan, especially if their rooibos is good quality since it appears their lavender blends use a rooibos base.
Zhena’s Egyptian Mint is really good. It’s honestly the only non loose tea I have & enjoy very much.
It’s good to know to avoid this flavour. I’ll make sure to choose something else if I ever buy another tin.
Zhi tea has a coconut chai that I like. Just in case you are looking for recommendations once this tea is gone. :)
I have one by Strand Tea in my stash, though I don’t think I’ve tried it yet (I have tried their Indian Wedding Chai and it is quite good). If nothing else, it actually has real coconut in it, which is promising! I don’t think I’ve tried anything by Zhi Tea yet, I’ll have to check them out!
It’s too bad you didn’t like this one. I’ve found Zhena’s gypsy tea to be better than most brands. Their rooibos “fire side chai” is the best chai I have ever had. Maybe the black teas are less spectacular, I’ve only ever tried the herbal blends.
The black base definitely felt really weak. I don’t care for my blacks really strong or astringent, but they need enough flavor to carry the blend, and this one just felt kinda like when a soda goes flat… hints of flavor but a dry sort of blandness. And the coconut just felt too syrupy sweet and artificial tasting. I was on vacation when I picked this up and haven’t seen this brand in my local stores; compared to most bagged teas I wouldn’t doubt it’s a better alternative, though I still would be hard-pressed to buy this particular flavor again. If I could easily get ahold of it, the lavender and rose blends actually sound quite nice, I’m quite a floral fan, especially if their rooibos is good quality since it appears their lavender blends use a rooibos base.
Zhena’s Egyptian Mint is really good. It’s honestly the only non loose tea I have & enjoy very much.
It’s good to know to avoid this flavour. I’ll make sure to choose something else if I ever buy another tin.
Zhi tea has a coconut chai that I like. Just in case you are looking for recommendations once this tea is gone. :)
I have one by Strand Tea in my stash, though I don’t think I’ve tried it yet (I have tried their Indian Wedding Chai and it is quite good). If nothing else, it actually has real coconut in it, which is promising! I don’t think I’ve tried anything by Zhi Tea yet, I’ll have to check them out!