Spicier Chai

For some reason, I assumed this one would have chili pepper in it. I’m not really sure how this one is “spicier”. It looks like a lot of black tea to just a few spices – or the usual amount of spices. BUT it is a tasty chai, as 52Teas usually are for me. I can always rely on the chai! Whoa was it a string of really hot days, but this chai was still delicious. The black tea used as a base is tasty enough – and it has the usual spicy flavor, maybe slightly more peppery. In a few weeks there will be an avalanche of chai sipped (one of the highlights to winter weather I suppose.)

Not a fan TTB. I’ve never been so on the fence with a tea before. I like it, but I konda don’t. There is some flavor in it that I just don’t quite like in a chai. Ug but now that I’m drinking it more I’m tasting it less. In a way it kinda reminds me of a handmade chai i had in New Zealand. But that one had more zip to it.

This chai is ‘spicier’ but it’s not really spicy. There’s a touch of heat from the red pepper and the ginger but its well-balanced with the rest of the tea. It has a good dose of cardamom and other spices and it doesn’t fall into the too-much-cinnamon trap that many of Frank’s previous chai blends fell into. It’s also one of those blends that can be drunk either with milk or without and doesn’t suffer for it either way. I can’t wait to try it as a latté.

Backlog:

Definitely spicier than the average chai! I really liked this. A strong ginger note that is accented with black pepper and red pepper flake that provide a really nice kick to this. A nice cinnamon note, I love the anise in there. The cardamom and clove round out the spice flavor.

The black tea base is strong enough to be tasted – I don’t get a lot of the nuances of the black tea but I don’t think that’s what a chai is all about anyway. Chai is usually about the spice and this blend really showcases the spices nicely.

Don’t forget about my ‘bid’ to take over 52Teas! Here’s my kickstarter campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/497705217/the-great-52teas-take-over

This is blind pick number 6. I love chai, they tend to be my favorites. The spicier the better. Right off the bat the smell of cloves was strong. I was excited and hurried up and got my water ready. Used a tsp of leaves in my steeper.
Brewed the smell of cloves is much weaker, but the tea still smells delicious. Tasted my first sip, it was alright, not the greatest, but understandable as I usually like my chai with stevia and milk.
I decided to forgo the milk as I want to start using less stuff in my teas. I did use some stevia and it took the brew from alright to not bad at all. I would still like it if the spices were spicier, but all in all I would buy this chai again.

Brewed on the stove-top. Brought to a boil, simmered for five minutes, added milk and sugar, brought to a boil again.

This blend stands out to me because of the pepper flakes, which I’ve never seen in masala chai recipes before. By golly, is this blend spicy. The flakes don’t hit right away, allowing me to taste the cozy briskness of the base tea and the other spices. Then BAM – on the back of your tongue. Stays there for minutes. It was surprising. Couldn’t stop saying wow.

I appreciate that this is incredibly spicy and that the ingredients are quite fresh, but it is too much for me. Next time I’ll have to double the amount of milk and sugar to make it just right for me personally. My dad, with whom I shared this, agrees, commenting on how he’d think this would be better with 1/3 as many flakes. Besides that, he does like this blend and the idea of having pepper flakes in masala chai.

Additionally, the dry leaf has a great aroma – powerful, full of clove and pepper. Made me sneeze! The ingredients are quite fresh, particularly the cloves.

Recommended for those who prefer super spicy tea or want to try a different masala chai recipe.

This is fantastic. I LOVE me some chai, and hate when it is weak. I was a bit nervous when I saw the pepper flakes in it, but it really doesn’t create a ton of heat. A healthy splash of milk doesn’t overwhelm it, it tastes spicy with a little kick. Huge huge fan.

I get paid tomorrow, and I WILL be buying more of this tea! You hear me, Frank??

I LOVE chai. Sometimes, it has different flavors in it too, and that’s fine, but I like really spicy chai. Oh my gosh, this is leaving a bit of heat on the tongue (I’m in the Phoenix area, and have gotten used to more heat in my food than before I moved here). I really like the spiciness of the tea. It has some heat, but not too much. That’s good…I prefer spice over heat, but it needs SOME.

Very good tea…a nice strong chai that does wake me up!

Edit: Resteeping done at 4 minutes. Not as strong, but still really good.