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“Mastress Alita’s sipdown challenge Tuesday, October 26th: National Pumpkin Day Tea #1 additional notes: I’ll just post these notes whenever Steepster happens to be working again… A trio of pumpkin...” Read full tasting note
“Frank’s black teas are usually best at 2.5 minute infusions. But I think this one could have gone a little longer. It’s pretty calm for a chai. Maybe I didn’t grab enough spices from the pouch. I...” Read full tasting note
“Actually smells like it contains pumpkin! I know a lot of these blends just use the spices associated with pumpkin, but I’m sure I’m getting a bit of that creamy squash. Disappears a bit in the...” Read full tasting note
“I love nutmeg and it’s very much the dominant spice in this chai which gives the tea a very warm tone. I can also taste a bit of ginger, cinnamon and cardamom underneath it but they’re mostly...” Read full tasting note
So I’m really enjoying this Pettaiagala Extra Long Leaf OP we got in from Sri Lanka, and I know the pumpkin chai blends go over better in the fall, but I couldn’t help thinking that this would make an awesome pumpkin chai. So we blended it with ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, black peppercorns and organic pumpkin and other flavors.
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Mastress Alita’s sipdown challenge Tuesday, October 26th: National Pumpkin Day Tea #1
additional notes: I’ll just post these notes whenever Steepster happens to be working again… A trio of pumpkin teas! And somehow they are all from 52Teas. This is a true sipdown, and a sad one. I liked this one but it was time to go, as it’s one of Frank’s. The sendoff steep doesn’t really taste like I remember it… maybe it’s the crumblies in the bottom of the pouch. But it’s chai and it’s raining out, so GOOD ENOUGH.
2021 sipdowns: 138
Frank’s black teas are usually best at 2.5 minute infusions. But I think this one could have gone a little longer. It’s pretty calm for a chai. Maybe I didn’t grab enough spices from the pouch. I added some Truvia and now it’s more to my liking. The sweetness brings out a creaminess in the base that is quite yummy. It doesn’t seem to need milk at all. It could use a lot more spice though. This is like the calm, meditative, little sister of Chai tea. It’s similar but different. Much calmer, quieter, and sweeter (or at least sweeter now that I’ve added Truvia).
I went back to my tealog and read my review on 52teas’ other Pumpkin Chai. I seemed to enjoy that one better with a longer infusion, so I’ll definitely try that with this one too. I didn’t find that chai very spicy either and it did have a nice creaminess. I guess this one is pretty similar. In fact, the only difference might be the base. This is made with Pettaiagala Extra Long Leaf OP. The older chai was made with Premium Assam.
Anyway, I do like it; it’s just not what I expected. If I think of this as a creamy, slightly spiced tea, then I really like it a lot. Second infusion for 6 minutes was just as delicious. A yummy treat! I will enjoy my two pouches of this. Although I have to say that 0.5 oz of this one doesn’t go far!
Flavors: Creamy, Spices
Actually smells like it contains pumpkin! I know a lot of these blends just use the spices associated with pumpkin, but I’m sure I’m getting a bit of that creamy squash.
Disappears a bit in the brewed version; more spice coming through. Subtle but still there in the first sip. Just sort’ve a creamyness that isn’t from the spices. Dominant nutmeg, cardamom. Cinnamon isn’t overpowering, luckily.
I love nutmeg and it’s very much the dominant spice in this chai which gives the tea a very warm tone. I can also taste a bit of ginger, cinnamon and cardamom underneath it but they’re mostly secondary notes. I think I’d like the pumpkin flavours to be stronger, though adding milk would probably bring them out. Unfortunately I found that my jug of milk had gone off this morning, so I’m taking this tea plain – though it’s not bad in that state either. Still I tend to prefer my black tea chais with milk or some sort of dairy to help bring out the nuances and take the edge off of the harsher flavours.
