Mocha Chai

ashmanra’s monthly sipdown challenge
January 2023 → a coffee-flavored tea

When I was looking through my cupboard to find a coffee-flavored tea for this prompt, I was surprised to find that this Mocha Chai is the only one I have. Easy decision then. This really does seem to be a good balance between coffee and chai spices, though I’m not tasting any chocolate. It’s a nice enough tea, but not one I’d likely purchase. I believe this was a gift from Bird & Blend to replace an out-of-stock tea I had ordered. I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever had a coffee-flavored tea that I really loved. The few I’ve had were unremarkable and often tasted watered down.

I bought this for my sister and tried a few sips. I taste the coffee, and I get a bit of a tingle from clove. The flavors do feel a little muted, like the coffee, black tea, and chai elements could all be stronger. And I don’t taste chocolate at all. It made a pleasant latte, but it didn’t really stand out.

Finally trying this tea from the last B&B subscription package I got, which I think was in July?

It’s not bad. I think I was expecting a bit more from the added flavors. I definitely get the coffee, but I’m missing the chocolate and the vanilla a bit. Perhaps a hint of creaminess from the vanilla? But mostly, it’s cardamom and coffee for me.

So it’s not wow-ing me, but I feel like it would make a very tasty latte… Next time!

Finally! Flavoured black tea in subscription!

Okay, I had it in the morning, now it is an evening.
It was delicious creamy coffee-like tea. Unfortunately there wasn’t much of the chai in my two tea spoons I have used. I noticed the vanilla in and I liked that as well.

But somehow I was really enjoying it and looking forward getting more.

Personal: We are redoing a bathroom for my grandma completely, so we are covered (people, not the tea) in dust. No mood to drink hot drinks as it is quite hot. Not today though. Luckily the company will do it later, but we do the most dirty jobs :)

Second thing: unfortunately it seems I won’t be able to get my degree as I have failed last exam and it seems there is no way to re-do it. Long story short, I was cheating. I didn’t had to, but probably because of stress and others doing it, I did that as well.

Third: I had an job interview on Monday and Tuesday. First company will let me know if they want me to the end of this week, the second will write me next week, probably on Friday, if I pass to the second round. None of them is tea industry.

Much better today! I’m having a good tea-day, apparently. Everything is there – it’s creamy chocolate and roasted coffee at first, and then cardamom and ginger bring out the warming chai spices at the back of the sip. There’s a bit of a weird misplaced cola note right at the end, but that’s something I’ve noticed with ginger in teas sometimes. For a tea with coffee beans, I’d prefer a more robust base which could stand up against the punchy flavours of the coffee and spices more, and maybe take some milk, but it’s still a really nice cup and one which I could happily sip on all afternoon. The name just screams ‘breakfast tea’ to me, and it’s never strong enough to stand up to my expectations for an early morning cup. Still, I’m bumping my rating from 66 because it’s definitely delivering what it promises today.

321/365

This was my Friday tea at work yesterday – I needed something to keep me awake, and although I don’t drink coffee, this seemed like a good compromise! I feel like this one’s changed since last time I tried it – the ingredients list is very different now to the one that’s on the tea description page. It’s been slimmed down, shall we say? It’s still a black tea base, but now with only cocoa nibs, caradmon, cinnamon, and coffee beans. Simple enough!

I prepared my cup with milk, since chai without milk seems like the worst contradiction in terms to me. There’s lots of cocoa, which is dark and nicely chocolatey, and it pairs well with the coffee which is also distinctively prominent. It’s definitely still tea, but there is a real mocha vibe going on, which is exactly what I was hoping for.

The spicing is fairly prominent also – cardamon, mostly, but with a touch of cinnamon also. All apsects of this blend seem to complement each other well, and it’s a great morning tea. It helped me to get through Friday, that’s for sure! This is another one I must try and remember not to overlook.

Weekend sipping…

Mocha Chai + a sprinkle of Bluebird’s Great British Cuppa + cocoa powder and vanilla powder (Wild Foods Co), steeped in almond milk.

I’m not usually a fan of chai teas but I wanted something warm and caffeinated to help me wake up early Saturday morning. Holy smokes! This really hit the spot. I had the first cup warm and I enjoyed the remainder over ice in my mason jar mug. Warm it tasted a bit like a Mexican hot chocolate – the spicy (not hot) chocolate flavor accented with vanilla. Iced it tasted like melted chocolate ice cream with very subtle spiciness. Spicy teas aren’t my thing, but this is one of the better chai blends I’ve tried.

Well, I’m not really into those Asians’ spices to added into teas, But this one is quite well mixed. Without having added cardamom, it may be better off for me.

I got a lovely parcel in the mail from Nattie a couple days ago – a swap from England! An English swap! I’m technically 1/4 British, a fact I’m very proud of. I have family over there to meet one day.

For NOW – i shall drink the tea!

I brought any samples that were teas which could be prepared with boiling water to work, because those are easiest to make with the crappy kettle we have in our little kitchen. And believe me I am happy we have a kettle at all!

I was pretty pumped to try this one, based on the smell.

It didn’t disappoint me, it was a tasty alternative to an after lunch dessert.

I found a nice blend between the coffee/mocha, and chocolate and chai spices. The base wasn’t SUPER strong but definitely made for a hearty enough cup and i did add milk as well.

Maybe I could just let it steep a bit longer next time… Nattie was generous enough to give me enough for 2-3 cups!

Thanks :)

Additional notes: Even though I basically wait around until B&B has free shipping for international drinkers, I stayed strong and didn’t buy any tea this time around. Basically what kept me strong was thinking of all the kind Steepsterers who have sent me tea, especially this year (or late last year). So thanks for keeping me strong, tea buds. :D I REALLY hope this is a free shipping event that pops up every year though. The teas I love more are limited or seasonal, so that also factored. But I don’t think their ‘permanent wall’ teas are ever really on sale… so free shipping might be the only discount available to the permanent teas. Next time!
I was revisiting this one, somehow this has more flavor when I waited to steep after the water cooled for around 18 minutes and used a teaspoon and a half. I can’t imagine a half teaspoon would make that much of a difference, but somehow it did. (However, the new base might be stronger.) So many lovely flavors mingling. Sipdown next time.
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 18 minutes after boiling // 4 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 5 minute steep