Roasted Almond Chai

I don’t recall who sent me a sample of this, but I had one serving left hidden in the depths of my cupboard. I wasn’t expecting to like this much and I find I’m enjoying it. It was the rooibos part that made me wary. I get almond mixed with some mellow spices. Maybe not enough to call chai, but a mix that works. There is also something bringing a slight sweetness to it. I think I can pick out some dried apple notes that mix well with cinnamon. Apple almond strudel? I think I’ve had it for a few years now and the flavors hold up well. I don’t think this is a tea I’d run out and buy, but I’d drink another cup of it for sure! Thank you forgotten steepster for sending me this sample! You have lovely handwriting!

From the Sips by autumn box.

This is quite nice actually. It’s like Forever Nuts (or similar) but with spices added. I don’t notice the rooibos at all, and I’m not complaining. Mostly it’s an interesting and cozy combination of buttery almond with cinnamon, cardamom, and a bit of apple. Perhaps some orange as well, but that could be from the coriander. There’s definitely a subtle citrusy note.

Anyway, I like it, and it’s definitely very fall-appropriate. I don’t think I would go and order a big bag of it or anything, but definitely enjoyable.

Inkling Advent Day 21. There is so much cardamom in this, so I was expecting a ton to show up in the flavor. It’s slightly fruitier than I was expecting, and there’s definitely not as much cardamom, which I’m totally fine with. It’s also not a spicy chai. Sweetened with milk, I think it tastes pretty balanced and interesting. I’m enjoying it more than the majority of herbal chais, so that’s fun. I’m also enjoying the nuttiness. I’d definitely drink this again.

Although I’m pretty certain my sample pack of this rooibos chai was getting long in the tooth, the scent when I opened it was lip-smackingly, cookie-ish, sweet. I steeped it work, which always means neither time nor temp were overseen carefully, and ended up with a really nice afternoon cup that was more fruit and almond than spicy chai.

If you like warm chai spices and enjoy rooibos, this tea is worth trying.

I struggle with rooibos. I wanted to like this tea! The cinnamon/clove/cardamom combination was on point. I even liked the way the spice left a bit of a lingering tingle. I didn’t necessarily get almond from this, but I could have overlooked that too – it’s just that I can’t do the rooibos base.

sipsby advent, day 7*
(sipsby packages this in no particular order, so your order may be different than mine)

ADVENT CALENDAR DAY 7

I ended up brewing this today on December 8th, I’m a day late! I had an oops – I took a tablespoon and brewed a pot and poured it in my carafe, and ran out of water for my resteep, so stuck it under the keurig and hit the brew button to fill the rest of the pot with hot water and freaking coffee came out, not hot water! ARGH – so I shorted myself 27 ounces of this yummy chai! I got excited about it, just by the name alone :) My roommate is trying the coffee flavored tea tomorrow, as she says there is something called a dirty chai, which is chai tea and coffee – I’ll update it in the morning!

A previous reviewer says this is like David’s Tea forever nuts with cinnamon. That description is spot-on.

So for this tea I have to respectfully disagree with the reviewers before me. I felt that this tea delivered in both smell and taste. The smell of this one is my favorite of any tea I’ve smelled lol. If you’ve ever had Forever Nuts from DAVID’s TEA its very similar to that, minus the apples and heavier on the cinnamon spice. Its not a hot cinnamon though (thank God because I hate hot cinnamon). Its more of a vanilla almond cinnamon. Its not so much nutty on taste as it is sweet almond, but it doesn’t take it too far that it crosses over into “cherry” territory; because in that case I would not like it. This really is one of my all-time favorites, and now that I am pregnant I am excited to sip on it all fall and winter since it is caffeine free, so I can have as much as I want!

Funny how one’s opinion of a tea can change over time! I think the first time I had this one, I was looking for the herbal equivalent of a traditional masala chai and was disappointed that this wasn’t that. But now I’m a big fan of this spicy, nutty blend which packs a punch in the flavor department without any caffeine. I’ve also found this to be a reliable first tea for people who think they don’t like tea…with milk and sugar, they almost always like this one!

Decided to make this again and was disappointed. http://tinyurl.com/n9h9l6b

I didn’t so much get almond chai as I did spiced orange. A nice enough flavor to have from time to time, but something I already get from Fava’s Winter Spice. Seriously, the only difference I’m getting is a little bit of almond aftertaste.

I’m so sad. This tea smelled amazing and I wanted to like it :< That’s what I get for giving it too high of an expectation, I suppose.