Chai

Adventageddon Day 21 – Tea 2/4

I’ve said it before and I’m sure I’ll say it again a million other times, but I’m just not huge on chai blends. Especially one like this that is as close to the most basic as they come. However, this was technically my only advent tea that was truly new to me, so I tried to go into my cup with a receptive mindset. Even though Chai isn’t usually a go-to for me, I appreciated that this was an especially clove and anise forward cup. I know those are highly polarizing flavours, but I actually do enjoy both so it helped redeem the cuppa for me!

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1IZE2AOCfJ/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSUt3xoBVK0

Just tastes like black tea!
I was looking for good chai tea, and thought if it was from Fortnum&Mason it would be a good refined tea with lots of spices. They didn’t have this one to smell in the shop, so I just bought it.
I’m just disappointed to be honest. I can see in the loose tea mix a few spices, and there is a faint smell, but overall when you try to make it it just tastes like bitter strong tea at most, nothing else.
I’m actually going so far as to by my own spices to add on top, hopefully it will work. Really surprised…

I am not a big chai fan because I don’t really like black pepper or hot spices in my tea, even if it is just lots of ginger. I don’t mind a little ginger, and I didn’t mind pink peppercorns, but the things most people love about chai don’t appeal to me.

I was happy to see that this was a fairly tame chai. I tasted it before breakfast because they recommend adding milk and I usually drink my tea sans additions. I found it palatable without milk and having food with it would take any edge off. I made my oatmeal to match the tea, adding Penzey’s cinnamon sugar and cardamom.

With the food, it was quite serviceable. Once the food was gone, I found it more brisk than I cared to drink on its own. Fortunately, there was only a sip or two left at that point.

For “tame” sort of chai, I would prefer Stash Holiday Chai over this one, as it has just a tiny bit more zip and makes a great tea pop syrup.

It was fun to try a new to me tea, though!

Advent Day 10

Boring! I mean, this would be okay for a generic grocery store bagged chai, but for a loose leaf tea company it leaves a lot to be desired. The steeping instructions say 5m at boiling and I only did 4, but it already had a bitter tinge to it by then. Adding cream dulled that, but it lacks flavor and spice. It’s like chai set to a level 2 intensity with nothing outstanding or noticeable about it. There are some muddled spices that have merged into one dull flavor. If I wasn’t so thirsty I’d have dumped my cup, but I’d never buy this. I guess if my choices were this or hibiscus, I’d choose this chai, but I wouldn’t be happy about it. Glad it was only one bag that crossed my path!