Choco-Muscat Chai

My Urban Tea Tumbler had got this to brew really nicely. I figured that I liked this tea with less leaves, more water, longer steeping times at more moderate temperatures like 290F. I got more chocolate today and I’ve noticed a weird cherry taste that I’ve picked up. With the cinnamon pods and nutmeg in collision with the strongly muscatel flavor of the Darjeeling, it produces a tart taste that is really similar to a cherry. The chocolate in the background adds to the illusion-it makes me think of a chocolate covered cherry. I also wonder what role the vanilla is playing. Vanilla is seldom pronounced in this tea, but I can tell that there’s some blended in. It might also accent the cherry notes which I’ve noticed it does on occasion to black teas.

I’d rate today as a 80, but again, price is my main drawback. Nevertheless, if you do decided to get this tea, either use it in small amounts like a teaspoon for every 8 ounces and let it steep for a while until you’re satisfied, or brew it stronger for cream and sugar.

This was ok. I brewed it following Teabox’s recommendations, but it actually tastes somewhat oversteeped. Thus, this review might not be accurate. I read the other review, and I feel like the cup I had simply wasn’t as delicious (though, of course, we all have different tastes!). Definitely drinkable, but none of the complexity discussed by the other reviewer.

Oh my god. This tea!

Opening the bag, the smell is heavenly. This is one of the most rich, chocolately smelling things ever. Not just tea. Anything, ever. Have you ever had drinking chocolate that’s basically melted chocolate mixed with heavy cream, and it kind of coats your mouth and throat and is so rich you can only manage the tiniest sip at a time? That was my first impressions- a Mayan chocolate drinking chocolate with a hint of chillis.

Steeped this for 7 min, though only 1tsp for 8oz instead of the 2tsp for 180ml that they suggested.

The steeped tea smells incredibly rich, like the dry leaf. I’m almost bracing for disappointment in the sip, because it’s hard to imagine any tea living up to the promise of this smell.

Well, the sip isn’t as rich as the smell, but I think this is probably the richest chocolate tea I’ve ever had. What an amazing, interesting flavour. There’s thick dark chocolate notes, slightly sweet, slightly bitter, a really intense muscat Darjeeling flavour that incorporates the spiced, herbal notes typical to Darjeeling, and then some cinnamon and nutmeg supporting.

The mouthfeel is thick and smooth. There’s a strong mouth coating effect, but it’s the slightly thick, creamy, oily coating you get from letting good quality chocolate melt in your mouth. A touch of a powdery sensation that makes me think of cocoa powder. No astringency.

This tea is incredible. Totally unique and a really stand out chocolate tea. A fantastic variation on masala chai, and one I will definitely be restocking when I place another order.

I plan to try this with milk and sugar but it’s also just perfect on its own.