Aztec Sweet Chili

I bought this because it was cheap and I had optimism for the combination, but it just wasn’t something I enjoyed. With creamer and honey it’s a lot more interesting, but for now I’ll use it to marinate chicken or fish…

From the HHTTB2

I actually had this tea last night. They have apparently changed the name from Mexican to Aztec Sweet Chili. My tea bag had the Mexican Sweet Chili label.

This herbal is odd. So very odd. The smell is strongly of licorice and fennel. The initial sip is watery followed by a lot of sweetness from the licorice with the spices – cinnamon, clove, and cardamom – kind of blending in. Right behind the sweetness is a savory punch from the fennel and anise, and then there is the heat from the ginger, pepper, and cayenne. This is all in one sip. The heat builds in the back of the throat with each sip which I liked, and the licorice coated my throat pretty well which made me think this might be good to keep on hand for sick days. It’s a crazy mix of flavors though, and nothing really blends. And I couldn’t get past thinking this is a strange tea.

Not a tea I would purchase, but it was fun to try. I will admit I was laughing while I drank it because it is so not in my wheelhouse.

I’ve been trying to finish up some tea bags I had floating around. Given the recent positive experience with Yogi, I brewed up two bags of this one.

Wow, this is really spicy but surprisingly good given my usual distaste with all things licorice. I added sweetener only because without it would have been too much. This has really opened up my sinuses (my main goal this evening – you can definitely feel the burn). Not something I would stock but interesting to try.

Sipdown!

This tea could have two happy endings: 1) A spicy-chocolatey cup of comfort with a tingle of cayenne at the back of your throat, or 2) A refreshing citrus tisane. What happened was a sabotage of ingredients to create only one product. It’s a sublime spicy (from the cayenne and ginger), and sweet (from the orange and tangerine flavours), with something missing in between.
I tried adding a touch of cocoa to create option one, but even though the spice married well with the cocoa, there was this unwelcome tangerine blooming in my mouth and making me think, Ewww.
I’m still drinking it to finish the carton. It was very helpful with my sore throat, and it’s always nice to have something hot and non-caffeinated at night. It’s a different and outside-the-box recipe, and I am sure that others would appreciate the experience.

I bought this when I had the flu and was in the fever and chills stage. After the bug passed, I decided I still liked it and frequently put two bags in a (really big) cup to get it a bit stronger. It’s not particularly spicy-hot and I don’t exactly taste the cocoa, but the whole thing just tastes like warmth. It’s fine solo, but I like it best with a little bit of honey.

I always use 2 bags per cup as I like this blend strong. I love it as an after dinner tea and also as a black tea alternative at breakfast. A little honey or sugar enhances the flavor, but I don’t mind drinking it without.

oh idk… weird. i kinda taste it back in my throat. that sweetness. chili kick lasts just short.
like the ginger of yogi teas but this one is still weird. too sweet or to weird idk. well made tea tho, just doesn’t match my taste…

Very nice. A tea that actually tastes exactly the way the name describes it: it has a hot chili after-taste as well as natural sweetness. I don’t think it has enough body to be really satisfying on its own, but it works great when it’s blended with other teas for different flavor combinations or giving your tea a spicy kick.

I got a free sample of this in the mail and it was surprisingly good! I think I will buy a box of it at some point.

I have a box of this, and every once in a while I decide to try it in case my tastes have changed, but it’s just not my speed. I wonder if it would be okay blended (in a small quantity) with a black tea. It might be nice as a secondary flavor.