Thank you sTEAp Shoppe for this sample for Virtual tea tasting #2!
Yesterday I received the samples to review for the second Virtual tea tasting scheduled for Oct.28th. I’m all for tea companies getting feedback from consumers on what we think about the tea blends they create. We want great tea and I think all of us want tea companies to be successful.
Both the tea’s I have are CHOCOLATE! (It was a no brainer for me!)
One was sTEAp Shoppe’s choice and one was mine.
This morning I brewed up a small pot of the Chocolate Chai before heading out to the downtown Farmers Market.
The suggest steep time of 3-4 minutes wasn’t long enough. The tea was way too weak for Chai. I added 2 minutes which was the correct Chai strength without adding any bitterness.
The flavor was spicy from cinnamon and fruity from the Oolong tea base. I looked for the chocolate taste but never could find it because of the dominant fruit and spice from fennel, cardamom and ginger (with the cinnamon). I couldn’t detect nutmeg until the tea cooled. It might not be necessary, not sure. The ginger was handled beautifully.
Adding honey was delicious, and blended with the spices in the way you want most from Chai. Adding cream wasn’t as successful. My feeling on the milk was that the Chai would have been better steeped in milk and honey instead of water if you wanted a traditional Chai.
Getting back to the lack of chocolate flavor, either there needs to be more cocoa nibs or possible a blend of malty Black Tea with the Oolong.
This is my opinion.
If the word chocolate had been removed, I’d say this is a nice spicy Chai. Very balanced and not too peppery.
Increase the steeping time though!
Preparation
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I think the tea community needs to come up with our own vocabulary for ‘chocolate’ because when it translates to tea, it’s unique to tea flavor-wise…
I’m so jealous of you folks that get to participate in these virtual tastings. I think the idea is fabulous and wish I could participate. This one sounds great!
Fleurdelily- I know what you mean. In this case it was at least real cocoa nibs that were used and not flavoring. I’ve had cocoa nibs before and know how good they can be in tea blends. I just wonder if the base was too fruity with the spices and covered over the nib taste. Sil- Now and then look at the ‘Recent Activity’ or ‘Discussions’ tab and see what’s happening. That’s where you find vendors asking for people to sign up for these events. You just hop on. Anyone can do this!
Bonnie – not available to those of us in Canada :( would have signed up for this otherwise heh
Bonnie,
We appreciate your incite and will look into enhancing the cocoa flavor in a natural way. Chai is such a full spice blend that the cocoa is supposed to smooth it out rather than stand out though I do see how adding more cocoa flavor would be in our benefit. Your suggestions are something we will try in addition to a few of our own. We are always looking for ways to improve and appreciate you taking the time to write an honest review for us to learn from.
Oops sorry Sil, didn’t realize you were in Canada. Darn! I understand that it’s expensive to ship though. And Steapshoppe You are kind. My understanding is that you ‘want’ feedback. I liked your Chai. I don’t like too much cardamom or overpowering pepper or cinnamon and you got the spices right for a straight Chai, it’s the Chocolate part that I think got muddled under the Oolong and spice.
Yes, We appreciate it very much. You sound as though Chai is a tea you have a good amount of knowledge in and will be using your advice to adjust our recipe. Your point was valid and we apologize if that was not conveyed in the previous comment.
Bonnie – Not to worry! I appreciate you offering help anyway :) I know steapshoppe said they may open it up to canada someday. I’ll just hope someday comes sooner rather than later haha
I think the tea community needs to come up with our own vocabulary for ‘chocolate’ because when it translates to tea, it’s unique to tea flavor-wise…
I’m so jealous of you folks that get to participate in these virtual tastings. I think the idea is fabulous and wish I could participate. This one sounds great!
Fleurdelily- I know what you mean. In this case it was at least real cocoa nibs that were used and not flavoring. I’ve had cocoa nibs before and know how good they can be in tea blends. I just wonder if the base was too fruity with the spices and covered over the nib taste. Sil- Now and then look at the ‘Recent Activity’ or ‘Discussions’ tab and see what’s happening. That’s where you find vendors asking for people to sign up for these events. You just hop on. Anyone can do this!
Bonnie – not available to those of us in Canada :( would have signed up for this otherwise heh
Bonnie,
We appreciate your incite and will look into enhancing the cocoa flavor in a natural way. Chai is such a full spice blend that the cocoa is supposed to smooth it out rather than stand out though I do see how adding more cocoa flavor would be in our benefit. Your suggestions are something we will try in addition to a few of our own. We are always looking for ways to improve and appreciate you taking the time to write an honest review for us to learn from.
Oops sorry Sil, didn’t realize you were in Canada. Darn! I understand that it’s expensive to ship though. And Steapshoppe You are kind. My understanding is that you ‘want’ feedback. I liked your Chai. I don’t like too much cardamom or overpowering pepper or cinnamon and you got the spices right for a straight Chai, it’s the Chocolate part that I think got muddled under the Oolong and spice.
Yes, We appreciate it very much. You sound as though Chai is a tea you have a good amount of knowledge in and will be using your advice to adjust our recipe. Your point was valid and we apologize if that was not conveyed in the previous comment.
Bonnie – Not to worry! I appreciate you offering help anyway :) I know steapshoppe said they may open it up to canada someday. I’ll just hope someday comes sooner rather than later haha