Thanks to Super Starling! for this sample.
I had just spent the last hour or so mowing the lawn and weed whacking in the 85 degree summer weather. Beautiful day, really. A nice breeze to keep it from getting TOO hot. However, it’s still working in 85 degrees. So, when I came inside to cook and eat dinner, I wanted something ice cold to drink.
I’m not sure if I’m SUPPOSE to ice this tea. I’ve never iced a chai before, I don’t believe. The website said I could. So I did. And the reason I picked out a chai in the first place is I thought it would pair well with my dinner. We get our meat from a local farm. It is grass raised, organic, and delicious. We are kind of at the mercy of whatever they happen to have processed recently but I kind of like the surprise. Right now, we happened to have a nice bone in pork shoulder roast that needed to be cooked. So, I rubbed it down with some fresh rosemary, thyme, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper then I threw it in the oven while I went to work outside.
Aside from the roasted pork, I also made pine nut couscous and some sliced apples. It all felt very fall-ish to me so I thought that a chai would pair nicely. I think I was right. Mostly.
I really enjoyed the scent of this both dry and brewed. It has a typical chai scent with a hint of coconut. I made this with about half the water it called for because I knew I was putting it over ice. I did combine two steeps however, one of 4 minutes and one of 7 minutes. After icing it, the chai flavor became a bit subdued. It wasn’t too spicy. In fact, I’m having a harder time picking out the distinguishing flavor in it. It is pretty smooth though. And the coconut gives it a nice scent profile. The coconut is more of a background note in the flavor but it is there.
While there isn’t much boldness to this, it is a nice consistent flavor and does satisfy. I’m sure brewing it warm will leave quite a different impression. I intend to try it that way next time I make it. Overall, this is a fairly decent interpretation that I wouldn’t mind drinking again.
Flavors: Coconut, Spices
Preparation
People who liked this
Comments
Warm is spicier, I suspect. I’ve actually never iced it. Maybe I’ll try that tomorrow. It’s SO HOT OUTSIDE. Please help me. I am dying.
We finally are getting a break today as it is only going to be 75 degrees. However, we have a heat wave headed our way. Next week we are supposed to have 4 days of 92 degrees or hotter. F. That.
Warm is spicier, I suspect. I’ve actually never iced it. Maybe I’ll try that tomorrow. It’s SO HOT OUTSIDE. Please help me. I am dying.
We finally are getting a break today as it is only going to be 75 degrees. However, we have a heat wave headed our way. Next week we are supposed to have 4 days of 92 degrees or hotter. F. That.