Bedtime Chai II

Since I really like chai and I have yet to find my favorite sleepy time tea, I decided a mash up of the two could work well. This is pretty satisfying in both respects. I taste the appropriate chai spices and a bit of vanilla. I’m not sure I’m a big fan of the nutmeg in here though. Honeybush is definitely present. In my head it should be pretty bitter because of the Valerian root, but that’s not the case this time. I get a faint medicinal taste in here. It’s not a bad tea if you should be looking for sleepy time tea.

I don’t think of chai’s as bedtime teas because, however cozy, they are spicy, scintillting by nature. This chai is indeed a bedtime tea, yet not in the traditional sense of “Sleepytime” or the more common chamomile-mint blends. California Tea House calls it a “knock-out” tea, and they are not kidding. The valerian root is prominent; at first I thought I was tasting kava, and that very notion made me want to go to sleep. Both roots have a subtle chalky-sweet aftertaste, which is more reassuring to someone desiring sleep than offensive. The valerian flavor isn’t too strong, though—no stronger than the cinnamon, chamomile, vanilla or nutmeg. The honeybush base is woody, nutty, and goes wonderfully with the spices. As for tea critiquing, I hesitate to say much as I would consider this a tasty medicinal drink—a sleep-aid disguised as tea. Very well done.