Chai Spice Black Tea

So I gave this one another shot this morning, recalling that it was a rather weak tea last time I had it. I decided that I should put in 2 teabags to offset the weakness, and then it would be fine. No. No, no, no, no. Instead of weak black tea with a little scent, it was weak black tea with an entire jar of cinnamon in it. Yuck. Sorry, I really wanted to like this tea, but it’s just not happening.

I wanted some tea this afternoon, and I wanted it to be spicy and holidayish, so I went digging through my boyfriend’s mom’s small tea stash and came up with this bag. I knew that there was no way I was going to enjoy this one straight since I always find spicy chai-type teas too strong and overwhelming without additions. As I was looking for some sugar I espied the world’s largest cannister of instant hot chocolate in the cabinet, and I thought about the fact that I haven’t had hot cocoa tea in a long time. I love hot cocoa tea—basically steeping a tea bag in a cup of hot cocoa—but I rarely think to make it. It’s best with strong teas that have enough power to get through the hot cocoa, and spicy chais definitely qualify. I ended up with a tasty caffinated, spicy hot chocolate with strong notes of cinnamon and clove. I could tell even through the chocolate that the tea bag tasted a little dusty, though I don’t know if that is a characteristic of the tea or it’s likely extreme age. Still, I enjoyed it enough that I’m making a second cup.

I added a few cardamom pods to the mix, and it came out meh. “Meh.” I think this is more the fault of the additional cardamom than the actual tea itself.

I spotted the bagged version of this and bought some as I was between chai and feeling impulsive. I really need to stop doing that; it’s turned up a couple of decent bagged teas, but a lot more often it’s something I just don’t like.

This is one of the latter. I’m not sure what it is about this tea, but it tastes sort of dusty. Not tea dusty, but like dusty furniture. The chai flavor is there, it’s just not very strong at all, and definitely not strong enough to overpower the sense that I’m doing housework by drinking it.

Maybe the box I got had been sitting on the shelf for a while? I really don’t know. It smells lovely, at least. Maybe I’ll try it again with some almond milk like others have tried.

I bought this for work and kind of wish I hadn’t. The spices are overwhelming and don’t mix well together. I don’t really taste the tea at all. I use this tea for an afternoon boost when I need it (like this afternoon). I just want to finish off what I have of it quickly.

This tea smells heavily of cloves with hints of cardamom, and cinnamon. The base contributes bitter almost coffee like notes to the tea and its flavour is followed by the taste of cloves with a hint of ginger at the front of the mouth, and a taste of cardamon at the back of the mouth. It creates an interesting sensation of warmth at the front of the mouth and cooling at the back. The base is moderately astringent but not overwhelmingly so. Not a bad chai the level of spicing is quite nice and the tea does have a nice bite to it, but not my favourite. I prefer a chai where cloves are less dominant, the ginger more prominent and with a richer, smoother base.

I like this tea. However caffeine makes me hard to be around, so I prefer the Decaf version.

Was given some of this in a new tea chest I bought. I really enjoyed it. Steeped one bag in a large mug about 3/4 full for about 5 min. Added a generous ~1 tbsp squeeze of honey and some unsweetened almond milk. It is mild for a chai but overall one of the best bagged chai’s I have tired. Will have to go buy some as I only have 1 sample left.

Pretty tasty…get me moving in the morning.

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Additives: none
Water: 8 ounces hot spigot water
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: ginger, cinnamon, clove, spice
Steeped Tea Smell: tea, generic spice
Flavor: generically spicy tea
Body: Light/Medium/Full
Aftertaste: slightly bitter and astringent aftertaste with hints of spice
Liquor: deep dark reddish-brown

This was better, spicier and bolder, than I was expecting from a bagged chai made in the office, but not one that really WOWed me.

Post-Steep Additives: 1 packet sugar = smoother, better
2 packet sugar = spicier, better

think it needs milk/cream

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/stash-teabag-black-tea-chai-spice-black.html

This is my new chai! I know it is not the best quality, and it is a grocery store tea, and it does come out a little bland if I don’t do it right. But it tastes good, bottom line. I add plenty of milk and a bit of honey.

Wow not bad at all. perfect amount of clover and cinnamon. pretty awesome tea scoop of sugar and a splash of milk very enjoyable chai

I noticed more cinnamon than anything, I like cinnamon but I was expecting the other usual chai spices. That said it was enjoyable, just not what I was expecting.

New to tea, this is a favorite though. One of the best supermarket teas, easily available for around $4/box of bags. Would like to try the loose leaf, presumably more flavor. Prefer this to Tazo chai.
With milk and a little honey, makes a nice pseudo-latte. I usually have some of this around.

Decent bagged chai tea, not overly spiced but not underwhelming. Another one that I snagged from work; I think I’d enjoy it more with milk!

This chai has a nice bold, spicy flavor that is very good with a touch of honey and milk. I would probably buy this again.

Hey guys, just bought this tea.
I usually HATE ALL CHAIS.
Except this one.
There is something to it…
I dont know..
I steeped for 5 min with boiling water,
8 oz, one tea bag.
Added a teaspoon of sugar, and 1/4 cup of vanilla soymilk
ITS SO DELICIOUS :D
It is late though, so yay to no sleep!
I wish steepster had a chatting function, I would talk to everyone :)

One of my favourites! So yummy.

Well, it smells a lot better than it tastes. if I drink it slowly it’s quite bitter. A full mouthful has more spice flavor, but still not exactly delicious. Maybe it’s better with milk? Drinkable, but not something I’d buy again.

I’m not usually a fan of bagged chai, but the Chai Spice Black tea from Stash really surprised me. I brewed it for about five minutes and added brown sugar and milk and the tea held up very well. Even before adding milk, it was very drinkable. Not bitter at all, with clear tasting notes of cardamom, cinnamon, clove, and maybe even some ginger. Very flavorful and aromatic. A very delightful and addictive tea that is caffeeinated, so I look forward to drinking it during lunch. It looks like I’m in the minority on Steepster, but I’m buying another box!