Chocolate Chai

Yummmmehs!

So I participated in a tea swap, you may have seen the thread in Discussions – http://gussyingupthetuttle.blogspot.com/2011/08/3rd-annual-tea-trade.html

I got this tea, and a bunch of Zhena samplers, and a sweet Chinese cold & flu tea! So I am happeee! I can’t wait to respond back to my secret trader with a thank you package :)

Ah good times.

This tea is lovely. I am not one to turn down an intriguing bagged tea, and this one does not disappoint. It has a similar smell of ManTeas Mayan Chocolate Chai, but without the cayenne, which is great because I’ve been looking for a chocolate chai with a little less… throat on fire. haha!

The taste is a bit mellow, but I can dig that. I like that it’s rooibos and I’m having it at night, and it’s PERFECT with a splash of chocolate almond milk.

Happy lady here.

Edit:: So I’ve really been toying around with the idea of hosting a monthly secret-santa style tea swap, with a different theme every month. Do you think monthly is too often? Maybe a seasonal trade, 4 times a year? I LOVE the organization of events like this, but I wonder if I could get enough membership. Heck, even 5 people is enough for me. Any takers?

Since JacquelineM is always raving about Zhena’s red chais, I picked this one up when I came across it. This is surprisingly decadent and it actually tastes like a rich cup of hot chocolate with a few spices. I’m really glad that the licorice root isn’t super noticeable and the ginger is just right to add to the warmth of the cup. I am super happy with this purchase – in fact, I’m on my second cup of it right now! Thanks to JacquelineM for the good, as always, recommendation!

JacquelineM sent me some of this. I’ve been wanting to try it for ages, but didn’t get it because of my now-very-silly-seeming fear of chai.

Steeped for 10 minutes (my standard rooibos steep time). It’s very nice…smooth and spicy, without too much heat. Just enough chocolate to give you a chocolate fix.

Thanks so much, JacquelineM! I’ll definitely have to get more of this when my cupboard is under control!!

SO Good!!! I wasn’t expecting much from this (I bought it on sale at the market after I couldn’t find RoT’s new Red Velvet Cake tisane) but it is truly delicious! A great one for the rooibos haters – it didn’t taste roibossy in the least. It tastes strongly of Chai spices, then the chocolatey taste comes out on the swallow. I made it with a splash of milk and it was perfect – not washed out or weak. Actually, I’d call it robust! What a pleasant surprise!

Cute reusable tin too…always a bonus!

This is the most amazing chocolate chai EVER. I bought it once at my grocery store and fell desperately in love with it. Then I went back, after devouring the tin, and discovered it was gone! Now I hoard it like nobody’s business, because I can only get it by ordering online.

I like my black tea English-style, with milk and sugar, and this tea totally recommends itself for adding a splash of cream. It’s rich and warm with a real chocolate taste and a blend of flavors that makes it perfect for curling up in the winter with a good book and a big steaming mug of it.

I have tried other chocolate teas and even other chocolate chais and they are crap compared to this one. There’s my seal of approval.

Chocolate in the smell, but not in the taste. I get very little of the spices as well, although I can smell them. Mostly getting the rooibos.

My first experience with this tea did not go well. Something about all the different flavors made me put it down. I’m going to try it again soon, maybe with some almond milk. I want to like it!

Upped the steep time from 5 minutes to 8, still tasting a lot of great spice but not as much of the chocolate. Not sure if it needs more steeping, or if the chocolate is just more in the aroma than the taste of the tea itself.

First time I’ve tried a rooibos. Spices were weak, not sure how I felt about it overall, but didn’t hate it. milk did not help.

I’m admittedly new at this, but I can’t really taste anything in this tea. It smells softly chai-like and sweet after brewing, but tastes very muffled, not like anything in particular. I certainly don’t taste chocolate or spice. Maybe it’s gone off (I have no idea how old this tin is) or maybe rooibos just isn’t to my taste.

Surprisingly bland, given the rich scent in the can. I’ve tried different steep times, different temperatures, adding my own spice blends… nothing. I won’t be purchasing it again. Poor taste, no kick.

grossgrossgrossgrossgross. i bought three tins online because i couldn’t find it near me, and ended up throwing them all away. :c