22 Tasting Notes
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!
Preparation
One of the least palatable teas I’ve ever tasted. I’m guessing I overbrewed this, so I will try it iced. But served hot, the tea is too acidic, very bitter, and has a terrible aftertaste. I’m pretty disappointed with the Art of Tea sampler I picked up on Steepster.
It’s a beautiful tea with long leaves that you can watch unfurl as you tumble boiling water into your glass. The tea is a wonderful amber-orange color, with a very smooth and clean taste. The recommended brew time is two minutes, but I left the teabag inside while I enjoyed my cup. I normally find this makes black tea too bitter but Bengal Breakfast is simultaneously bold and mild and there is the slightest hint of silky sweetness in the aftertaste. I have been looking for a good AM tea and whereas Teatulia’s Neem Nectar was a little too sharp for me, Bengal Breakfast is perfect.
I’m trying to make the switch back from coffee to tea and I decided to give this tea another try this morning. The “neem” is definitely an acquired taste. When you keep the brew to about four minutes, the tea is infinitely better. It’s still a little bitter but with a good roundness and a subtle hint of sweetness. Adding sugar improves this tea immensely (though I really dislike sweetening my teas). The texture really reminds you of the name of the tea, the “nectar.” A good AM tea, if you are craving something that is a little astringent but not harsh.
A very, very mild mint tea but still enjoyable. I’m pretty easy to please though when it comes to anything mint. No caffeine makes it a good choice right before bed, but it’s really nothing special. The tea is your regular bagged, finely-chopped supermarket variety— which could be a bit jarring when you’re accustomed to full leaf tea snobbery. I would actually choose their Peppermint tea if I was looking for something stronger.
An extremely robust, malty tea with a muted caramel finish. You’ll almost need to do a doubletake when you take a sip of this tea because it’s so strong. The directions tell you to use a full tablespoon but I suggest using a teaspoon and brewing it for 3 minutes or less. We made the mistake of following the directions and the tea was somewhat bitter. It does get sweeter, or at least more muted, as it cools, and I love that these leaves hold up to a rebrewing. Ultimately, a high quality, wonderfully dark and strongly caffeeinated tea. I can see why so many people drink this as the morning tea (or as a very concentrated shot of teapresso). Personally, I prefer lighter, naturally sweet teas so I’d drink this tea as a morning jolt only. Still, really great, strong flavor.
