Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Steenbergs Organic
Product Description:
Steenbergs Organic Fairtrade Black Chai Tea is our simplified version of the Indian spicy, chai teas and is based on the quick & easy recipe we love to make for ourselves on a cold, blustery day, especially if we’ve got soaked on a walk. Steenbergs Organic Black Chai Tea is so warming and the organic spices seem to lift the strong organic black tea that we use as a base.
Read more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Well, it’s cold and wet outside, but inside it’s nice and cozy, and this chai makes it even cozier!
When I make chai, I usually use a little extra leaf than I would for other black tea blends because I think that chai should be brewed a little stronger (especially if you’re going to make it latte!) But because this chai is so finely chopped, I don’t recommend using extra leaf with this chai. Instead, use the same amount you would normally for black tea: if you use 1 tsp. of loose leaf per cup for black tea, use 1 tsp. per cup of this chai.
The result is a wonderfully rich, warm cup of chai. It is strong enough to add a little milk to it if you want a chai latte, but it is also quite good without the milk. I do recommend a little sweetener (just a little drizzle of honey will do!) because it really helps the spices come alive! With the addition of milk, it becomes very creamy and smooth, and while some of the spices are slightly muted, it is still quite yummy.
The black tea is bold and delicious. It has a fair amount of astringency that is slightly drying to the palate. I am noticing some malty tones to the tea, perhaps an Assam base? It has that sort of “baked bread” quality to it. It has a very hearty flavor and texture to it, and makes a perfect base for these spices.
The spices here are vibrant and warm without being overwhelmingly spicy. It is a very nicely balanced blend of cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. This short list of ingredients doesn’t include ginger, and even though I love ginger, I’m not finding that I miss it in this chai. The spices are so well-balanced that they become very seamless and create a warm spiced flavor without being SPICY.
A very enjoyable chai, and I like that it is organic and fairtrade! This is a chai that you could serve to everyone during the holidays and not worry that you’re serving something too spicy to that relative with the sensitive palate. It is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
