Steeped with a heaping tablespoon of leaves at 175 degrees in about 1 cup of water.
This tea was a new experience for me! I’ve tried lots of flavored green teas, but never one where the green tea was a substitute for black tea in a chai blend. As a result of this tea, I’ve realized how different these spices are outside of a conventional chai context and how much I take the black tea base for granted in chai blends!
As it steeps, I can detect a fragrance of spices; it smells like cinnamon and possibly cloves. The tea liquid isn’t very dark. In fact it’s only achieved a pale honeylike color after it’s finished steeping; it’s a little viscous, with nearly invisible flecks (of cinnamon, perhaps?) swimming in it.
The flavor is very different from any chai I’ve ever tried. The spices, instead of melding with a malty black tea flavor to form a rounded flavor profile, are instead mingling with the bright astringent green tea notes (grassy almost, but not much on the floral side that I can detect). This makes for a very focused flavor overall. It’s highly concentrated in the bright and forward flavor notes and not so much rounded out with the deeper tones that a black tea normally imparts to a chai (in my experience). It’s almost bitter, but then again, I may have oversteeped it a bit–I like my chais strong.
With milk, it’s suddenly not very strong at all. It still has spice flavors, but I’m really missing the black tea base here. And I know you aren’t really “supposed” to put milk in green tea, but that’s what I normally do with chai so I figured why not?
So to sum up, don’t expect this to taste like a more conventional chai! Instead, expect a bright, spicy, focused flavor that’s intended to be enjoyed alone or with a little sweetener; I recommend trying it without milk. In fact, I bet this would make a great iced tea!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Vahdam Teas
Description
A superior blend of fresh green tea from Darjeeling blended with choicest Indian spices like Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove & Black Peppercorns. Discover a smooth fulfilling aroma of fresh greens with delicious undertones of raw spices in every sip. The liquor is bright green with an energizing aroma. A unique chai tea which can be served with or without milk.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Horizon Hot Ginger Green Chai from Teaoke. . . .
Every time I try a new Chai, I feel like a traitor to the last one I tried because it seems like I’m always discovering a new favorite. I guess I’m fickle when it comes to my Chai, but I truly do love them all!
I was super excited to try this Horizon Hot Ginger Green Chai because I am a sucker for ginger, and with a name like hot ginger it has to be good!
The first thing I noticed when the boiling water hit the tea is a wonderful spicy but also roast-y aroma. The smell filled my whole kitchen. And when I tasted the tea, it has an amazing spicy kick, but again this amazing roast-y flavor that I really, really love. It reminded me a little of coffee just in the depth of flavor.
This is definitely not your traditional Chai, but it is absolutely amazing! I want to drink this everyday for the rest of my life.
I imagine this would be a wonderful tea to have when you come home on a very cold day, it would warm you right up!!
This tea does have caffeine, but it’s low caffeine, only 25 milligrams per serving for those like me who try to watch their intake.
This is seriously outstanding tea. Such rich spicy flavor that just wakes your senses. This is of course, my new favorite Chai!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Teaoke
Description
A bright & intense palate pleasing blend of ginger and chili pepper with a lemon zest… Heating up your senses while igniting your spirit.
