I think I am becoming tea logged! I have been trying albeit unsuccessfully to study this weekend (yawn) and in the midst of my studying I have been drinking tea nonstop! A lover of chai, I decided to brew a cup of Black Vanilla Chai given to me (actual gift - not a swap) by one of my friends at work. Of course it was Kim! Needless to say for my third cup of tea today, I enjoyed the Black Vanilla Chai.
Composition: Indian black tea, ginger root, cinnamon chips, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla flavoring.
Dry Visual: Dark brown almost black tea pellets, with bits of rust colored cinnamon and yellow ginger.
Dry Aroma: Very pungent! I was immediately hit by the smell of cinnamon and ginger followed by black tea. It was exotic!
Flavor: Black Vanilla Chai is very flavorful. One of the better chai teas I have tasted - it is both robust and spicy. The black tea was strong and somewhat bitter while the cinnamon and ginger added additional flavor to the brew. To suit my palate, I added honey and milk. (I would not drink this chai without them both.) The milk eliminated the bitterness and the honey added that special touch that in my humble opinion makes chai tea… chai tea. I normally do not like ginger in tea, but this is definitely the exception to the rule. Each ingredient, including the ginger, made Black Vanilla Chai delicious.
Liquor: Dark red almost brown - not “orangy” like rust.
Brewing Time: Recommended brewing time is 3 - 5 minutes and of course I brewed for 5 minutes. If I ever wanted to attempt to enjoy Black Vanilla Chai without the addition of milk and honey, I probably would only brew for 3 minutes.
Manufacturer: Dragonwater.
Caffeine: Yes.
Black Vanilla Chai is a very robust tea. While writing this review, I was thinking how I could brew another strong batch and possibly blend with ice cream for a tasty summer treat. If you have any Chai recipes you would recommend, please pass them my way. Until then… Happy Tea Drinking!
