Last night I had a little too much fun. It started with wine tasting and then my boyfriend and I walked to the bar down the street since we haven’t been able to go out for ages.
This morning I woke up with a muscle in my back ACHING. It’s still killing me. I have no idea what I did. Is there a masseuse in the house? Ugh!
On the positive side, I opened the mailbox and had a nice surprise! The best part of wakin’ up is new tea in your mail box! My two bags of Caramel Vanilla Chai from 52 Teas! I really enjoyed the Decaf Extra Bold Masala Chai, and caramel and vanilla flavors are my weakness, so I had to drop some dough on those puppies quick.
I was kind of surprised to see that the dry leaves were not really leaves at all but actually resembled soil. Dried out soil with tiny bits of dried out leaves and bark. Very ground up. Hmmmm.
The aroma was very bold clovy chai with apparent notes of caramel and vanilla.
Steeped 1 tsp per 8 ounces at 205 degrees in my Breville for 3 minutes.
Eek. I have never had a tea escape the Breville infuser THIS much… I took a picture to show the sediment that slipped through using only 2 teaspoons of tea – http://i55.tinypic.com/2zom8bb.png
o_O
The little pieces that didnt’ escape got stuck in the holes of the infuser. First time that’s ever happened with a tea in the Breville, also.
I don’t know if I should lower the score more for that? But the tea ended up tasting pretty darn good, especially with a spoon of brown sugar and a spoon of vanilla icecream, (I was out of coconut milk, but icecream works great as creamer!) Totally representative of the name. Caramel Vanilla Chai goodness. A pretty bold chai at that. I’m starting to learn I like my chais a little more heavy than this on the other spices..especially cardamom. This tea is pretty predominately clove and cinnamon. But overall, yeah.. I think it’s pretty good. I’ll have to see if my opinion changes after I have it again. (Although I’m really not looking forward to dealing with the small bits of tea again :/ )
Preparation
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I don’t use my usual infuser for teas that are very ground.
You might want to try those disposable fillable tea bags – they work great for the chais with the small bits. Or maybe even a coffee filter might work?
I love the ice cream as creamer idea!
I have some tea bags, and coffee filters. But arghs I want the water to really be able to flow well and everything release and no oils or flavors get stuck or absorbed into the paper.
I have an awesome little infuser from For Life that I pour the tea through after it’s done brewing in the Breville – (http://www.amazon.com/FORLIFE-Extra-fine-Infuser-Porcelain-Dish/dp/B001JP1KPO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313947614&sr=8-1) and that’s all the junk it caught in that picture. (I put it in a separate cup to photograph.) So none of that ended up in the cup that I was drinking thanks to my awesome For Life infuser… Seriously the best infuser out there, HIGHLY recommend it. NOTHING goes through those holes!!
But it just seems unnecessary to be ground up THAT small! Rooibos doesn’t even give me near as much problems!
That infuser looks AMAZING. I’m going to have to get one of those really soon.
I’ve used vanilla ice cream as creamer in a pinch too! I am so looking forward to my pkg of this tea arriving (and I’ll def be trying it with So Delicious Vanilla Coconut Milk Creamer.)
curious to hear your opinion on it!
and ssajami you’ve gotta! you’ll love it.
I have yet to try anything by 52 Teas, I am adding the Caramel Vanilla Chai on my wish list. I am learning to appreciate chai teas.
It’s sold out but I’d send you some! I bought too much.
“The best part of wakin’ up is new tea in your mail box!” I read the first half of this sentence and immediately sang the Folger’s jingle! But I like your rendition better. I LOVE getting new teas!!! :)
I don’t use my usual infuser for teas that are very ground.
You might want to try those disposable fillable tea bags – they work great for the chais with the small bits. Or maybe even a coffee filter might work?
I love the ice cream as creamer idea!
I have some tea bags, and coffee filters. But arghs I want the water to really be able to flow well and everything release and no oils or flavors get stuck or absorbed into the paper.
I have an awesome little infuser from For Life that I pour the tea through after it’s done brewing in the Breville – (http://www.amazon.com/FORLIFE-Extra-fine-Infuser-Porcelain-Dish/dp/B001JP1KPO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313947614&sr=8-1) and that’s all the junk it caught in that picture. (I put it in a separate cup to photograph.) So none of that ended up in the cup that I was drinking thanks to my awesome For Life infuser… Seriously the best infuser out there, HIGHLY recommend it. NOTHING goes through those holes!!
But it just seems unnecessary to be ground up THAT small! Rooibos doesn’t even give me near as much problems!
That infuser looks AMAZING. I’m going to have to get one of those really soon.
I’ve used vanilla ice cream as creamer in a pinch too! I am so looking forward to my pkg of this tea arriving (and I’ll def be trying it with So Delicious Vanilla Coconut Milk Creamer.)
curious to hear your opinion on it!
and ssajami you’ve gotta! you’ll love it.
I have yet to try anything by 52 Teas, I am adding the Caramel Vanilla Chai on my wish list. I am learning to appreciate chai teas.
It’s sold out but I’d send you some! I bought too much.
“The best part of wakin’ up is new tea in your mail box!” I read the first half of this sentence and immediately sang the Folger’s jingle! But I like your rendition better. I LOVE getting new teas!!! :)