Steeped up my sample from Nepali Tea Traders this morning!
So, I decidedly love chai – the strong robust flavors, spicing hitting you from every direction.. Not so in this cup! This is a very mild black tea base with a subtle and non-bitter taste. The chai spices of cinnamon, cardamom, and clove come through just as gently, creating a full experience without the “in your face” impact of a typical chai.
I think the tea smells like a spiced hong cha, very gentle in the base tea. I brewed one of the pyramid bags in the sample in 16oz of 200 degree water for 3 minutes. The resulting brew color is a dark amber. The taste is strangely spicy with a certain sweetness on the back. The flavor does not cling to the tongue, creating a smooth finish with no lingering bitterness or astringency. Definitely an enjoyable and unique blend!
Flavors: Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove
Too be quite honest I think spicing that is not in your face is actually more authentic than the peppery taste we have for it in NA. This is only in reference to my experiences in North and central India. I do enjoy a hot spicy Chai, but the subtler ones are the ones that bring back memories.