Teavana & Starbucks

Had this again. Started to notice the apricot. Decided against picking any up though, even if I could do so for free. I’m trying to reduce my stash, not flood it with teas that are “okay”.

I’m not really a huge fan of what I’ve had of Teavana so far, but this is worth a go. Nice, simple jasmine tea. I only had a very small cup of it on my break, so I didn’t have much time to really explore it thoroughly, but I might get some for home.

Well, I tried the new herbal version of the Oprah Chai. As I am a huge fan of the original version, I was excited to try the new tea. I did not find it to taste very different from the original, caffeinated version. So, if you like the original, you will probably like this. If you dislike the original, you will probably dislike this as well. Since I do love the original Oprah Chai, I enjoyed my cup-to-go of the herbal version. I am quite puzzled, however, that they would release a version almost identical to the original. I suppose this will work better for cold steeping and will appeal to those seeking a caffeine-free option, but I, for one, will not be stocking up on the herbal version, as I already have plenty of the original Oprah Chai on hand. Not sure how to rate it. I love Oprah Chai, but do not see the need for a second, almost identical blend. But maybe that is just me?

This was my second Earth Day free tea from Starbucks.

This was the other fruity tea they had besides Youthberry in store, this one being on a herbal base and caffeine-free. It was okay, the pomegranate flavours definitely came through but I think I’m just not in the mood for tart flavours at the moment because my brain kept thinking cherry cough syrup :D I resteeped it and stuck it in the fridge at work to see what its gonna taste like tomorrow cold though.

Something positive I should mention about this promo – the baristas consistently gave 2 teabags for my large travel mug, which is nice, I had expected only 1 bag.

Learning from past mistakes, I only steeped this for a minute or two (I got a cup because I figured it would help my sore throat). Much better! And pretty soothing on the throat. Still turned off by the anise, but it is helpful in this one case. I’ll give it a few extra points because I was thankful to have this this morning.

I can’t really say I’m a fan of the original Oprah Chai Tea, but I was curious to see how this one differed.

I started sipping this one before it really had a chance to steep—about a minute, maybe 2—and was pleasantly surprised. The lemongrass and ginger were really noticeable, with the cinnamon not too overpowering. Slight hint of anise, which I’m never fond of, but no big deal. It was actually refreshing. Sadly, because I usually brew herbals for about 6 minutes, I left the bag in and after maybe 4 minutes the cinnamon just overpowered the whole cup and ruined it for me. Dumped the rest out.

This is one of my absolute favourite teas. I am a huge chai lover, so it is no surprise. It is so, so good as a latte. It is a pricey tea, but, fortunately, Teavana had multiple 50% off sales around Christmas and I definitely took advantage on that. I have a lot of stock on hand, in case it is discontinued on short notice. I do think that it is a tea that you either love or hate. I can definitely see how some people would not enjoy it. But I love it! It is my go-to tea and I dread the day that it is discontinued.

One of the worst chai teas that I’ve had. There was way too much cinnamon and was very poorly balanced. Also, the price is quite high for a chai tea of this quality. The aroma was pleasing, even after brewing. It smelled like it should taste better than it did. Overall, I don’t recommend it.

Now finished with my supply of Oprah Chai (I think that’s called a “Sipdown”?). Anyway, I had actually taken a steep from about a half hour earlier, added a couple teaspons to that to make it really strong, and then added a tiny bit of almond milk and stevia after steeping. It was better than the pot I had before this one, but still not that spicy yummy tea that I remember having when I first bought it. I feel like maybe I’ve had this one too long in the cupboard. Maybe I’ll buy it again, maybe not.

Nearing the end of my supply on this one. Not as good as I remembered, but maybe the water was too hot (no thermometer with me at work, so I was guessing at temperature). Am thinking of pairing it with another chai or with some plain black.

After going to Starbucks today to find out one of my favorites (Calm) was out of stock I decided to get this tea on a whim, I got it steeped in hot soy milk which is general how I like to drink my chai tea’s. I really enjoyed this tea and would say it taste a lot like cinnamon hearts which I’m actually not a fan of but found it great as a tea, it also has a subtly sweet taste which I I think would be a great alternative if you’re suffering from a major sweet tooth.

This tea was very enjoyable, I especially liked the spicy kick it had!

My sister got this for me :) It tastes just like cinnamon hearts (and smells like it too once brewed.) This is slightly spicier than your typical chai tea, overall a great steep.

Backlog:

OK, so I’ve actually had this chai a couple of times now – it’s actually really good. That’s difficult for me to admit given that this is from both Starbucks and Teavana. But it’s a well crafted chai.

Even more interesting, though, is a development from having tried this tea. After going through the drive thru at Starbucks and picking up the chai, we went to a store and I ran in to pick up what we needed, leaving my chai in the van with hubby. I figured my chai would be safe because he “doesn’t like tea.” But he decided to take a sip and apparently one sip became several more.

Now, my husband likes chai. I’ve made him several chai teas since then and he’s enjoyed them.

My husband likes chai.

And since chai = tea… my husband, the man who not only claimed not to like tea but also mocked me mercilessly for my obsession with the beverage, now likes tea.

Here’s my full-length review of my first cup of the chai which does not include the musings about my hubby because he didn’t try that first cup: http://sororiteasisters.com/2015/01/12/product-review-teavana-oprah-chai-tea-latte-from-starbucks/

Had this in starbucks yesterday as they were out of “regular” chai tea. It is much more spicier than whatever the regular is and I LOVE it. You can smell it as soon as it starts to brew. Three people nearby asked me what I was drinking because it smelled so good.

A bit spicy, but not enough to feel it in my chest. A bit of agave nectar really brings out the flavor. Note that there is chicory root in this, which can cause miscarriage or bring on a menstrual period.

This is one of the best chais I’ve tasted , and I’m a real Chai lover!! I didn’t expect to like it so much, because I’ve tried the Starbucks Oprah chai & found it bland. This chia blend is so different than the Starbucks version. I do like to add ginger to all of my chai(for extra spicy heat) but other than the ridiculous price of 15$ for 2 oz , it’s wonderful. It actually inspired me to buy the spices and blend my own chai from scratch! I think it should be brewed longer/stronger than they recommend , & I use soy milk & agave syrup to sweeten.

The tea leaves are full, uniform, and black with an earthy herbaceous aroma of wood and grass. In the cup the tea is a honey amber hue and has the same malty aroma with wood and a touch of mushrooms. The taste is smooth, balanced, with a savory feel on the tongue, slightly salty, pleasingly astringent, with a slight sweetness. The finish on the palate is smooth and malty. Cost: $0.32 per six ounce cup, sourced in part from Yunnan.

Faboulous! Love the spices – lots of kick. My absolute favorite chai. It is more expensive, but it’s worth it and it is occasionally on sale. This is the ONE tea that I have to keep stocked in my cupboard. I’m giving it a 100 rating because I just can’t think of a single improvement! (Other than possibly the price.)

I wanted to hate Oprah’s tea, especially since it was the most easily accessible Chai I could get a hold of when the weather snapped. Dammit, it was spicy, warming, and delicious. But with this price, I’ll be looking eleswhere . . perhaps even to my own blend.