Chai Spice

Made by Stash

Flavor:  This tea does not have an overpowering spice taste, like some chais, but it is fully flavored.  It is a good tea for someone who isn't quite sure yet whether they like the chai taste or not, but it is strong enough to actually have something there, and seems fairly accurate to the taste of traditional homemade chai.  Although cinnamon is on the ingredients list, the cinnamon taste is not evident in the tea.

Suggested Additions:  Indian chai traditionally is made by simmering the tea in a half water, half milk mixture and then lightly sweetened (or heavily, depending on your tastes).  If you want to try traditional, go with that method, but I personally find it to be faster just to pour water over the tea bag and add milk and sugar after it is done steeping.

Ingredients:  Black tea, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, clove, and natural flavors of cinnamon, clove, and cardamom.

Purpose:  As stated, this is a good tea for the non-pro-chai-drinker.  Don't serve this to an Indian unless they are really only in it for the caffeine, which you will get since it is a black tea.

Woman's Raspberry Leaf

Sorry for the delay in posting new teas.  I've been drinking them, just not writing about them.  I'll try to get back on top of things.  This tea is called Woman's Raspberry Leaf tea by Yogi.

Flavor:  This tea has no astringent qualities to its flavor.  The flavor is present, but it is not too sweet, too earthy, too "green," or too tannic.  It is somewhat earthy and maybe a little nutty, and has been described as a good non-caffeinated substitute for a morning breakfast tea.

Suggested Additions:  I added a little bit of sugar since I drank it in the morning and my blood sugar tends to need a little boost then.  I would love to experiment next time with treating it like a robust morning breakfast tea and add milk with sugar.  Also, I left a travel mug of it in the car one day, and I have to say that it is just as tasty cold as it is hot, and a longer steep time does not harm the taste at all.

Ingredients:  Nothing but organic raspberry leaf.

Purpose:  I agree with the suggestion that this makes a wonderful morning tea when caffeine is not an option but you still want something warm and cozy when you wake up.  In herbal medicine, this tea is often used for women to nourish the reproductive system and ease menstrual discomforts.  Herbalists also consider it a supportive herb to use during pregnancy.  No need to give you a TMI moment, but I will certainly say that I've seen enough evidence (in just two brewings) of this tea working in my body that I will be using it frequently when I feel the need to nourish my reproductive system.

Bonus:  The yogi wisdom of the day that is printed on the tea tag says, "The beauty in you is your spirit."