Tea: Serene Chai
A Chai / Spiced Tea from Epi Tea
This tea has been retired/discontinued.
Brand: | Epi Tea |
Style: | Chai / Spiced Tea |
Region: | Blend |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Loose? | Loose |
# Ratings: | 3 View All |
Reviewer: Alex Zorach
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✓ 1452 teas reviewed
✓ 31 of Chai / Spiced Tea
✓ 261 of Flavored Tea
✓ 5 of Epi Tea
✓ 317 of blends
Review of Serene Chai
July 25th, 2012
Aroma | Flavor | Value | Total |
7 of 10 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 5 | 67 of 100 |
Very Good | Good | Overpriced |
I had the opportunity to sample this tea before Epi Tea launched. Thank you, Kyle Ryan, for the samples!
This is a chai blend containing large pieces of broken-leaf orthodox tea, whole spices, and flavorings. Thankfully, the flavorings are subtle and are not overwhelming.
The instructions recommend me to brew this tea for 4-6 minutes; I was initially cautious, but this is a smooth tea and I find you can brew it this long with good results.
Although cinnamon is the main ingredient after tea, I was happy to find that the cinnamon was not overdone. The vanilla is noticeable, and adds a smoothness that is absent in most chai's, but it is subtle and does not overwhelm. I would not think of this as a Vanilla Chai so much as I would a masala chai that happens to include a hint of vanilla, blending naturally with the other spices. I find the ginger and pepper to leave a peppery finish, especially as one drinks the whole cup.
If I were blending this tea myself, I would probably omit either the vanilla, or the combination of ginger and red pepper; something about them is a bit incongruous.
This tea was able to produce a second cup. This cup was quite light in color, a golden amber, and the base tea had little presence, but the spices were still strong. The dominant aroma was ginger, with hints of cardamom, cinnamon, and a substantial pepper presence as well. Clean taste with a mild, peppery finish.
I'm a tough customer when it comes to pre-blended chai. This one falls short of my all-time favorite, which is Rishi's Masala Chai, and it's not exactly how I'd choose to blend my chai at home, but I found it to be both well-executed and original, and the ingredients were high-quality as well.
Although I thought this was a very impressive, high-quality chai blend, I still think it is priced prohibitively high, amounting to over 50 cents a cup.
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Comments:
![]() | Sylvia wrote: on July 26th, 2012 |
That sounds good.