Review of Rooibos Coco Chai

AromaFlavorValueTotal
7 of 103 of 51 of 552 of 100
Very GoodFairNot Worth Paying For

As with their other product that I have reviewed (Bombay Masala Chai), the concept is great, but the execution is lame. The sachets only contain around 1/5 their volume of dry product, which (as can be expected with rooibos) doesn't expand very much when wet, leaving the wet bags still 1/4 full or less. What a waste of space! How about putting more in each...a lot more? That at least would give this product two advantages: stronger flavor per serving, which is sorely needed given the tea's overall good quality, and closer to some value for the high price (around 8 bucks in store and over $10 online) for just 15 sachets that are woefully underfilled.

I rated the flavor only as "fair" because, generously, that's how it would be at a normal one-bag-per-cup dosage. Double up, as they should do with the content of each bag, and the flavor tastes like a high-quality rooibos chai instead of a feeble, diluted, faint facsimile of one. [That also cuts the already poor value down to lowest possible, however.] When doubling up, this becomes a fairly dark, rich rooibos with a well-balanced chai flavor spanning mainly cardamom, cinnamon, and vanilla, and a hint of coconut. I can say the same for aroma as flavor, both for the single-serving and doubled-up doses. Opening and sniffing the dry tin writes a delicious check that reality can't cash. Too bad...this product has great potential if the manufacturers didn't shortchange volume *and* grossly overprice it at the *same time*!

[Addendum] Now that I've finished the tin, two bags at a time, I also should report that 4 of the 15 sachets split open along seams, while being gently and necessarily swirled in the hot water to release more flavor. This let plant material into the water, and indicates that the sachets not only are underfilled, but poorly made. Any temptation to bring the "value" score off the floor is gone now.

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