Thursday, September 29, 2011

My Favorite Masala Chai

Indian Masala Chai is such a delicious drink. I love the blend of spices with black tea, sugar, and milk. It's one of the only times that I like to add milk and sugar to my tea. Its effects are soothing yet invigorating at the same time. Perfect any time of the day, and in any weather. I prefer to drink it either alone, or after a meal since the spices can mask flavors in food. I started thinking about the many variations of the drink this afternoon, after picking up a perfect version at a local Indian take-out joint.

There are numerous blends on the store shelves, and even pre-mixed chai in containers. You can also find it at just about any corner cafe, usually billed as a 'chai latte'. I've had  many versions of masala chai, but my favorite is when I make it at home. I prefer it light on the cardamom, but strong with ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Cooking it down with milk and sugar is a must for me. I usually use this version as a guide but tweak it depending on my mood. Endless recipes exist for masala chai, and many that claim to be the most authenic. It seems that many people in India have their own favorite recipe. I love this article where filmmaker Mira Nair explains her version of the brew. This article is from a few years ago, but is actually a great little read that I often think of while drinking chai. She refers to the chai as Matka Chai, which appears to mean the type of vessel it is served in, but I'm not completely sure. If anyone knows please enlighten me.

Chai lovers, how do you make yours? Do you prefer if hot or cold? Do you use a pre-made blend, or make your own? Do you brew it in a pot with the milk and sugar, or add it separately? The flavors are versatile and even work well in everything from ice cream to cookies. Feel free to share any favorite recipes for chai tea goodies!

Friday, September 23, 2011

Steep Thoughts- the Reviewing Teas edition


While steeping an Irish Breakfast blend from The Boston Tea Company, it occurred to me that I enjoy reviewing teas, but I don't often read reviews from others. I will try a tea based on the type and quality, or merely out of curiosity. I try to keep an open mind to try as much as possible. I post tea reviews as an outlet for expression. I enjoy writing and thinking about tea as a personal experience. I like reading reviews that give me a bit of insight into the author, but I don't use the review as fact. Tastes are so different, and a flavor that one person picks up may be missed by another. Overall, tea reviews have helped me steer clear of products of poor quality and also remind me to try new teas that sound interesting. But I won't jugde a product just on a taster's notes alone. Preparation can vary as well, which may change the taste. I like to slightly oversteep my black teas because I prefer a stronger brew. Positive reviews certainly help spark my interest in a tea, but it's not the deciding factor.

Tea friends, what do you do? Do you read endless tea reviews for guidance, or do you have a different method for selecting teas? I think I've seen other bloggers discuss this issue in the past.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Kandy Kandy Kandy I can't let you go...

While waiting in line at a local upscale grocery, I remembered we were out of black tea. My son started howling and the shop is very small, so I just grabbed the first tea that jumped out at me. I ended up with Kandy from Steven Smith Teamaker. I noticed it was bagged, but the minimalist look to the box intrigued me. Yes, I'm sadly a sucker for packaging, especially when a toddler meltdown is imminent. Anything to distract me from the inbound storm of tears and sobs.

I had seen this brand in a few of the 'fancier' shops native to Brooklyn and made a mental note to give it a try. A little research on the company revealed it is a small retailer based in Portland. The founder has quite a pedigree in popular tea- he helped form Stash as well as Tazo before striking out on his own.

Kandy is named after the city in Sri Lanka. For those that didn't know, Sri Lanka was formerly named Ceylon. I certainly didn't know that before I became interested in black tea. This tea is a combination of three types of Ceylon: Dimbulla, Uva and Nuwara Eliya.

The brew has a sweet honey scent. It smells like a quality Ceylon blend. The taste is rich and full bodied. It reminds me of Cacao nibs and toasted butterscotch. It is very smooth, not a hint of bitterness. The finish is slightly tannic, and citrusy. This tea yields a satisfying cup. It's perfect for a chilly, misty morning, or as an afternoon lift. Or anytime, really. Coffee drinkers would enjoy this one as it is dark and rich. Milk and sugar could certainly be added if desired.

As the tea cools down I start to notice a spicy bite. I've mentioned before that I like my tea nice and warm, but not hot. It always intrigues me when the flavor changes as the tea cools.

This is an expensive box of tea, especially for a bagged product. But it is very enjoyable, and of good quality.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

A Lighter Shade of Fail

I had heard a bit of chatter about a California based cafe that recently opened in the garment district called The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Tea is in the name, so I put it high on my list of places to try. Wading through the garment district at lunchtime is no easy feat, but I dodged my way around scowling glam women, interns carrying gallons of coffee, and blue-shirted businessmen. The line was long, but I decided to wait and see what all the hype was about. Glancing around I didn't see any tea canisters or anything resembling tea at all. Eventually I noticed a few jars at the front of the store that appeared to have teabags in them. To ease the line congestion an employee was taking orders from the line. When I asked for an unflavored black tea, I was met with a blank stare. He went to ask the barista what black teas they had, and then came back and said 'blueberry'. Um, I asked for an unflavored tea, so I tried again. After a second trip over to the barista the answer was 'English Breakfast'. Really? Their website boasts the origin and quality of their teas. According to said website they have a few nice looking black teas, but no one in the store seemed to know about that. I decided that it wasn't worth continuing my line of questioning. I left. Perhaps I'll try to go back when the line is shorter and my tolerance is higher.

On my way back to work I passed Boi to Go, a little Vietnamese take-out place. I was hungry and decided to try some dumplings. While I was waiting I noticed that they had bubble teas. After my first disappointment, I was thrilled to see this. Sadly, the bubble teas were pre-made and waiting in a case. If it wasn't so busy in the shop, I would have asked if they could be made fresh. But I was desperate for refreshment. I picked up a black tea with boba, my usual go-to for bubble tea. It was far too sweet and didn't really taste like tea, but it still softened the earlier disappointing blow. I will try to give The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf another try, perhaps during an off hour. If anyone has tried their tea, please let me know!

Friday, September 9, 2011

Yes, a bagged tea

Summer is basically over, and life has been quite hectic for the past couple of weeks. I've desperately needed tea to keep me going. The other day I noticed that I was out of loose tea, but I had a box of Chinese Breakfast bagged tea from Numi I was saving for a rainy day. I was reluctant, but needed that caffeine, so I busted into the box. I have enjoyed many loose leaf teas from Numi, so I had high hopes.

The package says this is a 'Full-bodied Yunnan black tea'. The brew smelled malty and earthy. I was reminded of crisp fall days spent raking crunchy leaves. The taste was equally malty, with a rich full body. This tea is very smooth, with hardly any bitterness at all. There are slight notes of honey, pepper, and leather as well. A surprising amount of flavor from a tea bag! The box mentions there are lingering floral notes, but I didn't taste any. I will probably try again, making sure the water is sufficiently hot.
It is the perfect time of year to discover this tea. The color and aroma evoke cool fall afternoons, which is further enhanced by the earthy taste. The smooth, comforting flavor is perfect for warming up on a chilly fall day. If only I could curl up with a mug under a cozy blanket and a good book! Not this week, but perhaps sometime soon.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

And now, Steep Thoughts...The Music Edition


Today I noticed the experience of listening to music is similar to drinking tea.

I like to close my eyes and let the music affect my feelings. I'll let my mind wander, controlled by the rhythm and melody, occasionally anchored by a few lyrics. Often when I am observing a cup of tea, I'll let the flavor lead my mood to a new place, while I relax my body. I absorb the flavors similarly to how I digest music. Both become a form of spiritual meditation.

Tea may not cause the same dynamic range of emotions as listening to music, but it's an escape from reality. A secret experience. It also acts as a pause, to reflect on my life and family.

Both music and tea help me get through difficult situations, giving me the time to process thoughts and emotions.

What's your steep thought for the day?