Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Tea + Hugh Jackman??

Today I came across a website for Laughing Man, a compnay started by Barry and David Steingard along with actor Hugh Jackman. They offer coffee, teas, chocolates and accessories. It looks like 100% of the profits go to charity. It appears that they are opening a cafe in NYC, which I'll have to add to my list of places to check out. Has anyone heard of the brand, or tried any of the teas? I'd love to learn more.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Just Peachy

Found an intriguing Israeli bottled Peach tea today from a company called Spring (I think Spring is what is written in Hebrew on the bottle as well). Decided to give it a try. Still tastes like 'bottled peach flavored tea drink', but better than that stuff they call 'the best stuff on earth'. Not something I'd drink all the time, but trying it was a fun little tea diversion for the day!

Friday, October 7, 2011

A Pleasant Chai Surprise

Last week I wrote about my favorite masala chai. I love making it from scratch for the taste, but also to interact with the ingredients. I like to watch the tea and spices dance around in the simmering milk, and experience the savory smell that permeates my kitchen. How could a pre-made chai compare?

A sample of Tipu's instant black chai was passed along to me, and I gave it a doubtful look. Most premixed chai products do not work well for me. All I usually taste is cardamom. I decided to open the package and give it a judgemental sniff. I was hit with the scent of fresh gingersnap cookies- ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. It was peppery, cardamom-y. It smelled amazing. Without further hesitation, I heated up some milk, and mixed in the powder and added a little sugar.

It tasted delicious. Exactly the flavor I expect from a good masala chai! The perfect amount of spice for me. I could taste all the requisite flavors, and there is a lingering black pepper and ginger hum. My only issue is that the texture remained grainy after preparation. Even though it's instant, I may try to strain it next time. Or try to get the milk even warmer to hopefully dissolve the mixture more successfully. Most other pre-made blends I've tried (including whole leaves/spices) are too heavy on one spice or another. For me, this blend is perfect. I still can't believe the flavors that developed in a powdered product.

The flavor is warming and uplifting. This is a wonderful tea to reach for when you can't make your chai from scratch. Perfect for travelling or in the office! I am pleasantly surprised by this product.