Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Giving Oprah's Chai a Try


You've probably heard the news that Oprah Winfrey has created her own chai blend, sold through Teavana and Starbucks. I've read a few articles and watched a video of Oprah brewing her chai. Starbucks rolled out Oprah's beverages today, so of course I had to check them out.

I can't remember the last time I was in a Starbucks. Their teas are fine in a pinch, but I don't seek them out. A friend and I headed over to our local store to try out the chai. The drink is available hot or iced as a latte or just straight tea. Canisters of the blend are also available for purchase. I decided to try the latte, since I have a hard time finding one that I like. The last time I had a chai latte at Starbucks it was far too sweet for my taste. Oprah's latte is definitely a tad less sweet, but still a bit cloying. This could be easily remedied by asking for less sugar, or even going without it completely. The regular chai latte was a bit heavy, the foam masking some of the spices. But if you don't like your chai spicy it's not a bad thing. I will say I enjoyed the spice blend used in this chai. I could distinctly taste the ginger, clove, cinnamon and cardamom. The ginger and cloves lingered on my tongue long after I finished the drink. I think the blend is supposed to have rooibos as well as black tea, but I didn't taste the rooibos. This is fine with me, since I don't prefer it.

I enjoy creating my own chai at home, where I can control the spices and sweetness. Some mornings I'll make a large pot of it and take it to work in a thermos. But I will say this chai latte will definitely do if I'm out and about, craving something a little sweet and spicy. Perhaps now you'll spot me at Starbucks more than once a year.

A small portion of each chai product sold will be donated to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. Of course this is great press for Oprah but it's nice to know you're doing a little bit of good while sipping your latte. Like her or not, it's wonderful that Oprah is putting tea in the spotlight. Hopefully it'll urge more folks to give it a try.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Visit: Puff Cha


Tucked away on a quiet street in Hell's Kitchen is a new Thai cafe offering a tasty spin on the classic curry puff, along with other Thai dishes. More importantly, they have a large tea menu that's worth some attention.


I was happy to see a few selections of black, oolong, green, white, and pu-erh teas. There is also chai and lots of herbal choices. My friends and I all wanted different teas so we chose a cup each instead of a pot. When the teas arrived they smelled wonderful and tasted just as good.  I chose a Darjeeling oolong which was delicate and flavorful. On a separate trip I had the organic pu-erh which was also quite nice and a great pairing with the greasy (but delicious) puffs. My companions enjoyed their teas as well.

I did however have two small gripes. First, the cups don't have handles and are extremely hot to the touch. A thin napkin wrapped around the outside didn't help (seen in the first photo above). We had to wait quite a bit for the tea to cool before we could touch the cups. My second issue is with the infusers. I don't like using small restrictive infusers since the leaves don't get a chance to open and breathe. However, our teas were still quite tasty and satisfying. Our server was also attentive with hot water refills.

Pu-erh leaves
Puff Cha has a narrow but cheerful dining area. The staff is friendly and let you sit as long as you like. It's a cute place for lunch or a cup of tea and a pastry. If you are going to try a few of the curry puffs I'd recommend a pu-erh tea to wash it down, as eating more than one will definitely exceed your daily grease allotment. Next time I go back I will probably order a pot of tea, and one of the tempting sweets.

Puff Cha: 457 50th street NY, NY 10019- Recommended for a pot of tea and treats 

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Recap: The NY Coffee & Tea Festival


It's been over two weeks since the NY Coffee & Tea festival, and I finally have time for a recap! There was much to see, many people to meet, and good friends to share the experience with. As a full fledged introvert, it's never an easy time to wade through crowds and chat with new people.  But it was a wonderful day. I now have many more teas and companies to write about in the coming weeks!

There were large and small tea companies to feature, but since it would take days to document everyone, here are a few favorites that stood out:

One of the first booths to greet patrons was Owl's Brew. They had a long line last year, and this year was no different. Everyone wanted a sample of their delicious boozy tea drinks. I tried the 'classic' which includes sweetened English breakfast tea and lemon peel. I have to admit I was surprised at just how delicious it was. I made a mental note to swing back and pick up a bottle, but by the time I did they were sold out! They are in lots of local markets though, so I'll still be able to have a delicious springtime tea cocktail.


I've been following The Meaning of Tea on twitter and facebook for awhile, and I was happy to have a sample of their teas. I discovered they grow herbs for their teas at their organic tea farm in Vermont. I love that! I took home their Golden Monkey and Golden Lion Masala Chai teas, and I have to admit they are both quite good. The Masala Chai is a gorgeous mix of tea, herbs, and spices.Both teas need their own blog post (coming soon). I was also given this book, which I can't wait to read! I truly appreciated their kindness and generosity.


I had a fun chat with the guys from Andrews & Dunham and picked up a Spring Keemun, their latest release. I love their passion for tea, and their design aesthetic.
I've tried a few of their teas over the years, and they are all fantastic. They have the best promo materials, too. Love the pins and tattoos they gave out. They sell 'damn fine tea', indeed.


I was excited to see a booth for Joseph Wesley Black Tea, a relative newcomer to the industry with quality black teas. Joe himself was there, and it was lovely to meet him. I admire his passion and dedication to artisanal teas. I've tried a few of their teas, and can't wait to order more. A proper review will be coming soon. I am definitely hooked on their black teas.


If there was an award for the most cheerful folks, I think it would go to Simply Good Tea. These guys were happy, friendly, and thrilled to chat about their tea subscription company. They are trying to bring quality tea with added convenience and affordability. Definitely a great idea. They are currently taking subscriptions via indiegogo if you are interested in checking them out. I look forward to seeing more from them in the future.


The most memorable experience from the day is the tea and chocolate pairing event I attended. Jo Johnson is one of the most elegant and passionate tea people I've met. She gave a fabulous and informative presentation. Doesn't drinking tea and nibbling on chocolate sound like an amazing way to spend the morning? Everyone sitting around me fully enjoyed the interactive presentation.

I was also able to quickly say hello to Niraj from Happy Earth Teas which was lovely, but too brief. Hopefully we'll have more time to chat when we visit family up in Rochester.I also met up with two old friends and we walked the booths together. It was great fun to hear about what samples they liked and didn't. We sampled, walked, and chatted the afternoon away.