Republic of Tea Chai Black Tea Review

An Enjoyable But Not Really Spicy Chai Tea

Summary : This tea is very enjoyable. But...if you are searching for a really true spicy tea, you won't find it here. Instead of spice, this tea provides a very subdued, yet quite pleasant, flavor.

Review : Have no fear...chai tea is here. Well, that is my motto anyways when I'm in the mood for something that has some kick to it...or is spicy, if you will. Of course, chips and salsa also works. But alas...have you noticed how many calories are in tortilla chips? I'm nice and thin, with a big help from tea, and really don't want to pack the pounds again. So I'll pass on the tortilla chips, thank you...despite loving chips and salsa to death.

Where was I? Oh yes, spicy teas. That is what I found myself in the mood for on a slow Saturday evening. And it just happened that the first spicy tea to show itself from my tea assortments was a black chai tea from the Republic of Tea.

This chai tea from the Republic of Tea contains the following ingredients : Finest Assam and Darjeeling black tea blended with cinnamon, orange peel, ginger, coriander, cardamon seed, chinese star anise, cloves and black pepper.

Here is how the Republic of Tea describes this things : "Rich imperial spices are combined with fine Northern India tea leaves to create a hearty, flavorful cup."

Admittedly, I was a bit concerned by the "laundry list" of ingredients that went into this tea. Why? Simple, while I enjoy pepper chai teas (or those chai teas that have lots of pepper in them), I've found that all too often the amount of pepper in the tea is way overdone...killing off every other flavor.

Thankfully, you can usually tell if the pepper has been "overdone" in a chai tea simply by the teas aroma out of the bag. And in this case, happily, that strong pepper smell was fortunately absent.

The aroma of the tea is instead a rather interesting mix of ginger, cinnamon and black pepper. These three ingredients seem to mix together to produce a rather unique fragrance, and one I had never come across before in a chai tea.

The flavor of the tea was also a bit surprising. On the first sip, you will not be wowed by a strong or spicy flavor. It seems that Republic of Tea went easy on all the spicy things in this tea, such as the pepper and cinnamon. Make no mistake, there is some spice in tea. However, in comparison to other chai teas I've had, the "spice level" of this tea is on the weak side.

Rather interestingly, though, is what happens to the "spice level" in the after-taste. Like many other chai teas that have pepper in them, the after-taste is rather long-lasting and is spicy. Quite spicy, in fact. Thus, when drinking this tea don't expect a big spicy pop immediately. Instead, wait for the after-taste effects to kick in...which is where the spice level of this tea shows itself.

Overall, I enjoyed this tea. While not as spicy as other chai teas, the flavor is still quite enjoyable. And despite the pepper in the tea, the flavor of the tea is not dominated by the pepper...although the after-taste sure is.

Recommendation : Yes. This tea is mildly spicy in comparison to other chai teas, but the flavor of the tea is just plain enjoyable, with the pleasant flavor of a weak cinnamon and ginger predominating. The after-taste will soon kick in, though...giving you a long-lasting spicy flavor of black pepper.

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