Maharaja Chai/Samurai Chai Tea Blend

Teavana was nice enough to include a 1 oz sample of their blend: Maharaha Chai Ooolong/Samurai Chai Tea Blend. I’m still learning what sort of teas that I like, and apparently I love chais. This was delicious. I didn’t even have to add milk, just a little bit of sugar to bring out the spices and its a nice delicious winter blend. Out of all the teas I have tried yet, this one is by far my favorite and I never would have even thought to order it!

I had this one again to help prepare me for an extra long day at work.

boss lady: do you think you can come in four hours early?
me: umm, I’d have to leave right now to make it on time
boss lady: yay! see you soon!
me: wait, what

The spice perks me up at least. I’d love to branch out try some more chai teas though.

I had some of this earlier and it’s mixed with Teavana’s Rock Sugar already. As I don’t usually add things to my teas I might not be the best judge on this flavor so I will not rate it. Here are some of my findings, tho…

I thought the chai spices were present but also interrupted by the tropical fruits such as the pineapple. I also thought it was interrupted by the rock sugar. It was spicy but it was also very sweet. It was tropical but it was herbally. It was carob like but it was rooibos-eques as well as mate-based, AND oolong based. It just seems like there was too much jammed into this one to make it awesome. Having said that…it’s not awful, just not my fave. Too many interruptions for my tongue but I’m sure good on someone elses.

I received a sample of this with my recent Teavana order. So first of all, all of Teavana’s free samples come pre-rock-sugared which I am not a fan of. In fact, I had previously given these samples away, but something about this blend called my name and I had to try it.

So, I de-rock-sugared it. It’s not that hard if you put the tea in a glass jar, the rock sugar clinks against the glass and then you just need to fish it out. I found it amusing that Teavana says this will only make 16oz. Even without the rock sugar, you can easily get 4+ teaspoons out of the sample and that for me will make 2 16oz mugs of tea (not counting resteeps). So there, Teavana!

Anyway, this is a pretty tasty blend. I got 2 steeps out of my leaves. I think I managed to get all of the rock sugar out as it wasn’t sweet at all, till I added my own sweetener. It’s not the most exciting chai out there, but it has loads of cinnamon which I have been loving recently so it’s really hitting the spot.

This is a chai for people who don’t like traditional chais, or at least that’s my impression. The blend of spices is quite different from what I’m used to in chai and much more pleasing to my taste buds than I expected, and I am quite fond of the type and amount of sugar that Teavana has placed in the sample packet (although I do understand why it is irritating to some people). Very nice; it’s times like this that I wish Teavana was cheaper, because I can easily see this becoming a comfort tea.

Received this as a sample with my Heavenly Sale order. The little card said to dump the entire 1oz sample into a PerfectTea Maker. I don’t have one of those.

The last sample I got from them was so strong that I was able to use just a teaspoon for an 8oz cup. Figuring this would be a similar case, I used two teaspoons for my large penguin mug. No milk, no sugar. This resulted in a weak tea that was full of cinnamon flavor, with a bite of spice at the end.

I realized just now it says 1oz tea to 16oz of water. That’s a LOT of tea. While I like this, I don’t see myself shelling out that kind of money for a cup of tea. I couldn’t even do that for my favorite teas, and this wouldn’t be one of them. I realize that half of this sample pouch is full of sugar, but still.

Btw, Teavana, can I get a sample that is not sugared someday? I mean, I REALLY appreciate the free tea, but coming from a family of diabetics, I try to watch how much sugar I take in. Your samples do not allow me to try your teas unsweetened, or with honey, ect. Marketing something as “Healthy!!! OMG!!!” and then dumping a whole bunch of rock sugar into it is silly. This one was REALLY sweet. I honestly think I would have liked it better if I could have added my own sugar, or had it plain.

Just finished off my sample… Brewed it extra strong and added a splash of half & half… YUM!

This tastes almost exactly like Good Earth tea. So much so that I am struggling to find any other way to describe it. Super cinnamony with ginger and other spicy goodness. If you’ve had Good Earth tea, this tastes the same to me.

I received this tea today in a swap from VariaTEA is the Spice of Life. Thank you so much for including this sample.

I’ve been drinking this for most of the evening, and I’m still not sure what to say about it. First off the dry leaves smell AMAZING. I dove right into this one. It looks like a typical Teavana Tea, lots of stuff but not much recognizable tea. SHRUG that’s ok, it smells good.
On the first few sips I was really impressed. Warm and spicy but not the same spices that I think of as being in a typical chai. This is different. As it cools, I’m getting something way in the back that I can’t quite place. Strange, hmmmmm, what is that, spearmint? winter mint? why am I tasting mint in my chai…?
I steeped another cup, and again I really like it hot, but something changes as it cools. I’m giving this an 85 when it’s hot and 60 when it’s cooler…….
Thanks again VariaTEA for this experince.

Hmm….When Teavana changed the blend they promote in store from the White Ayurvedic to this, I was skeptical. Why change a good thing? But I’ve come to love this equally as much as the old blend, and drink both now. This is much more spicy, very robust cinnamon flavor.