The Tao of Tea 500 Mile Chai, 8 Ounce Bag

I've been drinking 500 Mile Chai from Tao of Tea for some time but have previously only purchased it in the grocery store in 4oz. tins for around $10. Recently, I looked online to see if I could purchase it for less and was very surprised by so many negative reviews of the 8oz. bag. Since it was half the cost I was paying in the store, I had to buy this to see what was going on. I received my 8oz. bag and compared the contents to what was in my 4oz. tins. It looked and smelled exactly the same. Small curled tea leaf pellets with shredded pieces of clove, cinnamon and cardamom. I made a large cup and it tasted exactly the same as what I had been purchasing in the store. Then I noticed that, unlike the tins, the bag had absolutely no instructions on how to properly prepare this tea. This chai is different from many "Americanized" versions of chai. The tea leaves are prepared using the the "cut, tear and curl" method of processing. This is the most popular method of preparing tea in India and Southeast Asian countries. This method produces tea leaves that are thinner than most bulk teas and are curled into little balls. The little balls are not powder but thin, tightly curled tea leaves. This form is actually perfect for how this tea is supposed to be brewed. The form allows the full flavor of the tea and spices to emerge quickly and to create a deep, rich color with a high caffeine level. Unlike other teas, this chai is designed to be boiled - not steeped. Steeping will result in a drab tasting tea with little spice flavor. To experience the fullness of this chai, the tea must be boiled. For a 12oz. cup, I start with about 10 - 12 oz of water in a small stainless steel pot. Bring the water to a full roiling boil. Remove from heat and add 1.5 - 2 tsp of tea mixture directly into the pan and stir. Replace pan on heat and boil for at least 3 minutes. Then remove pan from heat and pour in about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of milk, soy milk, almond milk, etc.. Return pan to heat and boil for two more minutes. Remove from stove and pour the milk and tea mixture through a very fine strainer into your cup. Add sugar to taste. Following these instructions will result in a rich tasting, deeply colored, spiced chai. I hope this review is helpful to those who have experienced challenges with this tea because I think it is a delicious spicy chai at an excellent price.

First off, let me say this is truly a lovely blend of chai ingredients. I was a little hesitant at first about buying this brand of chai because of the mixed reviews. But I honestly have no regrets. The only thing I'd say about this is that the packaging should let its tea drinkers know that the tea needs to be brewed and not steeped. Not all loose leaf tea needs to be brewed and not all needs to be steeped. So placing this up would be helpful. I'm glad I read the reviews or I may had made the honest mistake at first and steeped my loose leaf chai rather than brew it. Apart from that I saw some complaints about the tea being bitter that I would like to address. Black tea depending on the type from English breakfast to earl grey ect, can be quiet bitter. Especially if you drink it black. The intensity of the bitterness at times depends on the manufacturer or maker if you will. Some chai brands are smooth, mild and creamy while others may be bold, bitter and a tad sweet. Chai over the years has been tweaked differently depending on the brand. But one thing to keeps in mind is that black tea to some degree always has a bitterness to it. Whether it's light, or heavy on the pallet. Also something to consider with loose leaf is the water to loose leaf ratio before you brew. If you're not certain experiment with it or simply look up a recipe for better measurement. Because depending on how much loose leaf you add to your water your tea may end more on the bitter side since the ingredients are more on the intense some what bitter side for this brand. The chai ingredients for this brand do contain spices. But if you're looking for that certain spicy kick you get from other brands you may not receive it with this one because there is no black pepper and the ginger isn't immensely strong. The flavors for this brand are very well balanced so they compliment one another. So feel free to add black pepper in if you'd like. If black pepper is currently not a house hold item for you, try a little smidge of cayenne it goes a long way and should give you the spicy kick you desire. One more thing, in the event that you accidentally brew your tea too bitter balance it out with a milk of your choice and add the sweeter you fancy. Happy Sipping!

The story of 500 Mile Chai originates with the truckers in India. Instead of Starbucks, these truckers stop at all night chai stands by the side of the road and ask for really strong chai to help get them through the next 500 miles of their drive. I have not driven all night after drinking this chai, but if I drink it too late in the day, I'll be running around the house late into the night. It definitely gives me a pick me up. Caffeine mileage will vary depending on your tolerance. This is my favorite go-to daily chai to purchase. It's stronger than a chai you'd buy at Starbucks. It takes a little effort to brew it up, but it's worth every minute. First you boil the chai leaves, then you add milk and boil for an additional couple of minutes. The loose black tea leaves look like little pellets because the leaves have been processed using the CTC method (Crush, Tear, Curl) which leads to a stronger, darker, faster brew. The one drawback I've found to CTC is that if I let the tea steep too long, it can become really bitter. The spices mixed with the black tea are organic and include cardamon, cloves, ginger, and cinnamon. It's a good chai base for adding additional spices like anise or black pepper, as well.