ICHAI Review: Spicy Chai

Indians and chai is a bond, and, only an Indian can understand that. In India, chai is more than just a cup of tea to start the day. It is a ritual, a habit and a conversation opener. A pot of boiling water with aromatic spices, loose tea, sugar and milk is an everyday scene in Indian houses. Tea is always paired with some snacks-sweet or sacoury. At my home we are always keen on trying new tea brands and thats why when Ichaitea approached me for review I agreed in one go. I was sent some tea pouches samples, a tin of spiced tea and tea infuser.

The brand is the brainchild of Dr Helen Saini (PhD), who previously worked as a plant biologist developing better tasting, healthier plants for Unilever. Newly launched spiced loose leaf tea brand called ICHAI  has 8 different varieties of chai that have some interesting wellbeing benefits  and uses specialist milling and blending techniques (which are unique to the brand) that ensure the best possible retention of taste & aroma after packaging. 

Forget instant mixes and too-sweet syrups to get your chai fix this year. Instead explore the new range of ICHAI spiced teas for a traditional taste of India. Each of these eight all-natural, speciality teas are blended and packaged at ICHAI HQ to ensure the best, freshest taste, using only the finest quality loose leaf black tea and containing absolutely no artificial flavours, additives or preservatives.

I tried Spicy Chai: A deeply warming with the taste of ground cinnamon, green cardamom, black pepper, cloves and ginger, making it the perfect blend for a chilly day.  It reminds me of the massla chai that we have in India. I was also sent a tea infuser which gave me that ‘perfect tea’.

Make sure you shake the tin or foil pouch before you remove any ICHAI to achieve the most even distribution of tea and spices. Use one to two heaped teaspoons of ICHAI per person, depending on how strong you like it, add freshly boiled water and cover immediately to lock in the aroma because the volatile component of ICHAI is an important contributor to the overall flavour. If you are making ICHAI in a mug then some infusers come with a lid - but if you don't have an infuser with a lid then just use a saucer.

Remember –‘a cup of tea can make everything better.’ Accompany this tea with cookies, bread, biscuits, Indian snacks-well almost anything and everything. If you know someone who loves tea then I feel ICHAI is also a great gift idea.

All ICHAI blends are available from ICHAItea.com in 25g and 125g pouches, with half the range also available in 75g caddies.

Disclaimer: I was not paid or told to write positive review. The post is based on my experience and is unbiased. Thanking ICHAI  for sending tea to review.