Star Anise Masala Chai

This was my second flavor of Blue Lotus Chai I've tried, and they've all been excellent. The Star Anise gives this one a very subtle licorice flavor. This stuff is 100x better than other powders that have sugar and milk already included. In fact I just tossed a $10 can of that other stuff because it's not even worth drinking compared to this. I've been drinking a cup of Blue Lotus Chai religiously as my wake-up cup for the better part of a year. Let me share some preparation tips. I'm an impatient guy so I try to do things as quickly as possible. So to make my tea, I take a 2-cup pyrex measuring cup and add 4 oz water and 4oz of whole milk. I toss in a regular tea bag (Lipton or whatever) to add some extra tea flavor to the mix, and then microwave it for 2:30. (YMMV depending on microwave wattage) This gets it just hot enough without boiling over and making a mess. I then add some tea masala (Indian tea spice) for extra flavor and finally add my tiny spoon of Blue Lotus and 2 tsp of sugar. Quick and delicious! I used to make chai the traditional way by boiling the milk and water on the stove and adding loose tea to steep as it simmered. Took some time and was messy. This microwave chai is just about as good and way more convenient. If you like chai I don't think you'll be disappointed. Try my suggestion above of adding a tea bag to the mix, because I do find the powder is a bit weak by itself, but the addition of the tea bag and the masala makes everything just right. As for the peppery taste mentioned by others - yes, it has a tiny bit of bite, but really, just a tiny bit. The masala I add actually gives it more bite, but even then it's pretty mild. I have no desire to burn my tongue with pepper while drinking a sweet tea, and this doesn't come close to doing that, though I guess some are more sensitive to the taste than others.

Great taste! Love the star anise flavor and how nice and spicy it tastes.

Favorite flavor :)

I'm half-way through my tin of this product, so I am ready to write a review. I usually make my own chai on the stove in a pot with black tea bags and spices. First off, the convenience factor of this product is great... just heat water and milk and stir in the powder. It IS quick and easy. The flavor is different from my own chai and others I have tried...the ginger/spiciness is extremely strong, but the other flavors are barely detectable. I have no idea how anyone makes a cup of good chai by following the directions on the label... I have to use three times as much powder in a very small cup to get something that doesn't taste like dishwater. I use half a cup of milk and half a cup of water, which is what the label calls for (the directions on the Amazon page call for only 2 oz of milk, which contradicts the label on the tin, which says 4 oz water and 4 oz milk). I find that the flavor gets better as I gradually sip the product, which means that even though it says "no steeping", the spices really do need time to develop in the hot liquid. My big beef is that I would not have spent $17 on this if I'd known how few cups it would actually make. I would probably pay 1/3 that price again, however.

I have tried multiple chai brands. They are often weak and lack body. This brand, however, is extraordinary. It's bold and rich, and wonderfully spiced. It makes a perfect chai latte.

I’d be hard pressed to recommend a chai powder more, first tried them from a local / speciality store about a decade ago. Keep coming back to Blue Lotus Chai. For the price, you can’t beat the integrity of ingredients and flavor. Quality! To be honest, I much prefer concentrated syrups and chai mixes, but they are so spendy. Nice packaging and little wooden spoon are a nice touch. I used this to make about a couple pints of my own chai syrup, couldn’t be any more pleased. Note that you have to mix with boiling water, however you use it needs boiling water or it can be a little gritty. You have to wake up the spices and the tea. You control the sweetness and the spiciness. This blend in particular has the really strong licorice-y anise on top of all the other typical chai spices. The smell is incredible, but make no mistake, when they say anise they mean it! Anise, ginger, and cardamom warmth in your mouth for sure. Perfect fodder for a dirty chai.

I am a chai tea fanatic and when I saw this powder I thought I’d give it a try. It took a bit of experimenting, even with the instructions, to get the flavor and dissolving balanced out, but I have been pleasantly surprised by our tasty it is. You must like star anise as it is quite strong in this mix, but I like it a lot. I also like that there are no sweeteners added, so I can add my own to taste. I also add a little creamer as chai tea is classically sweetened and mild added. I had an East Indian coworker who used to bring me her homemade chai tea and while this is not quite as good, it is a very close second. I hesitated to buy these because they seem a little expensive, but you use such a small amount and the flavor is so nice that it really is worth it.

Without a doubt the best flavored Chai out there and all of these within this brand are similar in quality. Knowing how to mix with the right ingredients makes your Chai base so much more flavorful with depth. I mix this with another sweeter brand of Chai and you will never go back to those Big Coffee Chain versions of Chai again.