Long Life Organic Green Chai (£2.79 for 20, Fresh & Wild)
DELICATELY
spiced green tea in a bag that takes ages to infuse. Can be sweetened
with honey (in the spirit of its impeccable organic credentials), but
the spicing doesn't stand up when milk is added.
To a tea: Lipton's Tchaé
Dragonfly Organic Cape Malay Rooibos Chai (£1.89 for 25, Tesco and other major supermarkets).
Caffeine-free
Rooibos tea gives a rich, rosy colour. Without milk, it is a fragrant,
refreshing cuppa, good hot or cold at any time of day, and with milk, a
comforting cure for insomnia.
Lipton Tchaé Oriental Spice (£1.59 for 25, Sainsbury's and other big supermarkets).
As
with many fruit teas, this is all smell and no flavour, except perhaps
for a lingering stewed-tea taste. The cinnamon assault doesn't go with
milk. Fails to deliver the peace, love and understanding promised in
the advertisements.
Waitrose Instant Chai Latte Original Spice (£1.99 for 325g tin).
There
are no words to describe how revolting this concoction is. Occupying
the Horlicks end of the chai market, it is only for lovers of burnt
rubber and hot toothpaste dispensed from a shaving-foam can. Vile.
Homemade masala chai
Simmer
1 pint/550ml water with a 1 in/2.5cm piece of cinnamon, 8 cardamom
pods, 8 cloves. Add 6fl oz/175ml milk and sugar to taste and bring back
to simmer. Throw in 3 tsp loose black tea, take off heat and leave to
steep for two minutes. Strain and serve.
