My affections for Chai and affectation for its taste is well documented within this blog site. The blogs post here captures my love for Chai-making and chai-consuming. Among the various places starting from my home to street chai is a journey for another blog altogether.
But then, please do checkout the following blogs for my attitude toward chai:
- Chai Ki Chuskee | A Sip of Tea
- Home version Tea Ceremony
- Patti’s Bronze Filter Coffee Maker
- Brewing a Poetic Cup of Tea
When you reading the above listed posts you will have a better understanding of my take on Teabox’s Authentic Indian Chai Trail Pack.
Teabox’s Authentic Chai Trail Pack comes with 10 variety of chai samplers. They are the following 10 sample packs of 30gms each.
- Assam Masala
- Jaipur Masala
- Punjab Masala
- Rasayana Ayurvedic
- Kolkata Street
- Bombay Cutting
- Kadak
- Kashmiri Saffron Rose
- Rajasik Ayurvedic
- Wayanad Cardamom
I would split these ten samplers into four categories to get a better grip on how I precieve them based on the five sensory experience.
- Masala chai
- Chaiiwala’s Chai
- Medicinal Chai
- Power Pack Chai
Masala chai
My first sample that I tried out was Assam Masala Chai. I found the tea to be strong and filled with the popular Indian Masala that is usually added separately in our household during the brewing process. It reminded me of mummyji’s homemade masala. It was usually made with south and north spices. It was a huge hit with me! I even now remember how I used to pester her to find the secret behind her Masala mix.
Assam Masala: Given that I have been making the evening Chai at home since my junior high school. The flavouring of the masala is strong and blends easily with CTC tea leaves. The intensity of this chai can be regulated based on the duration of steeping. Once the milk is added if the boiling point of the tea is reduced and left to simmer then, you can pretty much control the concentration of the masala taste in the chai.
Jaipur Masala: This was the next one that I tried, and I found the unusual twist in the ingredients such orange skins gave the chai has a unique mellowness to it. I initially feared that the chai might be a little sharp and pungent, but, surprisingly it was not!!! This chai was the go-to chai and scored high in my favouritism scorecard for the trail pack.
Punjab Masala: This chai had a different taste to it that, I was not aware of, it tasted like the Chai we made using gota masala pieces that are often add to the water and brought to a boil before the tea leaves go into it. The cinnamon, cloves, and fennel seeds that are directly added with some light pounding of the masalas. I was not moved by this chai, but then, I did not dislike it either! Just didn’t seem special to me.
Chaiiwala’s Chai
Kadak Chai: This chai was the first Teabox product that I bought back in 2023. The trail pack was 2024 purchase. This chai tasted strong and had a slight bitter taste if it is overboiled for a long period. But, I liked the bitter aftertaste. I enjoyed this chai a lot.
Bombay Cutting Chai: I was intrigued by the label of the chai; it was Bombay and not Mumbai, I wonder why?!! This brought back memories of drinking chai from the Bombay’s street side outlet and those drunk during the train travel in mutka that is broken rather irresponsibly on random places. Whenever the train enters the Maharashtra state, the chai around the region had unique quality to it. It could also be that it was our first visit outside Chennai. My sister and I visited our first uncle who lived in Mumbai and we were traveling with my father’s second cousin who was our Athai and Athimber.
Kolkata Street Chai: This chai had no reference to connect my taste buds. This chai did taste different from the other chai that I had sampled. But my imagination, is the rogue in the chai tasting, it took me back to trams and Howrah Bridge. Did it evoke old 60’s and 70’s black & white movies, sure it did!!!
Medicinal Chai
Rasayana Ayurvedic Chai: emotionally felt comforting and calming. The chai brewing intensity had to be adjusted because this chai on an empty stomach was quiet calming though I kept thinking about the legiyam taste it was rather overshadowed by my Ayurvedic connotations.
Rajasik Ayurvedic Chai: as its term indicates that Ayurvedic field relates to more sharp and vigorous taste. This chai is quick fix to any unbalanced doshas as per Ayurvedic medical science. The three states are sattvic, rajasik, tamasic and an imbalance in the three results in ailments. The practitioners of Ayurveda try to balance these three elements.
Power Pack Chai
Kashmiri Saffron Rose Chai: was an incredible chai for me, mainly it contains ingredients that I had never tried before like the saffron and the shred petals of rose. The colour of the chai was endearing, inviting, and pleasantly charming!
When the chai is simmered for a slightly longer period then you can experience the slight taste of saffron and rose. Unlike the masala chai this one rent my experience of chai and allowed me to explore in imagination of the place of origin of the ingredients.
Wayanad Cardamom Chai: It is my go-to chai when I am inclined to have cardamom in my cuppa! Then, this fragrant green spice is an outstanding experience in taste. Among my late uncles, the youngest uncle liked the way I made cardamom chai for him. On a rare occasion, I had made chai for Chittappa and Chitti when they visited us.
The ten sample packets of the various regions chai almost covering the north, south, east, and west of India gave me a joyous experience. Though, I still had difficulty in understanding some tastes such as Punjab and Kolkata as I haven’t visited these places. I have gone to Rajasthan, Pilani, and my travel around India is limited to just few places. Yet, while exploring the varied chai tastes can only happen when the inner cultural reference points are well mashed with personal experiences in those states.
Since, I lacked the experience of the place but I could still relate to the chai I was drinking. So, I feel the trail pack is a great way to explore the kind of Chai that would fit your morning routine. Well, I don’t have anything say about the caffeine content, but you could limit the consumption based on how much caffeine your system can handle.
Trail Pack Experience Rating
I would rate the trail pack a four star out of five ( 4 of 5 Stars). Since, I felt the chai packets were truly a joy to experience and have a sensory roundup of smell, touch, sight, taste, and then, eventually to the sound of chai ki chuskee!
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