Review: Monk's Chai
October has been so busy and exciting! Sadly, chai month is coming to an end, but it has been so great and so many of you have discovered I Try Chai through chai month. So if you’re a new I Try Chai fan, thank you for joining us and don’t go anywhere- this is your source for all things chai all year ‘round.
This is the final post of chai month, a review of a brand called Monk’s Chai.
Monk’s Chai reached out to me and sent me some of their chai so that I could taste and review it. This blend is an organic and handmade sticky chai from Australia. They currently sell their original chai blend online.
I was able to talk over the phone with their marketing professional John Anderson and learn more about the brand. Monk’s Chai puts emphasis on quality and sourcing. Something that stood out to me is that they source their Assam black tea from small organic family producers in India. As far as their spices, they have been able to source based on the taste they were looking for as well as the quality.
Another thing we discussed was how chai is a very universal concept. From what I have personally noticed is that each region has a different “style” or approach to chai. Just like each country has their own style of coffee, chai is the same way. I notice that many chai from the same area carry a distinct flavor profile.
Australia is home to the sticky chai, something that I have very mixed feelings on. As noted in previous sticky chai reviews, my problem with the concept was because it’s coated in the sweetener, the spices aren’t given a chance to shine through, creating an overly sweet end result with little flavor, and overall a very “muddled” experience. Going into tasting this I was a little weary with my past experiences with sticky chai, but this blend is different than the others (in a good way)!
This is the best sticky chai I’ve tried.
Let’s start at the beginning. Their packaging is very simple and straightforward, with a no-frills approach.
They include a flavor guide on the back, which is basically 3 different amounts of chai depending on your spice preference. The spiciest and my favorite is the Hero Dose which is bold and flavorful.
Because they sell to cafes as well as chai lovers at home, they include a barista method as well as a home method of preparation.
When you first open the package you can smell the spices right away (something important to me: I need a chai to smell like chai spice). Speaking of spices, let’s talk about some of the ingredients….
What makes this chai unique from others I’ve tried is that they include cayenne and pimento in addition to the typical chai spices. I’ve never seen this in a chai, but I have to say it works and adds that kick that I enjoy.
Because of that extra spice the flavors are able to shine through! Also, the agave they use for the sweetener is the perfect amount. Unlike other sticky chai, this one was not overly sweet and didn’t overwhelm.
Your mind tries to wrap around the different flavors and dimensions in the first few sips, as this is a more complex chai. As you continue to sip you love it more and more. You can taste the real ingredients, and it’s bold and smooth as promised.
As I said earlier, this is the best sticky chai I’ve tried so far! It was a pleasant surprise and has changed my view towards what a sticky chai can accomplish.
As far as process, one of the goals of a sticky chai is to make the chai experience convenient and simple. The sweetener is already in there, so you just need to add your milk of choice (Oat milk works well with this one).
It’s interesting to note that to make this, you slowly bring the heat up to a medium level for 4 minutes, but remove before boiling. Most chai requires it to come to a boil then back down to steep for however long. This slow process I believe drew out those spices in this blend and was very quick and easy to make.
I recommend this chai to more adventurous chai drinkers, as it has many layers of flavors and spice. This is also extremely easy and quick to make. If you love a chai with some kick and trying some non-basic chai, then give this a shot.
Thanks again to Monk’s Chai for having me taste test your blend!
They sell their chai on their website ( you can go there by clicking this link) in two different size packages: 1kg and 250g.
Disclosure: I Try Chai is a professional review site that receives compensation from some companies whose products we review. We taste test each product and give high marks to only the best. I Try Chai is independently owned and the opinions expressed here are always our own.
Monk’s Chai sent me free product to taste, and this review was paid for to guarantee a blog post placement. The opinions themselves were not paid for and are honest and unbiased.
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