Apr 17
Vanessa’s Teaview Snapshot
 | "A green tea chai with a mild earthy and nutty flavor, and plenty of spice... I really enjoyed this blend."
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This is a nice twist on the standard black tea chai, offering the traditional masala chai spices (cloves, ginger, cardamom and cinnamon) over a kukicha green tea base. All of the ingredients in this blend are organic, which is a plus in my book. Yogic Chai's Kuki Chai Masala is a savory and spicy blend with just a hint of a smoky, earthy character. The tea's pale color is no indication of the level of flavor packed into the cup. In fact, the spices almost seemed just a bit too strong. I wouldn't go so far as to say that the spicy flavor was harsh, but this tea might pack too much a a punch for those who tend to be sensitive to spicy flavors. Cardamom and cloves are the most noticeable players in this brew. I prepared this chai in the traditional way, by adding generous amounts of milk and sugar. I must admit I was hesitant to add these ingredients to green tea, which normally is taken without milk and sugar, but the milk and sugar were an effective (and almost necessary) way to control the spiciness. Kukicha tea, which is made from the twigs of the tea plant, offered a mild nuttiness/earthiness that paired quite well with the masala spices. Yogic Chai's Kuki Chai Masala also offered a subtle smokiness (perhaps from roasting of the tea plant twigs) that distinguished it from the traditional black tea chai. I really enjoyed this blend, and look forward to sampling some other Yogic Chai products.
— To purchase Yogic Chai Kuki Chai Masala, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.
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April 19th, 2008 at 10:54 am
That is not Kukicha. Kukicha is an unroasted green tea made from the stems and leaf of the tea plant. That is most likely a Hojicha made from almost exclusively the stems picked during a third flush. It does sound like a good pairing for Chai! I am sure the roasted notes play well with the spices. But the name is rather deceptive and misleading.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Most people these days do think of Kukicha as an “unroasted” green tea made from the stems and leaf of the tea plant, but traditionally in Japan, according to the Nagata family, who has been producing organic teas in Japan since 1974, Kukicha, known as the peasant’s drink, is actually roasted and unfortunately little known in modern Japan.
I understand it can be confusing, since most tea vendors these days offer and un-roasted version of it and call it by the same name, but as one of the founders of Yogic Chai, it is important for us to educate the public about our blends.
Here is a full description of the Kukicha we use in our blend:
Yogic Chai Organic Kukicha is traditionally crafted and grown by the Nagata family of Uji. Following a method known as nature farming, the Nagatas have been producing organic tea without chemicals here since 1974.
KukiCha is prepared from select twigs and stems of the tea bushes harvested late in the season when the plant’s caffeine levels are at their lowest.
The twigs are steamed, dried, aged to develop their flavour, then roasted and mixed with a small portion of roasted tea leaves immediately prior to packing.
It contains only about one tenth of the caffeine of normal tea making it ideal for children and adults alike.
Ricardo Dacosta
Founder of Yogic Chai