Bitter Orange Chai

THE STORY BEHIND THE TEA:
I love tinkering with chai recipes, especially for Chai Month; feels like you can throw the kitchen sink in a chai and still end up with a unified flavor profile. (This is one mistake some junior tea makers make: trying to make things too complicated.) In this case, we twist a classic pairing, orange and spice. Don’t be put off by the title – it’s full-bodied citrus, with crisp spice and refreshing botanicals that dance and play with each other on the palate.

A bit of background: This is a recreation of a chai I had in a literary cafe in Florence, Italy. It’s said to bring one good health in all seasons — especially if you have a piece of chocolate with it. A true chai conversation starter.

— Andy