Organic Masala Chai Rooibos
Our organic, Fair Trade Certified Masala Chai Rooibos loose leaf blend offers soothing herbal qualities combined with the "zip" of masala chai spices (including cardamom, ginger, cinnamon) and the creamy richness of vanilla. Rooibos (pronounced ROY-bus), grown in South Africa, is known to be one of the more relaxing beverages one can brew. The needle shaped leaves of the rooibos bush, (Aspalathus linearis) produce a caffeine-free drink that is noted by nutritionists and health consultants the world over for its soothing character. In contrast, masala chai renders an overtly spicy brew. Interestingly, the mixture of these two distinct characteristics gives this chai a lovely sense of balance. For the real chai experience, combine a concentrated infusion of our Masala Chai Rooibos blend with warmed milk and honey!
Ingredients: organic and Fair Trade Certified South African rooibos, organic cinnamon, organic ginger root, organic cardamom, and organic vanilla flavor
What are Flavored Teas?
Our delicious flavored teas use the same top-quality organic tea that we offer in our unflavored varieties, but are blended with pieces of real fruit, spices, flowers, and 100% natural flavors. When blending our teas, our goal is to create a cup that balances the taste of the tea with the flavors of the additional ingredients so that neither one overpowers. All of the natural flavors we use are either extracts taken directly from the botanical ingredient, or extracted using 100% GMO-free grain alcohol as a solvent. You can rest assured that none of the flavors used in our blends are synthetically or artificially derived, and do not use artificial preservatives.
Steeping Instructions
At Arbor Teas, we believe tea should be brewed to suit your personal taste. We’re happy to make recommendations to get you started, but don’t hesitate to experiment! When brewing your tea, your main considerations are tea quantity, water temperature, and steeping time. We recommend herbal and rooibos teas to be steeped for 5 to 7 minutes in water heated to a full rolling boil. For the best flavor, use fresh water whenever possible, and avoid overboiling. If you want a stronger brew, just use more tea. And don’t forget to re-steep your tea leaves to get the most out of your leaf!
Looking for more info? Check out our How-To Guides and Eco-Brewing Tips!
Staff Perspectives
Chelsea
"I love the spices in chai, but I always crave it at night. I love making this as a night cap!"
Trish
"One of my favs to end the day with. This is a softened version of the Masala Chai Black Tea. I love to steep it and drink it without any add ins... it's so flavorful, yet it doesn't need all the milk and honey!"
Sarah
"My favorite way to make this is a Masala Chai Latte! I like whole milk and honey stirred in, so yummy!"
Health Benefits
Rooibos (aka “red tea”) boasts an array of beneficial health properties. Like true tea, rooibos has a high concentration of antioxidants, and is the only known source of aspalathin, a particularly potent antioxidant. Green rooibos tends to have even higher levels of antioxidants than red rooibos, but both have enough to measurably raise the levels of antioxidants in the blood. Rooibos is also rich in flavonoids; compounds likely to have anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial benefits. Lastly, rooibos is low in tannins, making it less bitter than true tea.
For more information about the health benefits of Rooibos, and for direct sources of the above information, check out our Rooibos Health Benefits page!
Please note: the information above is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Indian Masala Chai
Masala Chai (or simply referred to as “Chai”) has been a tradition throughout India for centuries. This spicy hot beverage is a brew of Indian black tea with a unique blend of spices, typically including cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom and pepper, although the recipe varies region to region. Chai is consumed morning and afternoon by many Indian families, and is customarily the first thing offered to houseguests. So prevalent is the service of Chai throughout India that baristas, known as Chaiwallahs, can be found at just about every corner. These chai vendors are a staple of the community and their stands are often a source of news and gossip.
For even more information about this and other traditions, visit our Tea Traditions Page!
