chai

i never appreciated the glory that is chai...until now. well actually, since seattle.

i always loved its fragrance, always dreamed that a chai tea latte would be heavenly, but i was just never opened to including it in my tea repertoire. give me an earl grey or english breakfast for my blacks, throw in jasmine or white peach for my whites, and don't you dare leave out chamomile, black cherry, or hibiscus for my herbals. blends are welcomed too.

but whenever i drank chai, i curled my upper lip ever so slightly, as if to repel it from my mouth. there was something about the spice, the warmth. i felt like i was eating pumpkin pie in liquid form. and no one messes with my pumpkin pie! although chai sounded and smelled like a good idea, it clearly was no fit for my drinking pleasure.

and then comes seattle. our hostess kindly provided us with coffee and tea to last us through the time we stayed. as grateful i was for our supply, i was a bit befuddled by the selection: three different types of chai! and what in the heck was i going to do at that moment, when i was craving a hot tea to warm me up? thankfully, i didn't throw a tantrum for something ridiculous, and proceeded with making a cup. to this day, i still don't know what came over me when i took a sip. it was magical. the spice! the warmth! no pumpkin pie here. it was lovely chai all on its very own!

i now gladly include chai into my tea stash. it has its place, but boy, am i glad i discovered its delightfulness this season.