Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Chai is the nectar of the gods

If you've ever met me in person, you probably know that I have a very serious addiction to really like chai.

My chai stash. See how the top shelf is empty? My supply is getting low, only four boxes left... gotta restock soon!

Some people like coffee, like my dear darling poor misguided husband. But my palate is more refined... the perfect combination of sweetness and spice, blended with the delicious creaminess of frothed milk... pure perfection, AND it contains caffeine. What more could one possibly ask for?

Best way to start the morning. See the equal sign in the foam? Hubby made this one for me on the day Ireland's vote for same-sex equality passed. 

The only good part about hubby liking coffee and me liking chai is that we don't fight over who gets the last cup of anything. He can keep his coffee and that way I get ALL THE CHAI. We do, however, share Lucia, his Italian girlfriend. She's our in-house barista...

The perfect chai requires steam-frothed milk...

I generally have a cup first thing in the morning, and then bring a jar to work as well.

Don't judge... I used to bring an entire quart.

If I want another cup in the afternoon, I always have at least one bag in my purse. In case of emergencies and all.

You're judging, aren't you.

Sometimes my preference of beverage becomes a bit of a problem. In some foreign countries, coffee is the prime means of caffeine delivery. Therefore, it's important to carry one's own supply of chai.

Even the TSA officer is judging me.

And in case you're thinking that this is all a little over the top, I assure you that I can quit at any time. Just... not today, mmmmkay?

31 comments:

  1. I can't drink it myself (something about the spice?) but my best friend went through a chai addiction while pregnant. She came to visit us and we had to run out and get her a second box halfway through the weekend!

    I definitely bring my own tea to places that probably won't have any, though, or will only have Lipton's or something else awful. So I hear you on that.

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    1. Can't drink chai? OMG YOU POOR THING! How do you LIVE?!?!?

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  2. While I love chai, I have yet to make the switch (black coffee drinker here) - but I think I'm going to soon. Coffee has been giving me the jitters lately and I luuuuuuuuve chai. I tried for a solid month to wean myself to green tea but it just doesn't cut it for me.

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    1. Oh no, green tea is not where it's at. Go with the chai, you know you want to!

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  3. I'm not judging. I love chai, but only in the winter usually.

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    1. Chai is for any season, not just winter!

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  4. Yesssss I completely agree with all of this post, although I don't have nearly the dedication to chai consumption that you do. The ONE thing I miss about grad school is their chai lattes... when I'm on campus for my defense, I'm totally getting four of them.

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    1. You have time to develop the dedication, don't worry. I've had years and years to work on mine and hone it to a fine art :D

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  5. Mmm chai. I agree with Lauren, best in the winter, all warm and spicy :)

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  6. I suddenly have a craving for a chai latte.... :)

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  7. I also hate coffee and love Chai Lattes. Starbucks started making a Chai Tea Latte Frappachino and I can finally enjoy the frozen coffee beverage phenomenon without drinking coffee. I may have had a lot of this this summer. Just writing about them makes me think I should go get another one today.

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    1. Clearly you need another. There's no such thing as too much!

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  8. I quit coffee in the a.m. about a month ago. Loving my blackberry-pomegranate green (sun) tea these days. I carry around an iced thermos + backup to work, so no shame there.

    And on the hoarding front - since we're confessing things - if you were to look hard enough you might find the entire remaining supply of the tea bags that Amazon had (sadly it's discontinued) stashed somewhere in the Shimmy Shack. ;D

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    1. Ok, I don't feel quite so bad about all my chai hoarding. I think you win on that front!

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  9. MmmMmm. I'm a Chai person too. The spicier the better...and that froth...Mmmm.

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  10. Yum! I used to drink chai all the time but I had this weirdly complex method of boiling spices and pouring milk that made a huge mess and I never refined the method

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    1. This is why I go with tea bags - just add honey and milk. Not nearly as good as the frothing method with the boxed extract, but it will definitely serve to satisfy the craving!

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  11. You like chai. I like chai.

    You have a Haffie. I have a Haffie.

    We have much in common.

    And since it's almost 10 AM here, and I haven't had my chai fix for the morning, I'd better go do something about it.

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    1. How do we not know each other? Are you my long-lost sister or something?

      Email is jen jobst at gmail dot com, in case we need to compare family trees, or get together on a chai-tasting and Haflinger-petting trip or something.

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  12. huh, i've never actually tried chai before... but suddenly i'm very interested!

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    1. What NEVER TRIED CHAI omg you poor thing! How do you LIVE?!?!?

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  13. I'm not a fan of tea, coffee or hot chocolate (although if it's very cold i will get a hot choc to warm up but mostly I just hold it). I've also never tried chai & am not one for the spices so prob won't be trying it...but that just means more for you ;-)

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    1. Ps not drinking tea makes me an abomination & abnormality when I visit Ireland...people look at me like I've extra heads when I decline

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    2. I'm not entirely sure you can claim to be Irish if you're not drinking tea... are you sure you weren't traded at the hospital or something? ;)

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    3. I may well have been, I was born in the states after all! I don't drink alcohol either, makes me a poor Plastic Patricia alright...but that doesn't explain the freaky family resemblance, could well be the mother of all coincidences ;-p

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  14. I used to follow the Eventing-Draft and "Brego", she inspired me to document my own journey with my Percheron mare www.thedressagepercheron.wix.com/blog ...we'd love to hear how Brego is doing, we linked your blog to our own in our "Follow" page :)

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