Trader Joe’s Salted Caramel Chai Tea Latte Mix. A funny thing happened on the way to Christmas here at Club Trader Joe’s central. I don’t usually go for mixes like this, but I have been seeing a fair amount of buzz on the internet about this mix. Usually Trader Joe’s really messes up these kind of things, so I steer clear of them. Part of this blog though is to go outside my comfort zone and try something completely out of my element.
I have said in the past that I am a tea drinker and not a coffee drinker. I like my tea black with nothing in it, so this type of fancy latte mix just makes my eyes glaze over. But I had heard good things about how it was like melted, salted caramels meet a chai tea and you just mix it together with some hot water. What could be better!?!? I missed the recent Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte Mix so I thought I better catch this one!
I opened the can of mix and immediately, the aromas of chai and caramel filled the kitchen. I had to put the lid back on it was pretty darn aromatic! The instructions say to use 3 tablespoons for 6oz of hot water. That seems a little over the top, but I went with it because that’s how they want you to prepare it. I heated up water in my trusty Bonavita 1-Liter Variable Temperature Digital Electric Gooseneck Kettle which I use to make tea and Becky’s pour over coffee. Works like a charm!
So I put one scoop of the chai latte mix in the bottom of a coffee mug and heated the water to to almost boiling and then poured it in and stirred it a bit. The smell coming out of the mug was incredible. It was like before but more intense now with the hot water added. It really filled the kitchen with the same spicy, caramel aromas.
On to the taste test! I was shocked at how much this stuff tasted like melted caramels with a bit of chai spice, pepper. Nice milky consistency. I really loved the flavors that they put into this ready mix drink and I think it will be a great hit this holiday season. Crazy how they can get all that into a dried, ready to make mix and still taste so great. I do have one reservation. I thought it was quite a bit over the top sweet for me, but I can see how many people love these drinks, it’s like drinking candy!
Like I said before, I loved the flavors and many of you out there will love it too but it’s not, ahmmmm my cup of tea, so to speak! Just too darn sweet for me but I don’t know how they would tone it down. But that’s just me. Go ahead and enjoy it for the holidays!
I am going to rate Trader Joe’s Salted Caramel Chai Tea Latte Mix 8 Bells!
