One Stripe Chai Lemongrass Loose Leaf Tea

Cardamom takes center stage in this blend. Multiple tea drinkers specifically call out the 'abundant cardamom flavor' that comes through strongly, which sets it apart from many commercial chais that lean heavily on cinnamon or generic spice. You'll also get black pepper, ginger, lemongrass, and cinnamon notes, but the cardamom really shines through.

Actually, it's surprisingly beginner-friendly despite being bold. The tea is very forgiving—it's hard to over-brew it into bitterness, and it comes with clear brewing instructions. You can use a simple steeping method or French press without fuss. That said, the flavor is genuinely strong and spicy, so if you prefer milder teas, you might want to start with a shorter steep time or add more milk.

The black pepper can become quite assertive if you oversteep the tea, with several drinkers noting it can get 'overpowering' with too long a brew. The key is watching your steep time—the blend is well-balanced when brewed properly, but that pepper heat builds if you leave it too long. One person even mentioned it aggravated their acid reflux, so if you're sensitive to pepper, steep on the shorter side.

Absolutely. The robust, malty Assam black tea base holds up beautifully to milk and sweetener—it's actually designed for it. The rich tea doesn't get lost or washed out when you add dairy, which is exactly what you want in a proper masala chai. Whether you like it lightly sweetened or traditionally sweet, this blend has the backbone to handle it.

The traditional double-boil involves simmering the chai spices and tea in water, then adding milk and bringing it to a boil again—it's a stovetop method that extracts maximum flavor. Experienced chai drinkers say this blend really rewards that extra effort, bringing out the complex spice layers and creating a richer, more integrated cup. That said, it still tastes great with simple steeping if you're short on time.

The larger spice pieces and tea leaves tend to rise to the top during shipping, which is just physics at work with mixed-size ingredients. It's a common thing with loose leaf blends that include whole spices. Just give the bag a good shake or stir before measuring out your tea, and you'll get a more even distribution of all those cardamom pods, peppercorns, and lemongrass bits.