Thursday Tea Time - Tea's the Season!

This week - The Republic of Tea - Tea's the Season Spiced Herb Tea - Holiday Chai

Cost:   $10.99 at Whole Foods
Number of teabags:   36
Caffeine:   No
Type of tea:   Herbal
Steeping time:  5 to 7 minutes, I went for 7
Add ins:  Natural Bliss Sweet Cream, Natural Bliss Cinnamon Cream (not recommended), or honey.  I may try vanilla almond milk next time.
Ingredients:  Organic and Fair Trade certified rooibos, cassia, ginger, cardamon, black pepper, cloves and natural spice flavor.
Fragrance:   Ginger
Opinion:    I found this at the Sugar Land Whole Foods, not on the tea shelves but on top of the loose teas in  the bulk foods aisle.  This may actually be a Whole Foods exclusive, as I didn't see it online.
Just checked the label -- it is!  "The Republic of Tea is proud to partner with Whole Foods Market by offering the first Whole Trade Guaranteed organic and Fair Trade Certified teas.  The Whole Trade Guarantee program provides more money to producers, ensures better wages and working conditions for workers and promotes sound environmental practices.  In addition, 1% of sales are donated to the Whole Planet Foundation to help end world poverty."  Drink well and do well!
I actually liked this without creamer and just honey.  The Sweet Cream was nice, but if you are trying to watch fat grams, honey sweetens it just fine.  For some reason, the Cinnamon Cream made it taste awful and I dumped it.  This is a nice chai because it is caffeine free.   It's also not overly cinnamon-y like most chais.  It has a bit of a bite to it, perhaps from the ginger and the black pepper.  It is also strong in the cardamon department.  Would I run out and get another before they are sold out?  Honestly, no.  It has a generous quantity.  This is still good and an alternative to the other herbal chai's out there.  If you see it, though, try it.  Maybe they will make more flavors in the future.  Cute label design, too -- I'm leaving it out on the counter.  (I am really taking the lazy way out decorating this year!)
Rating:  3.75
Dinged only because the price is a little high, and the fact I'm pretty overrun with chai teas right now, this doesn't really stand out beyond the others.

It's almost better to just add honey