In Pursuit of Chai

This all dates back to Christmas of 2007 while in Boulder, CO I experienced the best chai I've ever had at the Dushanbe Teahouse - a gift from Boulder's sister city in Tajikistan.
Crafted by the restaurants proprietor, Lenny Martinelli, the tea had a fascinatingly spiciness, almost biting the back of the palate along with a large amount of ginger. The drive home was euphoric; mind gently buzzing from the caffeine while the ginger, a natural settler, relaxed and calmed the body.

Even though I've since found the original Dushanbe recipe, I am still searching for similar, pre-blended Chai experiences.

Spending a day in Pasadena, CA I stopped by two local tea shops, bought all their chai varieties, and tested them out. I do plan on expanding the sample base. For now, it's a start.

(All teas were steeped for 4 minutes, using filtered, boiling water. 1 teaspoon of tea was brewed loose in a non-scalded ceramic mug with about 8 ounces of water.)

Chado Brendan's Chai - Regular (T-153)

A twist on original chai with the inclusion of lemon grass.
AROMA: lemon grass overwhelms the other scents with a slight spiciness at the end that ensures it is, in fact chai.
FLAVOR: (No Milk/Sugar) Neutral, generic black tea flavor upfront with a slight, lingering spice at the end.
(Milk+sugar) Rounds out the flavor experience, sugar fills in the initial gap at the beginning resulting in a surprisingly similar taste to that of a gingersnap cookie! Overall, not very potent. Light, pleasant flavor with mostly ginger standing out.

Chado Reena's Chai - Regular (T-152)

A strong version with pungent spices.
AROMA: Powerfully full aroma of cardamom and cinnamon.
FLAVOR: (No Milk/Sugar) The flavor is just as strong as the aroma, instantly filling the palate with a blend of cardamom, cinnamon, and smooth vanilla. Finishes with a surprising sweetness.
(Milk+Sugar) Mellows the impact of the spices, but still excellent flavor. A perfect pick-me-up for cold or rainy days.

Chado Bianca's Chai - Regular (T-154)

Prominent fennel supported by chai base.
AROMA: Mostly fennel followed by some slight spice notes.
FLAVOR: (No Milk/Sugar) Really demonstrates how complex fennel can be. Hits the palate with the similar impact of the aroma, then develops into a earthy, nutty, and more savory flavor, slowly leaving on a sweet note. Unique, maybe not the most traditional, but fun.
(Milk+Sugar) Eases the initial impact of fennel, rounding it into an easier experience. Still enjoyable and very interesting!

Leaforever Masala Chai (FBT-ITI-001)

A more straight forward chai, tasty but doesn't necessarily pop.
AROMA: Light, with a tendency towards cardamom.
FLAVOR: (No Milk/Sugar) Spices evenly mixed, creating a light, even flavor if not especially stand-out. Cardamom and cinnamon take the short lead here.
(Milk+Sugar) Actually brings out more flavors particularly at the end of the sip in which there's a lingering spiciness - perhaps more noticeable now with the contrast of the mellowing milk. Overall, underwhelming when compared to similar varieties.

The Great White Hut

Diamond Foam & Fabric

To be honest, I struggled for a while deciding whether to keep this photo or delete it.
I recognize the rare emotional power that's not always easy to capture with man-on-street shots, but I've always been hesitant to photograph homeless people. It feels...exploitive and too easy for amateurs trying to milk attention.
Ah, I still don't know.

Canopy

A Surprisingly Scenic Commute for LA

(This was back from summertime)

Got off work early...the sun's still high, windows down, and a song that matches the mood perfectly.

It was just one of those moments...

Múm and Mystery

There's something so affecting about the northern lands - like Iceland - that can really be felt through the area's music.
Maybe it's the stunning, sprawling vistas or mood influencing weather, but the heart tugging beauty of bands like Sigur Rós and Múm seem to clearly transpose the region's dapper weather and epic scenery.

Sigur Rós, of course, requires no introduction and enjoys the status of having one of my all-time favorite music videos. Absolutely gorgeous:


Múm, on the other hand, is lesser well known - but very similar. They have fewer tracks of emotional amplitude, but there are some real gems. Their best in my opinion is "Green Grass of Tunnels" here:


This international band happened to play in LA at the Orpheum; an old, gorgeous theater with mandatory seats.
But it was in a SUPER sketchy part of downtown. To the degree that my mind often wandered off the show to "I wonder if my car is still there" and "Would a mugger believe me if I hid my wallet in my underwear? Or would he stab me anyway?"

Well after the first two opening acts I was wandering the lobby and noticed photographers were flocking around somebody. Nonchalantly sauntering over, I discovered it was none other than "Mystery"


This is one of the last places I'd imagine a VH1 sponsored pick-up artist to be making publicity rounds - at a way indie, foreign band's show in a seedy part of LA. It's one of those I guess, only in LA moments...

A Little Fresh Air