Of Coffee and Chai

I used to consider myself a coffee lover. Still do. Nothing can get my adrenaline racing like the prospect of a richly brewed cup of Cafe Americano with creme. And now that you can add chocolate to it... well, that just makes it all the better.

But then, one desperate day when I had no chocolate, coffee, or anything sweet in the house, I tried a cup of green tea. And liked it.

And this Saturday when I had to play piano for a church meeting at the Hilton, I sampled some chai tea.

And loved it.

It's like Christmas in a cup! Warm, spicy, with a swirl of sweetness at first taste. And with some brands you can get it with a taste of vanilla. One sip and I'm instantly thrown to cold, crisp nights, afternoons of baking cookies, singing carols at church, and the sweet smell of decorated pine trees. Just writing about it is stirring up cravings.

Today I walked about a mile to our local Starbucks for some chai tea. I really want to buy some of the tea bags (it's way cheaper than going to the cafe every afternoon, and the tea is better warm), but I didn't have enough loose change. So I settled for a cup of iced chai.

I love Starbucks, I really do, but when I say "iced" drink, they seem to take it literally. I drink every drop of the tea by the time I reach the corner, while the ice in my cup could, melted down, provide enough water for a year.

Oh well. At least this week I'll have 40 packets of chai tea, ready for brewing. Can't wait till Christmas, when the spicy brew will actually match its season.

In the meanwhile, I think I'll spare my walks to Starbucks until I crave something that will last longer than two minutes.