Going to the airport for me is definitely not as exciting as it once was. Do I take my shoes off? No? Yes? No, again? And my laptop, does it stay in the bag? Why is everyone on a loud phone call? And did I really just spend — checks bank account — 8 whole dollars (plus tip!) on the most disappointing beverage of my life?
Getting on a plane is often inevitable, but having a just-barely potable airport beverage shouldn’t be. Nor is it, after I started making room in my carry-on bag for my favorite milk tea: Kola Goodies’ Masala Chai. I regularly turn hot airport water into the best milky chai around, and all without switching on a stovetop. And you know what, it makes my airport visits a whole lot sweeter, even if I do end up spilling the contents of my toiletry bag all over security, which happens way more than I’d like.
What’s So Great About Kola Goodies Masala Chai Latte?
If you’re lucky to have had a chai latte made on a stovetop, you’ll know it’s leagues beyond anything you can get at a coffee shop or by brewing tea bags alone. A good stovetop chai is somehow more than the sum of its parts (milk, tea, spices), and yet the Kola Goodies’ Masala Chai manages to distill the spicy, cozy, and milky (yes, the milk is included and no it’s not “off”!) tea into convenient individual sachets. These tea packets taste like a liquid hug and manage to impart a mysteriously toasty element I’d previously only tasted from stovetop versions.
They’re not overly sweet either, with just a touch of monk fruit to play off the creaminess of the whole milk powder and the spicy, warming cardamom. At this point, I’ve collected all the flavors like Beanie Babies: Cardamom and Fennel Chai, Sri Lankan Milk Tea, Maple Chai, and the dairy-free milk tea Sri Lankan Oat Mylk Tea Latte. Spoiler: They’re all bangers.
But those convenient little Masala Chai packets are my desert island tea, and something I’ll never go to the airport without. In fact, this tea alone is reason enough to merit an extra stop at Whole Foods, where it’s now sold in stores across Northern California and hopefully elsewhere soon.
What’s the Best Way to Make Serve Kola Goodies Masala Chai Latte?
When I’m at home, the masala chai is easily made with two cups and a wee strainer. In one cup, empty the tea sachet and add boiling water, allowing it to steep for five minutes. Then, pour the tea over a strainer into another cup and boom, tea’s on.
When I’m in the air, I make a few tweaks: I bring along a few empty tea bags, so I can easily make the chai without a strainer and another cup. Typically I’ll ask for a free cup of boiling water at a not-too-busy coffee shop or restaurant, or from a flight attendant if I’m in-flight (Flight attendants also provide some pretty excellent snack recommendations). Then, I’ll add the contents of one sachet to a tea bag, steep it in my cup, and remove the tea bag after five minutes.
Pro tip: I like to bring along a clean, empty Yeti mug or reusable coffee thermos; one sachet is made for 8 ounces of water, and in-flight cups are never big enough for steeping the tea (and sipping it leisurely) while I inevitably watch Crazy Rich Asians in-flight for the fifth time. Which, to me, is a perfect pairing.
What groceries do you refuse to travel without? Tell us about it in the comments below.
Article by:Source – Mackenzie Filson
