Tchai of the Tiger - Organic Chai with Ginger, Cardamom & Cinnamon

Tchai of the Tiger by Kusmi Tea, spicy organic chai supporting WWF tiger conservation

Tchai of the Tiger is a bold, spicy organic chai based on Indian black tea from the Thiashola garden in the Nilgiri Mountains. With ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, and pink pepper. Note: contains licorice – excessive consumption should be avoided by those with high blood pressure. Loose in a 100g tin, from organic farming. For every tin sold, Kusmi Tea donates 1 euro to the WWF Tx2 project for the protection of wild tigers.

Tchai of the Tiger by Kusmi Tea is the company's own interpretation of Indian chai, combined with a story that extends beyond the cup. The base is an organic black tea from the Thiashola garden in the Nilgiri district of southwestern India, situated at an altitude of 2,000 meters – one of the most famous tea gardens in the world and also home to tigers protected by the WWF.

Added to this is the classic chai spice blend: ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, and pink pepper, supplemented by licorice and chicory. For every tin sold, 1 euro goes to the WWF Tx2 project to protect wild tigers.

Important note: This tea contains licorice. People with high blood pressure should avoid excessive consumption.

Deep dark infusion, spicy and bold with a light peppery kick

As soon as you open the tin, a powerful bouquet of spices unfolds: warming cinnamon meets fresh ginger, the cardamom opens the middle, and both types of pepper provide the piquant accents. You can see the dark black tea leaves, interspersed with bright pieces of ginger, small slivers of cinnamon stick, dark peppercorns, and the characteristic pink peppercorns – a tin like a spice market.

In the cup, Tchai of the Tiger appears in a deep mahogany red. The first sip is full-bodied and robust; the malty Assam depth of the Indian black tea forms the foundation, while the ginger provides a warming heat. Cardamom adds depth and that delicate citrus note, cinnamon warms, and the two peppers give a surprising piquant kick in the finish. The licorice root rounds everything off with natural sweetness – bold, spicy, balanced.

For the cold season with milk foam or as a classic Chai Latte

Tchai of the Tiger is the classic winter and autumn tea for everyone who loves spices. Enjoyed pure, it pairs well with spicy curries, Indian lentil dishes, paneer cheese, or oriental spice cake. In winter, it accompanies pumpkin soup, roasts with red cabbage, and baked apple desserts.

However, it really hits its stride as a chai latte. To make this, steep the tea as usual, let it brew well, then mix in equal parts with frothed milk (or oat, almond, or soy milk), sweeten with a spoonful of honey or agave syrup, and sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon. The result: a spicy, creamy morning tea that stands up to any café chai latte.

You will need about 2 tablespoons of loose tea per liter for a pot, poured over with 90°C hot water, 5 minutes brewing time. If you want to increase the heat, let the tea steep longer or add a fresh slice of ginger.

If you are looking for other spiced blends in the Kusmi range, you will find a Russian variant with orange, clove, and vanilla in Prince Wladimir, and a green tea spice blend based on Russian winter tradition in Label Impérial. Tchai of the Tiger is the boldest, most distinctly Indian-influenced blend.

Thiashola, Nilgiri and the WWF commitment

The Thiashola garden, from which the base black tea originates, is located in the Nilgiri Mountains in the state of Tamil Nadu in southwestern India, at an altitude of 2,000 meters. The region is known for its organic tea cultivation – and for its biodiversity: elephants, panthers, monkeys, and more than 40 bird species live here, as do the tigers protected by the WWF.

For many years, Kusmi Tea has supported the WWF Tx2 project, which aims to double the number of wild tigers by 2022 (the Chinese Year of the Tiger) compared to 2010. For every tin of Tchai of the Tiger sold, the company donates 1 euro to this project.

The story of Kusmi Tea began in 1867 in Saint Petersburg, where 21-year-old Pavel Mikhailovich Kousmichoff opened his own tea house. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the family fled to Paris. Since 2017, almost all teas have been organically grown, and they are packaged at the factory in Le Havre. In our Kusmi Tea collection, you can find an overview of all our blends.

Control body FR-BIO-01 Non-EU Agriculture