by Vivianne Lapointe A former volleyball player, cancer survivor and Top Chef alum, Chef CJ Jacobson has been around the world twice and lived many lives. Shortly after coming back from an apprenticeship at Denmark’s Noma—owner of two Michelin stars and three “best restaurant in the world” titles—he now embarks…
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Tipu’s latest micro-ground mix
Generally skeptical of the western appropriation of Indian traditions, we do find the occasional diamond in the rough. The self-billed “chai snobs” at Tipu’s recently introduced Chai Now, a fully loaded chai latte that stacks up nicely to their already stellar selection. Building off of their successful Microground Instant Black Chai, Chai Now adds non-GMO soy powder and evaporated cane juice to the instant mix.
Tipu’s uses high-quality, non-irradiated spices to produce powerfully flavorful chai mixes and concentrates. The caffeine content is noticeable, and the mix can easily replace a morning cup of coffee. While bold, the flavors are well balanced to prevent any one note from becoming overwhelming. The level of sweetness remains nicely mild, which is definitely a rare quality in mass-market chai. Tipu’s recipe comes from founder Bipin Patel’s grandmother’s recipe, crossing continents to find its way into this ready-to-drink mix.
The only real drawback of Chai Now is that sediment in the mix tends to settle at the bottom of the glass, though that’s relatively easy to avoid. We preferred the “slow brew” mixes since they allow you a bit more control over strength, sweetness and milk levels. That said, Chai Now is perfect for your spring camping excursions—just add water and enjoy a spicy cup on a cool night.
Chai Now is available along with the full line at Tipu’s online shop.
Two outstanding bitters options for excellent cocktails
Nothing soothes the soul in the frigid winter months like a properly composed cocktail. Even if you are lucky enough to reside in a warmer climate it is essential to have the right ingredients on hand when mixing your elixir. The strategic use of a good bitter can make a delicious spirit really sing, and, after scouting the scene for the past few months, we have turned up two outstanding bitters brands that are sure to enhance any booze-based concoction.
Scrappy’s Bitters out of Seattle, WA provide a delightful addition when mixing it up. Handcrafted in small batches by bitters enthusiast and bartender Miles Thomas, the old-fashioned compositions pack extraordinary flavor and depth. With flavors ranging from celery to lime, Thomas’ line is sure to offer an iteration to match any profile. Each ingredient is hand-processed by Thomas and mixed with a blend of herbs and spices that gives his bitters an edge a true cocktail craftsman can appreciate.
We discovered this second outstanding small-batch bitters company during a recent visit to Chicago’s Dose Market. Bittercube slow-crafts their bitters in a two-month process to deliver fantastic flavor profiles with a huge variety of options. Founded by bartenders Nicholas Kosevich and Ira Koplowitz, the brand has evolved since 2009, with the two combining their knowledge and skills to perfect the formulas behind their macerated delicacies. From the Bolivar, which contains cassis chamomile, to the Blackstrap’s mix of molasses and sarsparilla, Bittercube flavors add great texture and complexity to a drink.
Scrappy’s Bitters are available at a variety of retailers in the USA, Europe and Canada while Bittercube’s product can be purchased from their website.
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