Can’t believe that it is already 2023! 2022 was a busy, life changing year for me, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I drank a lot of chai featured above, started a career in media, moved up to Seattle, travelled around the world, laughed, cried, and lived so fully. I loved 2022 for what it did for me and who it made me. Let’s raise a chai and cheers to an even better 2023!
Lena
Lena- Manhattan, New York
Rating: 7/10
Lena is a cute little shop near Washington Square Park. It’s a bit expensive, and there’s not a whole lot of space inside, but they have a cute little seating area outside! The chai was good, just not as creamy and foamy as I prefer… more of a spice flavor. They also had the cutest little ghost cookies that were so delicious! It was definitely worth a try because, when in New York, ya know? I also had the best time and best company getting to visit some friends that have moved over to the east coast and catching up over coffee and tea.
Feed
Feed- Brooklyn, New York
Rating: 9/10
Y’all already know how much I love supporting an actual good business. Feed is definitely one of them. It is in Brooklyn- DUMBO to be specific. DUMBO is such a cool, trendy area. It is beautiful with so much to do and see; I could’ve kept wandering for hours, but as it goes, I was a little hungry and tired after a long day of being a wannabe New Yorker, so I stopped in at Feed. The chai was really yummy and the sticky bun was absolutely delicious. It is exactly what I needed at that very moment. But wait, it gets better! All profits from Feed merchandise go toward helping feed children that are hungry or food insecure! So let’s go support! Get yourself a nice little bevvy while also supporting a good cause.
Cafe Zamora
Cafe Zamora- Portland, Oregon
Rating: 9/10
Cafe Zamora is a cute little hidden nook of a coffee shop in SE Portland. It’s really easy to miss if you’re not paying attention, but I highly recommend a visit. It has a nice vibe and is perfect for a quiet Sunday morning. It has a great backstory, and you all know how much I love supporting small and local businesses! The chai was yummy and a cinnamon lover’s dream. Even better though were the pastries. They were homemade and so good, I could’ve eaten every single one of them. I’d go back for them alone.
Chapters Books & Coffee
Chapters- Newberg, Oregon
Rating: 8/10
Chapters is honestly my dream. It is a little book store/ coffee shop, so naturally I want to spend every waking minute there. It is so charming. However, as much as I adore it, I was a bit disappointed that there wasn’t a wider variety of books. Along with that, the chai was good, but nothing over the top, extra, super special about it, but definitely a solid stand alone. I think it’s definitely worth a visit though. It’s a great place to just hang out and spend some time, whether by yourself or with a friend or partner.
All I know for certain though is that Chapters reignited my dream of opening my own coffee shop/ reuse book store filled with plants and local art, and for that it’s 1000/10.
Insomnia Coffee
Insomnia Coffee- Hillsboro, Oregon
Rating: 11/10
When I say this may be among my top 3 chai lattes… Insomnia never disappoints, and of course this was no exception. Their menu is full of good stuff, including great dairy alternatives. The employees are always super kind and welcoming (I may be biased because I have a friend that works there). But you guys… this chai… The flavor itself was sweet and creamy, but what really put it over the top was the foam. I don’t know how they did it, but it was steamed to such perfection. It felt like a little marshmallow cloud, and I am absolutely obsessed.
And as the cup says, enjoy the good. It’s great life advice.
Crepe Neptune
Crepe Neptune- Cannon Beach, Oregon
Rating: 8/10
Long time, no see! The first chai back is from the one and only Crepe Neptune on the beautiful Oregon Coast! The chai was good, not outstanding… solid but nothing extraordinary. But that’s not what makes this place so special. Crepe Neptune is at Cannon Beach (probably my favorite beach along the coast), so it is the perfect breakfast spot for a little weekend getaway and walk along the beach. And the crepes… the CREPES! Amazing. Delicious. A must have.
Topaz Farms/ One Fork Farm
Topaz Farms/ One Fork Farm- Sauvie Island, Oregon
Rating: 9/10
This one is a little bit different! My friend and I went to the pumpkin patch at Sauvie Island in search of some social distancing Halloween fun, and while we were wandering, I found these spiced chai caramels! They are local (as most things are on farms and pumpkin patches), which, as you probably know by now, is my favorite! The chai is from an awesome tea place in Portland called Tea Chai Té. I saw them and I had to try them. My love for chai told me so. While caramels are delicious, they’re not necessarily my favorite. However, these are so good and unique! They’re chewy and sweet and there’s that bit of chai spice that works really well.
If you (like myself) love chai and are looking to try something new, I’d definitely recommend these spiced chai caramels from One Fork Farm!
Starbucks
Starbucks- Hillsboro, Oregon
Rating: 8/10
Did you really think I’d forget about Starbucks? Of course not! Especially since I started working there and practically live at my store. Starbucks is where I had my first chai tea latte, the chai tea latte that started it all, so it has a special place in my heart. It’s a bit more of a spice chai, and I like mine best with light/ no water. It makes it more creamy. Even better though? During the fall, get an iced chai with pumpkin cream cold foam on top. It is SO good.
This picture was taken at my store (which I love). My coworkers are great and hilarious and make my day. The flowers are from a sweet customer that has a flower shop and brings us a bouquet every Saturday. It really is the little things that make life worth it, huh? Just those little acts of kindness really can make someone’s day just a little bit better.
Barista
Barista- Portland, Oregon
Rating: 7/10
I went on a date here and forgot to get a picture! :(
Barista is a cute local shop in a cool area in Portland. There’s outdoor seating and a bunch of other cool shops and restaurants around. Unfortunately we couldn’t sit because there was no indoor seating and all the tables were full outside, but it was worth it to support local (I’m really just going to keep repeating that because I think it’s so important).
It was more of a spicy chai, less creamy, but still good, so I’d definitely go back!
Fun fact: within about 5 minutes of getting my chai and walking around with said date, I spilled it on my shirt and he didn’t leave, so green flag? Only time will tell.
Symposium
Symposium- Sherwood, Oregon
Rating: 8/10
Symposium is one of my favorite (local) places to hang out! It is a great environment with great drinks and food. Although it is a bit on the spendy side, I think it is worth it to support local, and it just has such a great coffee house vibe (the best vibe). Their chai is a bit more on the “spicy” side, meaning it’s just a bit less creamy and sweet, and more cinnamon-y. While that’s not my favorite, it’s still yummy and satisfying and the environment more than makes up for it!
Symposium has locations in Sherwood and Tigard!
Pip's Original Doughnuts
Pip’s Original Doughnuts (again)- Portland, Oregon
Rating: 11/10
Pip’s is one of my favorite gems in Portland; I recommend them to anyone who will listen! They have little artisan doughnuts and delicious chai. Doughnuts are made to order and are probably my favorite doughnuts. There are multiple chai blends, each unique and yummy, but my personal favorite is the Emmy Lou! It has hints of lavender and is sooooo gooooood.
During the COVID lockdown, Pip’s started selling chai concentrate to support themselves and other local businesses (10% of the profits go to other local businesses!). They are a responsible company that treats their employees fairly and with kindness while caring about the quality of their products. It is important to support local and small businesses, perhaps now more than ever, because your support could help them feed their family while buying from a corporation just adds another 0 to their paycheck. SO, if you’re ever in Portland, check out this absolute gem. I really couldn’t recommend it enough.
Homemade Masala Tea
Homemade Masala Tea
Rating: 8/10
Since we have been in quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I had to keep the hunt for the best chai going, I went ahead and made some at home! A good friend of mine that is a barista sent me this recipe so I thought I’d give it a shot. And it was delicious. It was a good mix of sweet and spice and creaminess and wasn’t too much work to make! I could have made it a bit warmer, but that’s on me. It makes a good amount and is definitely worth a shot while we’re all stuck at home. Learn something new! Make some chai tea!
Sweet Life Patisserie
Sweet Life Patisserie- Eugene, Oregon
Rating- 8/10
Cake and pie and chai, oh my! Sweet Life has a couple of locations in Eugene and offers some truly delicious desserts and drinks. My good friend, Carley, had a hot chocolate and Irish cream cake, and I had a cherry almond crumble and Blue Lotus chai. The chai wasn’t necessarily my favorite (I’m more of a sweet chai gal than a spicy chai gal), but it was still yummy and warm and hit the spot. But what the where the chai lacked, the crumble made up for it. It. Was. So. Good. I want to eat it for every meal for the rest of my life, so you can bet that I’ll be returning to sweet life soon.
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin’ Donuts- New York, New York
Rating- 5/10
Being a west coast gal, I had never had Dunkin’ Donuts, but since I was visiting New York, I had to take advantage of the opportunity! My east coast friends hype it up and tell me just how yummy the vanilla chai is, so I’m sure you can guess what I got. The chai itself wasn’t my favorite (a little too artificially sweet for my taste) and the location I visited was a little cramped and rude, but none of that really mattered because I was in New York City! The greatest city in the world and my one day home. As I was gallivanting around the city toward Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment with my not-favorite chai, I could see myself living there. Though the chai wasn’t the best one I’ve had, it helped create a magical moment in New York with snow, imagining my future life.
Meraki
Meraki- Eugene, Oregon
Rating- 8/10
“Meraki is a word that modern Greeks often use to describe what happens when you leave a piece of yourself (your soul, creativity, or love) in your work. When you love doing something, anything, so much that you put something of yourself into it.”
Meraki is a cute little coffee shop that somewhat recently opened near downtown Eugene. It has a great environment to go relax, meet up with friends, or do homework while enjoying a cup of coffee. The chai was yummy but what made my visit better was spending it with my sweet friend Sarah who was there for me while I was going through a tough time. Because of that, this place will always hold a special place in my heart.
Pip's Original Doughnuts
Pip’s Original Doughnuts- Portland, Oregon
Rating- 10/10
Pip’s is one of my favorite places to go in Portland! They have some of the best, made-to-order doughnuts: a few flavors done perfectly! And different kinds of chai! And no extra cost for milk substitutes! AND a free dozen doughnuts within 10 days of your birthday (happy birthday to me!)! Delicious doughnuts, a great artsy atmosphere, and yummy chai; it really can’t get much better. My personal favorite is the Emmylou chai with hints of lavender, but you really can’t go wrong with anything you order. I recommend this place to everyone, and you gotta get there with some time to spare because there’s always a line, but it’s sooooo worth it.
Just Love
Just Love- Nashville, Tennessee
Rating- 7/10
Just Love is near Music Row in Nashville, a cool and trendy area filled with live music and fun! The environment was definitely 11/10 and I definitely recommend going! The chai itself was good, but not quite my favorite: more of a spice chai instead of a sweet chai. I still loved it though and absolutely loved Nashville and can’t wait to go back to experience more of it!
Coffee Culture
Coffee Culture- Corvallis, Oregon
Rating- 6/10
Coffee Culture is a cute place near the OSU campus with both indoor and outdoor seating. There were a lot of people studying or working on projects, but it’s also a great place to go on a date or meet up with friends. The employees seemed very friendly and welcoming, even when there was a long line. The chai itself was more of a spice mix rather than sweet or creamy, which isn’t my favorite but it was still good and refreshing. It was served with a lot of cinnamon that kind of floated throughout, so that threw me off a little bit, and it was a little expensive, but still satisfying. It’s definitely a place I could see hanging out in when I go down to Corvallis.
Vero Espresso
Vero Espresso- Eugene, Oregon
Rating: 9/10
Vero always seems to be so popular with a lot of people! It’s a little spendy, but they offer a lot of choices with both indoor and outdoor seating. People go there to hang out or work or eat, and it offers a welcoming and comfortable environment. Though busy, the people working were very nice. My iced chai was delicious with a perfect balance of sweet and spice. This is definitely a place that I’ll be spending some more time while in Eugene.