I am sitting directly across from the White Raven's bulletin board (I got the primo seat, in the window), and have espied a sign posted there: "Do you blog? Do you love Larry's Famous Chai! Blog it! Help us spread the word." Since the White Raven is in great measure responsible for making the writing of The Strega's Story less of a toil and more of a pleasure, I have decided to opine upon Larry's Famous Chai (Larry is the owner of The White Raven, along with his wife, whose name is Kathryn).
I'm often dubious of folks who say that their product is the best, the brightest, their novel the most brilliant ever written, etc. Larry's Famous Chai is, however, the absolute best chai I have ever tasted, and I drink a lot of chai. Often, the chai I get elsewhere is too sweet (a big problem), too weak (like slightly spiced dishwater), from a mix or concentrate (which often congeals at the bottom for a grainy surprise) or, in the case of the soy chai I always order, with the soymilk whipped and steamed nearly into tofu. Therefore I save my pennies for a cup of Larry's Famous Chai. They have cards that are stamped each time you order a chai or another coffee or tea drink, and when you get ten stamps, you get a free drink.
This chai goes with the ambiance of the White Raven in a way that's hard to describe unless you've been here. The chai spices often permeate the air in the Raven, and have always reminded me of all the good things about living a creative life. Summers ago, in the throes of falling in love with Mr. Strega, I drank chai here and wrote chapters of The Strega's Story, happy about finding love again after a bad breakup, happy about breaking out of just writing poetry--a summer infused with the fragrance of White Raven chai, sunlight, my garden blooming in wild colors, and new love just beginning.
The recipe for the chai involves an alchemical spice blend, along with orange spice tea (though you can have any tea you want--Mr. Strega has had the Earl Grey blend from time to time). Each cup is brewed individually, so it's nice and fresh, and a large cup lasts me through three handwritten pages. I don't think there is any sugar at all in the chai, but it's still full of delicate sweetness from the cinnamon. My soy chai arrives without a cap of tofu on top, which I greatly appreciate.
If you don't live near Felton, you can still enjoy a cup of Larry's Famous Chai by ordering it off the website (link provided). I have some at home and the blend lasts a really long time--the bag I just bought will easily last me into my second book.
Well, I've done my civic duty for the Raven..back to working on my book (finished a chapter today). Hey, Larry, can I have a cup gratis?
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