Stories Behind the Blend: Sunrise Chai

You can’t beat the classics. Whether it’s a movie, a book, or your favorite drink, there’s always that one version that sets the bar for everything else. Classics have a way of always being there for us because they are always reliable and always good. At Piper & Leaf, we have some classic teas, black teas, green teas, herbal blends, you name it. We’re a bit partial to Front Porch Special—it’s the classic of all classics, but there’s another that stands tall in its own and that’s Sunrise Chai.

Our favorite thing about any sort of chai is that it always feels like a hug from an old friend. Whether you love it hot or iced, with milk or plain, chai is one of those classics that brings everyone together. At Piper & Leaf, we’ve taken this timeless treasure and made it a touch extra special with our unique caffeine-free chai blend— Sweetie Pie Chai. But today, we’re here to share about our ever loved, caffeinated chai blend, Sunrise Chai.

Sunrise Chai came about because of our love for classics... our love for chai. We wanted a chai that was not too spicy, one that was flavorful and refreshing.

This chai blend dates back to our early days, before we had perfected our concentrate recipe, so every batch of chai tea (and really every tea) was made with an extra touch of love. When making the chai tea blend, we played around with different spices, looking for the right balance until we finally landed on something special. We started calling it "Summertime Chai" because it had that summer feel—refreshing with just the right amount of spice. At the farmers' markets, we served it like a traditional Masala Chai, sweetened with our own special blend of coconut and almond milk... and it was a hit! A sweet, spiced refreshment that we just couldn’t get enough of.

That is, until one fateful and (now) funny accident changed everything.

One day, a close friend of ours was helping us at a market and, because everyone loved the chai so much and we weren't making our tea from concentrate, we made a 5-gallon container of ready to drink chai tea and placed it in the back of his car for him to bring to the market.

We were still getting the hang of things back then, one thing being that we didn’t have an ice machine! Before each market, we had to stock up on ice at whatever store was closest!

So, doing as we always did, our friend stopped at a gas station to grab ice for the market and well... when he opened the back of the car, the container of chai tipped over, and all that delicious chai tea mixed with milk and sugar spilled out onto the ground in the parking lot. It was his first market, and he was heartbroken. Though tragic at the time, we still laugh about it with him to this day!

But, like we always do, we rolled with the punches. I mean, you know what they say, every cloud has a silver lining. From then on, we decided to serve our chai just as it was, letting people add sweetener if they liked. And they loved it. The simple, spiced goodness won everyone over.

Our classic “Summertime Chai” served plain and simple became a year-round favorite. Though, soon on we noticed when fall and winter rolled around, people weren’t ordering it as much. Upon further investigation, we realized it was because the name “Summertime Chai” made people think it was a seasonal drink. So, we put out a friendly company-wide competition to come up with a new name, something that captured the heart of the blend. I bet you can guess the winning name... Sunrise Chai! The name fit like a glove—refreshing, invigorating, and warm, like the sun rising on a new day.

Sunrise Chai is a true classic. From its humble beginnings to becoming one of our most beloved blends, it’s a perfect reminder that sometimes, the best things come from happy little accidents.