You might be wondering what a “CHEG” is? It’s a Chai Latte made with eggnog instead of milk. It’s a delicious combination of chai spices and the sweetness of eggnog.
I got an email from a former partner who asked me to put a spotlight on this drink. This former partner used to be a store manager right here in the Seattle retail core, and I remember him well so I had to oblige!
The former partner says, “The beverage I am speaking of is a Chai Eggnog Latte, or commonly referred to as a CHEG by partners. I still remember the first holiday that I tried it, BECAUSE IT BLEW MY MIND how good it is. Now I look forward to it every year, and EVERY year I actually tell each and every one of my friends to get it.“
It was a beautifully written email, with many paragraphs all about the CHEG: “I have often described the Chai Eggnog Latte as Christmas in a cup, and I even recommend people try it even if they don’t like eggnog. I don’t like eggnog, for example, but something about the mix of Chai and eggnog makes it a completely different experience. I have recently been really surprised at how many of my friends enjoy this drink, which is why I wish the beverage was more known.“
And last but not least, the former partner said, “I have often described the Chai Eggnog Latte as Christmas in a cup, and I even recommend people try it even if they don’t like eggnog. I don’t like eggnog, for example, but something about the mix of Chai and eggnog makes it a completely different experience. I have recently been really surprised at how many of my friends enjoy this drink, which is why I wish the beverage was more known.“
After getting that email, I went out and ordered multiple CHEG beverages at Starbucks and talked to partners about it. Sure enough, some people I talked to were confused that it might be an Eggnog Latte add Chai, but all long-term partners told me it IS a Chai Latte made with eggnog not milk. It is not an espresso beverage.
A typical Chai Latte has some water in it, but when I talked to partners about the CHEG, most recommended it as a ‘no water’ drink. Order it as a “Chai Latte made with eggnog, no water.” I tried it both ways but decided it was a little thinner if you get a CHEG with water, so I might recommend it as the no water version.
I hope you’ll try the CHEG and thank you former Seattle store manager for a great “Drink of the Week” idea, and here ya’ go: I’m helping you make the CHEG better known!
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Yum! I love CHEG lattes. I personally like them built as a standard chai, with water. I find them spicier (which I prefer) and I can justify drinking more than just a single one per season. What a great spotlight though, they definitely deserve more love and attention!
Try it with one pump less chai and one or two pumps of gingerbread syrup. Makes it even better.
@Mary Thank you for the suggestion with Gingerbread!
Want to kick up even another notch… Add a shot of Espresso… the Dirty Chai… Pulls out even more of the spiciness. I had a CHEG ice this morning, and it was delicious. I’ll try it hot next.
So, I tried the CHEG and surprisingly didn’t care for it. However, it may have been prepared in error, I don’t know. The barista who took my order knew which drink I was talking about and called it out correctly to be made, but a new barista prepared it as an egg nog espresso latte with pumps of chai. When I took it back to be remade, it tasted so watery (even though I asked for no water) with very subtle hints of chai or nog. I don’t like taking drinks back more than one, so I just dealt with it. I was hoping for a rich flavored Christmasy spiced drink, but it fell flat. 🙁