CHAI LATTE LOVER

The Chai Latte Obsession: From Finnish Forests to Parisian Cafés

Two years ago, my love affair with chai latte began, and it all started with a surprising gift from my fiancé, who had just returned from a trip to Finland. He didn’t just bring back any ordinary souvenir—he brought me a box of chai syrup and, wait for it, a tree. Yes, you read that right—a tree!

A Tree from the Arctic: The HaliPuu Story

Let me explain.

During his travels, he met the wonderful HaliPuu family from Levi, a small town in Finnish Lapland. Their story is truly inspiring.

The family decided to save their family forest from logging and turned it into a sanctuary for people around the world. They offer a unique experience where you can adopt a tree from their forest, visit it in person or virtually, or even download their app to immerse yourself in the life of the Arctic.

HaliPuu, which translates to "hugging tree" in Finnish, is all about connecting with nature on a deeper level. And yes, my fiancé came home with a tree just for me! It was such a unique and meaningful gesture, especially since I discovered that there’s even a world championship for tree hugging—how cool is that?

The Campfire Barista: Coffee with a Twist

But let’s get back to the real star of this story: chai latte. The HaliPuu family also has something special for chai lovers like me—a Campfire Barista. This isn’t your typical coffee shop experience. Imagine sipping on a warm chai latte brewed over an open fire in the heart of Lapland. In the winter, you can find the Campfire Barista’s Coffee-sled at the Levi Center, or you can join one of their programs in the HaliPuu forest, or even have the barista come to your fireplace.

Their Forest Chai Syrup is an absolute game-changer. Each package contains eight sachets, enough to make eight cups of the most delightful Forest Chai Latte. All you have to do is mix the syrup with hot milk, coffee, tea, or even juice. Those eight sachets didn’t even last me a week—I was hooked!

Photo credit: Halipuu

The Hunt for the Perfect Chai Latte

However, the price (around 30 euros) and the three-week delivery time had me searching for an alternative so I could enjoy chai every day. From that moment on, I started ordering chai lattes everywhere I went, whether here in Paris or during our travels. I tried them all—special chai lattes, regular, dirty chai—you name it.

But no matter where we were, whenever my fiancé Josh and I would savor a particularly delicious chai, it was always from the same brand: David Rio. We did some research and discovered that David Rio was founded in 1996 by Rio Miura and David Scott Lowe. They initially started with a Japanese-language catalog selling specialty teas and coffees to Japan, but their first chai, Elephant Vanilla Chai, quickly became a hit.

David Rio’s success with Elephant Vanilla Chai inspired them to create more innovative flavors, including their signature Tiger Spice Chai. What’s even more impressive is their commitment to animal welfare. Each chai flavor is named after an endangered animal, and they donate annually to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to help protect tigers, elephants, and other vulnerable species. David Rio’s dedication doesn’t stop there—they also support local animal welfare organizations and even adopted a Bengal Tiger named Atlas.

You can order their products online worldwide (Amazon USA) (Amazon France) or enjoy them in their first retail location based in San Francisco, Chai Bar by David Rio.

My Top Two Chai Picks: David Rio & Campfire Barista’s Forest Chai Syrup

With a wide variety of flavors, David Rio’s chai has completely transformed my daily routine. I’m particularly obsessed with their Tiger Spice and sugar-free Orca Spice. But I can’t forget about the Campfire Barista’s Forest Chai Syrup, which holds a special place in my heart for starting this chai journey.

So, if you’re a chai lover or just curious to try something new, I highly recommend these two brands. Whether you’re savoring a cup by the open fire in Finnish Lapland or enjoying a cozy moment at home, these chai lattes will warm your heart and soul.