A ROMATIC CHAI HAS LONG BEEN a staple in India, but the spice-forward beverage now has a unique New Mexico twist, thanks to Stokli. The Santa Fe–based online shop of goods handcrafted with local ingredients offers High Desert Chai, an enchanting brew of organic black tea with cinnamon, rose, cardamom, ginger, and New Mexico red chile and sage. “I wanted to make a chai that reflected New Mexico,” says Marianne Sundquist, who founded Stokli with her husband, Hans, during the pandemic to sell their culinary and bath and body products along with those crafted by other local growers and artisans. “It’s a lovely warming tea blend that really tastes like New Mexico.” Stokli’s first product, High Desert Herbs, was inspired by the herbs of Provence, which Sundquist noticed are similar to New Mexico herbs. “They have lavender, thyme, and oregano in common,” she says. “We created our own version that incorporates red chile and marjoram.” New Mexico flavors have never tasted so beguiling.
Cozy Up With Stokli
This New Mexico–made chai pairs perfectly with fall nights spent by the fire.
By Lynn Cline