Today's Tea: Cool Cucumber

Cool Cucumber from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Some things are just undeniably cool. Black leather jackets. Rock ‘n’ roll. And you can’t argue with the just the right pair of sunglasses. But in our books, there’s nothing cooler than this deliciously refreshing black tea with melon, real cucumber slices and just a hint of mint. It’s bracingly fresh, totally invigorating and surprisingly addictive. And unlike those sunglasses, it’ll never go out of style. We told you it was cool… Limited edition.


Ingredients: Black tea, honeydew melon, cucumber, sunflower petals, blue mallow blossoms, natural and artificial flavoring.

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp       96°C/205°F    4-7 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Cool Cucumber)

Steph's Thoughts:
Today's trip to DT brought several new things.

First: DT has instituted a new Frequent Steeper program. You can bet I jumped on that bandwagon as soon as I heard!

Second: I picked up the new Mother's Day tea - Hot Mama. Look for a review soon!

Third: Today's tea: Cool Cucumber. I have a bag of this from when the spring teas came out. However, I didn't think this would make a good hot tea, given the ingredients. So when it was one of the Teas of the Day at DT, I jumped at the chance to try it cold (even though today is NOT the day for iced tea)!

It has a very, very weird flavour.  I mean, cucumber and mint. What. What are you doing in my tea.
At the same time, it's actually very refreshing. I think the honeydew and the cucumber pair very nicely. It would be an awesome tea for those summer days that are sunny and hot and you just need a drink to cool off. This is EXACTLY the right tea for that sort of day. Also, for some reason, I feel like it would cool a sunburn. But it probably wouldn't. ..... I wonder if you could put tea in a bath, or whether it would cause a negative physical reaction. Either way, it's very cooling and refreshing and it makes me yearn for hot weather and sunshine, neither of which I've seen in a while. It's STUPID COLD again, and I am SO TIRED OF SNOW. (sorry. Just.... I'm SO DONE with winter, and I can't wait to have summer teas again.)

The black tea flavour comes through once you've had about 2/3 of your cup. I think it does require a bit of sweetener. It doesn't need to be TOO sweet.

Verdict: Not my favourite, but definitely good.

Yesterday's Tea: Choconut Oolong

I realize that I forgot to post about the types of tea. I will at some point. I haven't forgotten.

Also, you'll notice that this post is titled YESTERDAY'S tea. There's a reason. 

Without further ado, yesterday's tea: Choconut Oolong from DAVIDsTEA

Description: David was eating breakfast: toast with chocolate hazelnut spread and a cup of oolong tea. He took a bite, then a sip. Then he got that look in his eye. A light bulb went off. Why not combine the two? Rich, dark chocolate. Smooth-drinking oolong. And just a hint of hazelnut. The result? Sweet, satisfying and a little bit nutty. It’s the perfect breakfast and the perfect tea, all rolled into one. Limited edition.

Ingredients: Cocoa husks, cocoa beans, oolong tea, black tea, liquorice, natural hazelnut flavouring, artificial cream, chocolate and caramel flavoring.

Caffeine: 2 (medium)

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp      96°C/205°F 4-5 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Choconut Oolong)

Steph's Thoughts:

I was at a friend's house last night for tea. She let me pick what kind of tea I wanted. This called to me, as it's rich and chocolaty. It turns out that it's one of her favourites too. She's been on a chocolate tea kick, and DAVIDsTEA has some great ones.

Since my friend didn't have a water thermometer, we kind of eyeballed it. It's important to steep oolong in water that's not too hot.

Upon drinking it, I was convinced I tasted a bit of coconut, but I think that's the hazelnut coming through. I realize that hazelnut and coconut are completely different. Just chalk it up to I'm dumb and don't have as refined taste as I would like to think I do.

Oolong is a tea that pairs well with these flavours. It's light enough that it doesn't overpower the chocolate or make the chocolate taste.... heavy? but yet, it's strong enough to carry the bold flavours of chocolate and hazelnut. 

It has a very smooth flavour as well as texture. It also pairs very very well with coffee cake, or even a lighter cake. 

I didn't try the tea with milk, but my friend loves this tea with milk. I do think that it does lend itself very well to a hint of it, as it is a chocolate tea. I could see Choconut Oolong lending itself very well to a latte, or even a frappe in summertime. 

Verdict: Yum. Win. 

Today's Tea: Lover's Leap Estate

Lover's Leap Estate OP from TeaLeafs

Description: Malty with a jammy-like flavor that is vacuum-packed at the estate capturing the pungent 2nd flush flavor at its peak. Medium body, flavoury cup with piquant Ceylon character that is best in the morning or after dinner. High Polyphenol Antioxidant Tea 9.85%, 98%+ Ethical Tea Partnership.

Ingredients: Luxury black tea

Caffeine: (None listed, but research indicates Medium)

Brewing Instructions: (None listed, but research indicates 1.5 tsp/ 8oz water, 100ºC/212ºF,  3-7 minutes)

(From TeaLeafs: Lover's Leap; Elmwood Inn: Lover's Leap)

Steph's Thoughts: 
I felt like unflavoured tea today. It's been a lazy morning at home by myself, and I wanted something warm and comforting.

This is a tea that I picked up at TeaLeafs in Williamsville, NY. I had the BEST experience shopping there, and I'd definitely recommend it if you're in the Buffalo area. Syd knows her stuff, and she's so bright and friendly. It'll be my first stop, my next trip to Buffalo!

The OP in Lover's Leap Estate OP stands for Orange Pekoe. It comes from an estate just outside Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. In doing a little bit more research, it's consistently hailed as one of the best tea estates in Sri Lanka. It's high in elevation, which results in sunny, warm days, and cool nights, which are optimum tea growing conditions. Also, it's got beautiful scenery!

As there were no steeping instructions on the bag, I eyeballed it. I used 2 tsp of tea for about a cup and a bit of boiling water, and steeped for 7 minutes. The result is a wonderfully smooth cup of tea that requires no sweetening. And for someone who likes sweet tea, that's saying something. Hubby says that it smells like Red Rose with honey in it. I told him it's because it's an orange pekoe, but with whole leaf, rather than just the dustings. He also says that it's very well brewed. I'd like to think that most of it is the quality of the leaf rather than my brewing. I would recommend taking the bag out after about 7-10 minutes, rather than leaving the leaves to steep, as I feel like they'll get quite bitter over time.

It's got a nice, light flavour that is not overwhelmed by bitterness or after-notes. There are some woodsy notes, and some faint fruity notes. Berries, maybe? It kind of reminds me of walking through the woods in British Columbia - surrounded by green plants and warm, slightly humid air.

I feel like this would also make an incredibly luxurious cup of iced tea. With a hint of sugar and citrus, it would be perfect (if slightly expensive)!

Verdict: Major win.

Tea School

It's been a while since I've posted. I HAVE been drinking tea, but alas, nothing new. I have a few reviews that I've stashed away, but I can't find them at the moment. Sorry.

Today, DAVIDsTEA launched a new Tea School, which is basically Tea 101. The premise is to introduce the public to the very basic version of the tea knowledge that the Tea Guides have. I took notes. I have to share my new knowledge with my loyal readers, don't you know.


During the presentation, they discussed the process of harvesting teas, the 5 "Golden Rules" of tea brewing, and the different types of tea (well, those related to the camellia sinensis plant). We also had a chance to taste several different teas. I'm not going to share all my notes, but I would definitely recommend that, if you have a chance, partake in a Tea School class. It's really quite a neat experience.

In this edition, I'll talk about harvesting teas, and the Golden Rules of Steeping. Types of tea will be for the next installment.

DAVID'S TEA SCHOOL (Tea 101)

Camellia Sinensis is an evergreen shrub native to Asia, though it is now grown all over the world.

Harvesting Teas

1. Pluck - remove the leaves from the plant. This is mostly still done by hand, though there are plucking machines. 
2. Wither - basically, let them dry out a bit.
3. Roll - this bruises the leaves, causing the sap/oils/juices to seep out and produce a more robust flavour.
4. Oxidize - also known as fermentation, this part of the process releases tannins. Just like your apple turns brown after you bite into it, so the tea leaves turn brown as well. 
5. Fire - this stops the oxidation process, and "locks" the tea into it's final form. This can be done over a fire, by baking it, or leaving it in the sun. 

Golden Rules of Steeping

1. Size Matters. Why? Your tea leaves need room to unfurl themselves. How much room are you leaving for your leaves to expand? You have several different options here. You can let them steep in an infuser, a tea ball, give them a whole pot, use a bombilla (straw with a filter), use tea bags, or use a mug with a filter. 
2. Measure it! It's important to make sure you're measuring your tea. This means you get the perfect cup, every time.
3. Proper Temperature. Is your tea ever bitter? Your water was probably too hot. Every tea has the optimal temperature for best flavour. If the water is too hot, it will burn the leaves, leading to bitter grossness. It's amazing how much of a difference temperature can make while brewing tea!
4. Steep Time. Some teas can withstand longer steep times, while some teas only require 30-60 seconds of steeping for awesome flavour. Some teas get bitter when left to steep too long. 
5. Experiment. Have fun with your teas! Try blending your own (for example, Birthday Cake and Coffee Pu'erh from DAVIDsTEA apparently make an amazing "Tiramisu"), or try different sweeteners. Sugar, honey and agave can all change the taste of your tea. Add milk. Make it a latte. Use soy or almond milk instead of cow's milk. Try it iced. Make it YOUR cup of tea. Figure out what YOU like, not what someone else tells you you should like. 

Today's Tea: Grape Expectations

Organic Grape Expectations from DAVIDsTEA

Description: We’ve fallen hard for this fresh, tangy, grape-filled blend. In fact, it’s David’s new favourite flavoured tea. Why does he love it so much? There’s just something so luxurious about it. With green tea perfumed with Muscat and concord grapes, it’s a drink fit for royalty. Just brewing a cup makes you feel like you’re floating on some fabulous yacht in the Mediterranean or along the French Riviera. Try it iced in champagne flutes for the full effect. Something tells us we’re into something grape. Limited edition.


Ingredients: Organic: green tea, raisins, cornflower. With natural grape flavoring.

Caffeine: 2 (Medium caffeine)

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp     85°C/185°F    3-4 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Grape Expectations)

Steph's Thoughts:

NEW SPRING TEAS YAAAAY! 

When I went into DAVIDsTEA this week, all the spring teas were out and waiting for me. I have a few that I want to review.  Those will be out in a week or so. 

Lately, I've been craving grape. Specifically, the grape Lifesavers that I got when I was a young kid. Since they don't make grape Lifesavers anymore, I've been having to make do with other things. I've tried about four different flavours of grape soda, in addition to eating actual grapes. (Nom nom.) So imagine my excitement when GRAPE EXPECTATIONS popped up at DT. 

The dry leaf notes are exactly what I would expect. They fulfill my cravings. So far, so good!

As I first made this tea at my parents' house last Thursday, and they don't have a kettle that tells me the temperature, I tried using a (CLEAN!) meat thermometer to measure the temperature of my water. I had ensured that the temperature was 185°F, but I suppose it was still too hot, as the first sip was very bitter.

I don't know whether the water was too hot, or whether I steeped it too long. Adding sugar made it a bit better, but it still didn't taste quite right. It had a nice aftertaste, but it was vastly overwhelmed by the taste of burnt green tea.

Today, I decided to try this tea again. I used my variable temperature kettle, ensuring the temperature was 185°F, and steeped it for three minutes and thirty seconds. It seems to have made quite the difference, as the tea is not bitter at all, and requires no sweetener. The grape flavour comes out far more clearly, and it's not overwhelmed by the green tea. 

I haven't tried it iced, but part of me would like to try it as a spritzer - basically, overbrewed tea watered down with soda water. It seems like it would make a nice summer drink.

Alas, it's going to be a long time coming for summer, as it's still -25°C with four feet of snow here. *sigh* At least I have DT's spring teas to fuel my springtime fantasies.

VERDICT: Pretty good for a green tea! 

Today's Tea: The Spice Is Right

Organic The Spice Is Right from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Is there any flavour combo more comforting than orange and cinnamon? There’s something about it that’s instantly comforting – like warm spice cake or a glass of hot punch. But nostalgia isn’t the only thing giving you that warm fuzzy feeling. Cinnamon is said to have warming properties, and one sip of this spice-laden green tea is all it takes to get that cozy fireside feeling going. Add some sweet orange peel and a zingy hint of chili pepper, and you’ve got a zesty blend that warms you up from the inside out.


Ingredients: Organic: Cinnamon, green tea**, orange peel, cloves, chili pepper. With natural flavouring.
(**Certified Fair Trade)

Caffeine: 1 (Low caffeine)

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp    85°C/185°F 3-4 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: The Spice Is Right)

Steph's Thoughts:

While I was waiting for The Hubby to be finished at the dentist, I wandered into DT (it didn't take much convincing. I basically went with him JUST so I could visit my favourite store). I wanted something warm and soothing but not something I already have. This is getting harder and harder, since I have a LOT of tea. My TeaGuide today suggested The Spice is Right, which is a green tea. I was a little hesitant because GREEN TEA. BUT. When I smelled it, I KNEW. This was what I wanted. This was what my body was yearning for today.

It smells like cinnamon, but not in a cloying way. They've struck the right balance of ALL the spices and flavours. And they use the GOOD cinnamon, not the cheap powdered stuff that people get at the supermarket. I have tasted the difference between good cinnamon and cheap cinnamon. There is NO comparison - cheap cinnamon is gross. Honestly, people, I cannot overemphasize the importance of good quality spices. It may put a dent in my pocketbook, but I will ALWAYS, from now until I'm dead, spring for the GOOD cinnamon. ANYWAY, this tea uses it.

The first sip made my tastebuds sing in delight, and it made the rest of my body go "Yes. This is goodness, this is home. This is what we need. GIVE US MORE, NOW." I like that it doesn't taste like green tea (though it helps that it was PREPARED CORRECTLY).
Also, the chili pepper adds just the right amount of kick. It's not SPICY at all, just... warming. Heartwarming. :P

It reminds me of applesauce. Not the gross, overblended storebought stuff, but homemade applesauce - the kind made with apples that you've picked yourself, then brought home, peeled (and nommed), cut, cooked, mashed and spiced. It reminds me of being in the kitchen with my mom, of learning family cooking secrets, of spending time with one of my favourite people. It reminds me of holiday baking - mountains of cookies and gingerbread cake, and sharing it with friends, neighbours and family. It evokes memories of snuggling with a mug of tea or apple cider beside my mom and reading, or chatting, or just being in silence. My mother is one of my favourite people in the whole world, and as I grow older, I appreciate her more and more. And this tea reminds me of spending time with her. So really, it's perfect.

Here is me and my mother. She is beautiful. (And she will kill me for posting this publicly)

Also, this tea is sweet enough without sweetener. Don't use it. I don't know if it would taste good with a hint of milk or cream. It's almost like a chai, so I would think yes?

Verdict: Instabuy. Homey, yummy, good quality.... Just go buy it. Your body will thank me.

Today's Tea: Soothing Throat Blend

Soothing Throat Blend from Steeps Tea (The Tea Girl)

Description: This beneficial blend contains licorice, fennel, cinnamon, orange peel, ginger, thyme, marshmallow root, mullein, dried lemon juice, cardamom, black peppercorns, and kurkuma. Created for individual wellness and inspired by the early Hindu concept of Ayurveda, meaning the "teaching of life." Licorice has traditionally been used to treat symptoms of the common cold. It acts as a mild anti-imflammatory and expectorant - also a property of the marshmallow root and mullein. Thyme, ginger and fennel relieve sore throats, bronchial problems, laryngitis, fevers and headaches. While cardamom and kurkuma, otherwise known as tumeric, relieve throat and sinus congestion - as well as making our tea a bright and sunny yellow. This aromatic and warming tea will soothe those scratchy throats - the 'Vicks' of tea!

Ingredients:  Licorice, fennel, cinnamon, orange peel, ginger, thyme, marshmallow root, mullein, dried lemon juice, cardamom, black peppercorns, and kurkuma.

Brewing Instructions: (None provided. Since it's an herbal blend, I'm assuming the following:)
1.5 tsp     98°C/208°F     4-7 min

(From SteepsTea: Soothing Throat Blend)

Steph's Thoughts:
I've been sick lately (again... sigh). We visited a friend last night, and upon hearing my nasal, congested tone, immediately put water on to boil. He pulled this tea out of the freezer (which apparently keeps it better), and brewed me a cup.

I was immediately struck by the licorice aroma. It brings to mind very much the aroma of Licorice Twist, from DAVIDsTEA.

It's a little on the sweeter side, so I don't think a lot of sweetener is necessary. I didn't add any, and I usually like my tea sweet. The licorice and fennel definitely come through, as well as something that I can't put my finger on. Maybe it's the marshmallow root.

I was expecting it to be spicy, with the peppercorns and the ginger, but it's not as spicy as one would expect. That's not a bad thing - spicy tea is not my favourite. It's got the right blend of flavour.

One thing that both Austin and I remarked on was how the tea almost immediately soothes the throat and opens the sinuses. Since my sinuses feel like I have a brick in them, that nearly-immediate clearing of my nasal passages was a welcome relief. Now, if only it worked on EARS.

I think that this tea might become part of my cold regimen, which includes saline rinses (I don't have a neti pot yet, but I'm sure I'll get there in the next 10 years.... I just use saline spray, which really does make a HUGE difference) and a lot of tea! (also, Vicks. Ugh, the Vicks.)

Verdict: I CAN BREAAAAAATHE! A must for your medicine cabinet. It'll make colds flee!