Today's Tea: Mighty Aphrodite

Mighty Aphrodite from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Since the day we opened our doors, raspberry leaf has been our number one most-requested ingredient. Why? Because it’s a girl’s best friend, especially for soon-to-be moms. Seriously, there are tons of amazing benefits to explore… But we mostly love it for its sweet, herbal taste, especially in this calming blend of apple, rosehips, lemon balm and raspberries. It’s deliciously soothing, lightly fruity and super good-for-you. (MK Kosher)

Note: Please speak to a professional before taking any herb while pregnant – we are not the experts!


Ingredients: Organic: Raspberry leaves, apple, lemon balm, rosehip, raspberry. With organic and natural raspberry and red fruit flavouring.

Caffeine: 0 (Caffeine free)

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

Steph's Thoughts:
NO, I'm not expecting, but it's a new tea, and new teas are always excellent. Also, raspberry. Chances are if it has raspberry in it, I'll buy it.

I decided to have this tea cold. It's a very light tea - the loose leaves are very dust-like. It makes it very interesting to steep.

It does require a little bit of sweetener as it's not quite sweet enough for my tastes on its own. It doesn't have a bold flavour, so a longer steep time might be necessary.

It is very yummy, though. Soothing, refreshing, and I assume, based on the ingredients, that it's good for you too. The apple flavour and lemon balm comes through nicely. It makes for a nice cup of tea at the end of the day.

And hopefully soon I'll be needing this for reals. In the meantime, I'm just gonna call it my "I'm HOPING" tea.

Verdict: Thanks for listening, DT! Nicely done.

Today's Tea: Magic Dragon

Magic Dragon from DAVIDsTEA

Description: It’s bright. It’s flamboyant. It’s totally over the top. Oh, and it’s incredibly good for you. If you haven’t gotten to know the dragon fruit yet, it’s time you gave this crazy-looking cactus a try. Though it looks a little bizarre, the flavour is actually quite mild – somewhere between a kiwi, a melon and a pear. And it’s so packed with good stuff, it’s being hailed as the next big super fruit. Taste it for yourself in this super tangy tropical blend. With apple, rosehip, hibiscus and blackberry leaves, it’s a great introduction to a fruit you definitely want to know.


Ingredients: Apple, rosehips, hibiscus, sweet blackberry leaves, dragonfruit, cornflower petals, natural dragonfruit flavouring.

Caffeine: 0 (caffeine free)

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

(from DAVIDsTEA: Magic Dragon)

Steph's Thoughts:
Finally got into DT for the July TotM. Yay!

It was one of the Teas of the Day as well, so I got to try a small sample before I asked for a cup (and a bagful!).

It steeps a nice watermelon pink, which contrasts very nicely to the DT teal.

IT has a nice full fruit flavour. The hibiscus isn't quite as strong in this tea as in other teas, which is nice. It's not overpowering. It's got a distinct aftertaste. Having never tasted a real dragonfruit, I don't know if it's a dragonfruit aftertaste. The closest I can come is a pear. Blackberry pear, maybe?? Which is entirely possible, since there ARE blackberry leaves in the tea.

It doesn't really need any sweetener, as it is pretty sweet all on its own. I had a little bit of agave in it, which makes it very nice. I tend to like my stuff on the sweet side.

It is a very wonderful mug of tea. Give it a try.

Verdict: Win!

Today's Tea: Cherry Snowcone

Cherry Snowcone from DAVIDsTEA

Description: When summer really turns up the heat, there’s one cool treat we turn to. A bright red, tangy-sweet cherry snowcone. There’s just no better way to beat the heat. And this tart and fruity cherry-packed blend is our take on the summer classic. Try brewing it extra-strong, sweetening with agave and pouring it over cracked ice for the ultimate refreshing summer treat. A little splash of white rum certainly wouldn’t hurt either.


Ingredients: Hibiscus, rose hip peel, apple, currants, elderberry, sugar crystals, sour cherries, acerola cherries, natural cherry flavouring.

Caffeine: 0 (Caffeine free)

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

(From DAVIDsTEA: Cherry Snowcone)

Steph's Thoughts:

This is one of the teas in the new Carnival Collection.

I will admit, this is the one tea that I wasn't terribly sold on when I bought the Carnival Collection. It didn't smell quite as sweet as the others. Also, I'm not a terribly huge cherry fan. When snowcones were available, I would always opt for blue.

However, this does brew a very nice cup of iced tea. I was worried that 1.25 tsp (x2, for iced tea) wouldn't be enough, because the cherry pieces are quite large. There are some whole dried cherries in there, one of which almost takes up an entire teaspoon!!

I let this tea steep a little longer than recommended, because I wanted a nice bold flavour for iced tea. It brews a nice clear cherry-pink.

I don't think it needs a whole lot of sweetener. The initial tastes are a little bitter, but it's got a very sweet aftertaste that I think sweetener would just... ruin. It's like... a mouthful of ripe cherry, slightly sour with very sweet aftertastes.

I found out that acerola cherries are very rich in vitamin C and are a source of antioxidants (Ooh, look! Health buzzword!).

And even though I'm not a big cherry fan, this is definitely a lovely cuppa.

Verdict: Nicely done, DT. Thanks for changing my mind about cherries.

Today's Tea: Caramel Corn

Caramel Corn from DAVIDsTEA

Description: It’s sweet. It’s salty. And it’s totally addictive. It’s no surprise that caramel corn is such a popular fairground treat. And we just can’t get enough of it. So of course we had to make it into a tea. With real popped corn, caramel pieces plus fresh hints of apple, pineapple, almonds and coconut, it’s rich, buttery and beyond satisfying. And thanks to a touch of beetroot, it brews a fun bright pink colour. Now you can experience that fairground treat anytime, anywhere.


Ingredients: Apple, cinnamon, pineapple, caramel, currants, almonds, beetroot, coconut, popcorn, natural & artificial flavouring.

Allergens: Contains almonds, coconut and milk

Caffeine: 0 (Caffeine Free)

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

(From DAVIDsTEA: Caramel Corn)

Steph's Thoughts:
New collection day means new teas for me! Yay!

Initially, I wasn't sure about this one. I mean, I'm not a huge popcorn fan. But this happened to be one of the Teas of the Day at DT, and it really surprised me.

It has the wonderful caramel corn flavour with none of the calories. Well, okay, maybe like, 5. It doesn't need any sweetener, and makes a fabulous cup of iced tea.

Apparently it tastes really funny when paired with a chicken sandwich, so I wouldn't recommend it to have with a meal. This is more of an "I'm craving something sweet but don't want to/ can't eat" kind of tea.

I didn't realize that the tea contains almonds, so if nuts are your allergen, or if you're hanging out in a place that is designated "nut free" (ie, the daycare!), don't drink this tea. Although, somebody told me that almonds aren't technically a nut, but are the interior meat of the pit of a fruit akin to the peach. However, they are still classified as nuts in a culinary sense.

THAT being said, this tea totally surprised me. I didn't think I'd like it, but I totally love the flavour. The bonus is that it tastes like caramel corn without the sticky teeth, or getting the kernels/ husks stuck between your tooth and your gums! I can totally get behind this idea because that's why I don't eat popcorn as a general rule. Also, the colour that this brews is SO pretty! It's a beautiful pinkish colour, which pairs very nicely with the DAVIDsTEA signature teal.

(that picture was stolen from my afternoon Twitter post!)

I don't know how it tastes hot, but iced it makes a LOVELY treat.

HOpefully I'll be able to review ALL of the carnival collection in the next few days!

Oh, I love tea.


Verdict: WIN. Just go pick up a bag. You'll thank me. I promise.

Today's Tea: Kiwi's Big Adventure

Kiwi's Big Adventure from DAVIDsTEA

Description: There’s something about a kiwi fruit that just makes us smile. It could be their cute round shape, or their fuzzy skin, or their bright green colour. But we think the best thing about a kiwi is the taste – like a cross between a peach and a melon, only better. So it goes without saying that this kiwi-spiked green tea is a real treat. From the second the aroma hits you, you know you’re in for something special. Sweet, fruity, tart and lively, it’s an adventure you won’t soon forget.

Ingredients: Green tea, apple, kiwi, lemongrass, lemon peel, artificial flavouring

Caffeine: 1 (low caffeine)

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp    85°C/185°F 2-3 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Kiwi's Big Adventure)

Steph's Thoughts:
So in lieu of being able to take my dad out on Father's Day, I took my dad out for tea today. It was his first time in DAVIDsTEA, and he found some teas that he was willing to try (YAY!). And I decided to try Kiwi's Big Adventure.

I asked Andrea, the TeaGuide on duty, if this iced well. She said that it did, and that it's not a strong tea. So if you want a nice light, fruity iced tea, this is your tea.

It is a green tea, so be ready for a Green flavour. I didn't think it tasted like kiwi, more like a really light honeydew melon. Although I suppose honeydew and kiwi kind of taste similar?? In this particular cup, the apple came through - it tastes like they used granny smith! It's the lightness without the "ZOMG TART"-ness of Granny Smith apples, though. It steeps a very nice pale clear yellow colour, almost like a white tea. It does have a good flavour, though. It's not as robust as a black tea, but still flavourful. It's like comparing meringue to whipped cream. Both have their  benefits and their respective corresponding pies. But you're not gonna put meringue on a pumpkin pie. But apparently you can put whipped cream on meringue. So maybe that wasn't the best analogy. But do you get what I'm saying?

It makes a nice light cup of tea on a hot day. Alas, today is kind of overcast so HOT tea would have been better today.

It's not my favourite because of the "green tea" flavour, and it's a little lighter than I would have liked for today. Don't get me wrong, it's still a good tea. Just... not quite right for today. If it had been, like, 40 Celsius and humid, I might be absolutely raving about this tea. I'll try again on a different day.

But cold tea is better than no tea. :P

Verdict: Not my favourite, but definitely good.

Today's Tea: Champagne Raspberry

Champagne Raspberry White from TeaLeafs

Origin: China

Ingredients: White Tea, Safflowers with Champagne flavor and Red raspberry flavors

(from TeaLeafs: Champagne Raspberry)

Not listed, but assumed based on ingredients:

Caffeine: 2 (medium)

Brewing Instructions:  1.25 tsp    90°C/195°F 4-5 min, though some would steep 2-3 minutes

Steph's Thoughts:

This is another tea that I got from TeaLeafs in Williamsville, New York, just outside of Buffalo. I've said it a dozen times, and I'll say it again, GREAT tea shop. If you live in the States (particularly near Buffalo!), avail yourself of the products from this tea shop. You'll thank me. Unfortunately, they don't ship to Canada. Thank goodness my friend Bryan has agreed to be my supplier!!

I decided to steep this for 3 minutes rather than 4 or 5. I think I didn't steep it long enough, because there's not quite enough flavour. I'm always worried that oversteeping white tea can make it bitter. 

It has a wonderful fruity flavour that is nice and light. It steeps a lovely pale yellow topaz colour. It could use a little more fruit flavour, but that could be because I didn't steep it quite long enough. IT doesn't require a lot of sweetener. I didn't add any, but if you absolutely must add some, don't add TOO much because it could overpower the lightness of the tea.

Verdict: Major win, even with understeeping. So yummy.

Today's Tea: Just Peachy

Just Peachy from DAVIDsTEA

Description: It took us years to find the perfect peach iced tea – but this sweet, summery blend is so peachy, it tastes like it’s fresh from the orchard. Now that we’ve finally mastered our favourite summer fruit, we just can’t get enough. And we keep discovering new, delicious ways to try it. It’s amazing mixed up with peach sliced and frozen into ice pops. Or served chilled with a splash of Prosecco. But the best way might just be straight up, with lots of ice and a touch of agave. However you enjoy it, this blend is a real peach. (MK Kosher)

Ingredients: Apple, sweet blackberry leaves, peach, natural and artificial flavouring.

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

(From DAVIDsTEA: Just Peachy)

Steph's Thoughts:
Today is National Iced Tea Day, so I decided to brew myself a cup of this tea. Iced, of course!!

Normally I'm not a fan of peach tea. Well, peach ANYTHING. However, this was one of the tea samples a few weeks back, and it's an amazing iced tea. The peach flavour is natural and not overwhelming. It's nice and sweet and doesn't require a lot of sweetener; however, if you're icing this tea, it does taste better with a HINT of sweetness. That's when agave is really nice, because you can add it to cold tea and it'll mix right in.

For some reason, I've got an urge to mix it with orange juice and ginger ale for a non-alcoholic Fuzzy Navel punch. If you wanted a REEEEEEALLY peachy drink, add peach schnapps!

Verdict: Just peachy! I like it!