Today's Tea: Jumpy Monkey

Jumpy Monkey from DAVIDsTEA

Description: This brew gives you a tasty boost with a unique combination of exotic ingredients. It combines freshly roasted peaberry coffee beans with Argentine maté, and laces them with almonds, white chocolate and other roasted barks and roots. The result is sweet, rich and deliciously satisfying. Plus it’s a sweet treat you can enjoy guilt-free, as this blend has virtually no calories. No wonder they say maté makes you efficient.

Ingredients: Roasted yerba maté, peaberry coffee bean or flat bean, cocoa nibs, carob, cloves, white chocolate (Sugar, nonfat milk powder, partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil, soy lecithin, monoglycerides, artificial colour, artificial flavour), almonds, red clover, oat straw.

Allergens: Dairy, nuts and soy

Caffeine: 3 (Stimulant)

How to Brew: 1.5 tsp 98°C/208°F 4-7 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Jumpy Monkey)

Steph's Thoughts:

Good morning, maté! If it weren't so frowned upon to put you in my guampa instead of regular maté, I totally would. (Traditionally, only Ilex paraguariensis - straight yerba maté - goes into the guampa.) It would make my day so much better.

You can definitely tell this tea is a maté from the bouquet, and the taste. It's slightly bitter, like maté, but there's a hint of something else, something .... earthier. Chickory, maybe? Except there's no chickory in the ingredients... I was expecting this to taste a little more like chocolate, given the amount of chocolate in the tea, but I guess that's Chocolate Rocket I'm thinking of. It's not as sweet as some of the other matés, so in my opinion it requires a little bit of sweetener. It has a very nice initial taste, but has a bit of a maté kick to it as an aftertaste.

The thing about maté is that it gives you the same mental boost without the jitteries of coffee, so if you need to be awake, maté's just as good as coffee, without the crash. And this tea has actual coffee beans in it, so WHEEEEEE.

And HEY, did you know that yerba maté is actually from the holly family? So TECHNICALLY IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE SEASON!!!!! (because it is Christmas-ish, you see...)

VERDICT: Not my favourite maté, but better than straight maté!! Uh, Half-win??

Today's Tea: Lapsang Souchong Star

Organic Lapsang Souchong Star from DAVIDsTEA

Description: If you like single-malt whisky and fine cigars, then this is the tea for you. Most say it was invented when soldiers took over a tea factory in Xingun (Star Village) during the Qing dynasty in China. When they finally left, the workers had to dry their tea in record time to sell it at the market. In desperation they lit open fires of pine to speed the process, and wood-smoked Lapsang Souchong was born. (MK Kosher) Ingredients: Organic Chinese black tea from Fujian Province Caffeine: 2 (Medium) How to Brew: 1.25 tsp 98°C/208°F 4-5 min (From DAVIDsTEA: Lapsang Souchong Star) Steph's Thoughts: This is definitely a campfire kind of tea. It smells like wood smoke and pine branches, and reminds me of summer camp. When I was a teenager, I volunteered as a counselor at a summer camp. Once a week, we would pack up our stuff and spend a night in the woods. We would cook dinner over a fire, sleep in a tent, more often than not get rained on, learn new skills, and also learn things about ourselves, often to our surprise. When we returned to "civilization" (or at least, indoor plumbing) from our foray into the wilderness (ish), we would inevitably come back smelling like wood smoke. Our clothes, our hair, our skin, our VERY BEING was infused with wood smoke, and it radiated from our pores. Some of us would dash into the shower to slough off the "stink." Others of us would savour the aroma of our smoke-infused selves, resigning ourselves to the shower when it was our turn. These are the memories this tea invites. I don't know if this is a tea that one would drink straight on a regular basis. It is very smoky, although you can taste the pine and the black tea. I had mine with milk, which seems to take the edge off a little. It's how the Guides at the Polo Park store recommend it. I can DEFINITELY see using it as a marinade, or in a sauce while cooking. If you want to infuse a smoke flavour into whatever you're cooking, brew this tea and use it. I have a recipe from DT that is basically salmon, milk, and this tea. Upon doing further research, I'm convinced that it can enhance your barbecues, soups and meat dishes! I did a brief Google search for recipes with Lapsang Souchong, and one of the websites I came to suggested putting a bit in a spice ball and putting it in your vegetarian soups and stews to add a little bit of the smoky bacon flavour without actually putting any meat or meat stock in. My brother in law sent me a recipe for Cheddar Ham Chowder (which is AMAZINGLY FABULOUS!) that I might spice up with this tea - maybe instead of 2 cups water, I would do one cup water and one cup tea, OR two cups tea, depending on how smoky I wanted the chowder. Hmmmmm... Now I want to go play! One reader on Steepster suggested mixing a little bit of this with the Oh Canada! to have "maple bacon flavoured tea." I think that I would really like to cook with this tea rather than drinking it. There's a wonderful Tea Rubbed Pork Chop recipe with Lapsang Souchong that I'd like to try, in addition to my chowder experiment. And now, thanks to all my research, and my tea, I want to go cook. Except I didn't actually buy a bag of Lapsang Souchong; I only bought a cupful. And thanks to my review, my cupful is gone. Oh dear. Verdict: Iffy on its own, but would be an amazing additive to cooking.

Today's Tea: Big Apple

Big Apple from DAVIDsTEA

Description: There’s just something magical about New York City. We love the hustle and bustle, the excitement, and of course the food. Something about the words “big apple” just gets us salivating. Which is why we created this tea, a deliciously fruity blend of premium white and green teas with big pieces of golden apple. It’s fun, flashy and full of flavour – just like our favourite city.

Ingredients: White tea (Mao Feng), green tea (Wu Lu and Guangxi), apple, artificial flavouring

Caffeine: 2 (Medium)

How to Brew: 1.25 tsp 92°C/198°F (though the bag says 82°F) 3-4 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Big Apple)

Steph's Thoughts:

I wanted to try apple tea, and had heard that this one was pretty good. I ordered this one at DT on Monday, and decided that Christmas Day would be a wonderful time for a) a new tea and b) something fruity. And tea is healthier than cider or hot chocolate, in theory, so.... Hooray! I'm now sitting at my in-laws' place doing a tea review, on Christmas Day.

Oh hey! Happy Christmas, readers.

Anyway. The leaves have a wonderful apple smell, with a hint of something. I can't quite name it. It's quite lovely, though.

I tried brewing it as best I could without a thermometer and proper measuring spoon, as my in-laws are not quite as nerdy as I am. I used water that had boiled and then sat for a few minutes before I put it into the cup. One of the Guides at DT had said that she had oversteeped this tea and therefore hadn't liked it, so I tried really hard to only let it steep for about 3-4 minutes. I think I could let it steep for a few more minutes yet, but more than about 8 minutes, and I've been told it'll be very bitter.

I like this tea. It's like a tea-ish version of apple cider, only with less spices. I'm sure you could add some cinnamon and some other stuff, and make cider out of this. Although I probably wouldn't. It's a wonderful apple tea. It's got a very nice subtle aftertaste.

It really is hard to describe the taste. I mean, you can tell that it's made of apple, but it doesn't taste like apple sauce, or juice, or cider, or crisp, OR PIE. It's like,..... dried apple, without the bitter chewiness, like healthy green tea without the bitter powderiness, and like juice without the added sugar. I wonder what this tea would taste like iced? It doesn't REALLY taste like cinnamon, but I feel like there is some in there. Maybe it's just because my tongue often pairs apple with cinnamon. It's not overwhelming at all, though. It's nice.

And it's not bitter at all, so I suppose I steeped it for an appropriate amount of time. I didn't end up using any sweetener in this one. I really don't think it needs it.

All in all, this is a lovely tea.

VERDICT: Tea win!

Today's Tea: Organic Ever Green

Organic Ever Green from DAVIDsTEA

Description: We were inspired by David Suzuki when we dreamed up this tea. It’s an organic blend of Japanese sencha with Canadian-sourced cranberries, blueberries and sea lettuce. A little bit sweet, a little bit fruity with an oceanic hint. Plus it’s entirely sourced from farms that meet the highest standards of sustainability. You might call it an homage to everyone’s favourite environmental icon.


Ingredients: Organic: Sencha green tea, cranberries, blueberries, caraway seed, mustard seed, sea lettuce. With natural flavouring.

Allergens: Mustard seed

From DAVIDsTEA: Organic Ever Green

Steph's Thoughts:

The name put me in mind of a Raffi album I listened to as a child - Ever Green, Ever Blue, so I was excited to try it. I was expecting hints of pine, reminiscent perhaps of Cold 911, but instead I smelled cranberries and blueberries, and something very strong that I cannot identify, even now. The smell stirs a memory, but I cannot grasp it, nor can I place the smell. And quite frankly, it's driving me mad that I cannot put this into words.

It brews a lovely clear amber, and tastes like.... Well, the only word I can think of to describe this tea is GREEN. If GREEN had a taste, I think this would be it. There are definite aftertastes of cranberry and dried blueberry.

In reading the ingredients over and over and over, I think my tastebuds are convinced that I taste sea lettuce, which according to my brain, tastes like the seaweed that you wrap your sushi in, only sweeter.

I think this tea would, in fact, make a lovely complement to sushi or a fish dish.

Also, let me say this: DO NOT microwave the paper cups that the tea comes in if you want to reheat it. I had an EPIC FAIL moment. But my tea does not taste like burning, so I guess, epic win???

I think I like this tea on the sweet side, as it brings out the blueberry flavour. Also, I would recommend following the brewing instructions, as this is a green tea, and green teas are notoriously picky about their water temperature. But Chris at DAVIDsTEA-Grant Park (henceforth referred to as DT-GP) brewed it perfectly!

This all being said, I think the taste is something that requires a bit of time, and a very particular palate. Initially, I was unsure about it, as it's not my favourite. And I don't think it ever will be. But it DOES grow on you. I think I was disappointed that it didn't smell like pine, so maybe that plays into things a little. It does have a fairly strong smell (it's That Which I Cannot Identify), which translates into a taste. It's PLANT-Y. It's GREEN. And that's not a bad thing. It's just ... not MY thing.

Hubby says that it does NOT taste like Green, but somehow like a sharp peach liqueur. Though he's not entirely sure about the peach part of it. He said the smell is a little acrid, which is off-putting. After a few sips, he was able to taste the blueberries. Dried blueberries have a very different taste than fresh blueberries, and I think that is maybe where the taste difference comes in, because there REALLY IS a clear aftertaste of DRIED blueberries. Like... craisins but not. Green Craisins?? Hubby had an AHA moment when reading over my shoulder. "If you stick your nose in a bag of dried blueberries, I'm pretty sure part of the smell in Ever Green is THAT SMELL."

Verdict: Iffy. Could be good if paired with sushi?????????

Today's Tea: Nepal Black

Nepal Black Tea from DAVIDsTEA

Description: There are good things brewing in the Highlands of Nepal. Like this hand-made black tea, from a small family-owned tea garden named Jun Chiyabari. From the first sip you’ll notice its rich, sweet, honey-like flavour. What doesn’t come through in the cup is how much good this little tea garden does. They’ve set up a ton of amazing community programs to benefit local schools, underprivileged families, and the elderly. This particular tea is a DAVIDsTEA exclusive – now that’s a good thing. 

Ingredients: Black tea from Nepal

Caffeine: 2 (medium)

(From DAVIDsTEA: Nepal Black)

Steph's Thoughts:

I went to DAVIDsTEA at Grant Park to try the Cherry Blossom White for Kaseteufel, but it seems it's an online exclusive (boo). I asked the Tea Guides what they recommended and Laura (I'm working on learning all their names, because they are the awesomest ever) suggested this one.

She also told me that DAVIDsTEA has bought all the stock from this particular tea farm, so this particular tea is a DT exclusive. She was super-excited about all the good things they (DT and Jun Chiabari) are doing in Nepal, and I think she's passed it on!

I'm not usually a fan of straight black tea - I like my flavours. But HOLY CRAP. Laura, THANK YOU.

The tea is on the sweeter side of black tea. I was pleasantly surprised by the sweetness, actually. I didn't get a whole lot of sweetener in, because I wanted to try it as straight as possible. I was afraid it would be bitter or very strong, so wanted to temper it with a little agave, and when it's so hot, it's hard to tell what it needs. I didn't need a lot to bring it up to my desired sweetness.

It does have a little bit of a honey taste to it. It's not bitter, and it's a lovely dark amber colour.

This tastes lovely with gingersnaps - it's a great complement, actually. The smoothness of tea goes well with the - ahaha- snappy ginger cookie, and the flavours lend themselves well to the pairing.

I would recommend drinking this tea while it's hot. However, in my life, tea seems to have two temperatures - too hot, and not hot enough. You wait and wait and wait for the tea to NOT be too hot, and by the time you get to "not hot" you have about thirty seconds to gulp down the whole cup before it becomes "not hot enough." And this tea is just too good to guzzle.

It is a black tea, which means it has a caffeine kick. I think this might be a good mid-afternoon tea. Right when you need a cup of coffee to wake you up, pick up this tea instead. I would love to have a tin of this, because as far as plain tea goes, this is THE BEST EVER. Seriously, of all the plain, unflavoured teas, this is my new absolute favourite ever.

Seriously, if you like plain tea, THIS IS YOUR TEA.

Thank you, Laura!! You rock my socks like crazy.


Verdict: Tea Win!!

Today's Tea: Bubbly

Bubbly from DAVIDsTEA

Ingredients: Green tea, candied pineapple, mullein blossoms, artificial flavouring

(From DAVIDsTEA: Bubbly)

Steph's Thoughts:
I'm not normally a champagne drinker, because it's rather expensive, but I figured with New Year's coming up, I'd like to have some celebratory tea to drink at midnight (because that's how I roll. I don't party, and buying a bottle of expensive champagne just for me, and just for one night is a little silly). I was intrigued by the smell in the store, even though I'm NOT a green tea drinker.

A few days ago, I was trying to decide which tea to drink. I smelled the tea from this tin, and while I didn't feel like drinking it at the time, I will admit I picked through the tea to find the candied pineapple, and ate a few pieces. Candied pineapple is AMAAAAAAAAZING! It was so hard not to eat it all! But then the tea would taste funny, and we can't have that, now, can we?

I can't say I was familiar with mullein blossoms, so I did some research on the internet, and HELLO, Aren't these PRETTY?

They're cheerful little flowers!
Apparently they're in the figwort family, AND HEY DID YOU KNOW they're used for treating respiratory disorders and ear infections?
So instead of getting drunk on NYE, I can get HEALTHY! I like this plan! (..... I'm schputting here a little, since I'm pretty sure the medicinal quality of this tea is fairly minimal. Consider this a disclaimer.)

Also, I think I want to grow these in my garden in spring. HAPPY FLOWERS IN MY TEEEEEEAAAAA.

The taste of Bubbly is pineapply and green-tea-that-is-not-horrid. Again, very skeptical of green tea. It is a little on the bitter side so next time I might add a healthy dose of sweetener. Especially for the bottom bits. The bottom of the cup is really very bitter. And a bit sedimenty. I suppose that's normal.
I wonder what kind of flavour the mullein adds. I've never smelled them. Perhaps a botanist would like to describe the smell to me? In any case, David and his team have done a fabulous job blending them with the pineapple. I like the pineapple in this tea.


I apologize for the inanity of my review. It has been a very long, very emotional day and I'm sick and thus, very bonkers. And since I'm reviewing these for free, I feel a little less pressure to be professional.

Verdict: It's growing on me. The pineapple is nummy and the flowers are pretty.

Today's Tea: Spiced Carob

Organic Spiced Carob from DAVIDsTEA

Ingredients: Carob, oolong tea, black tea, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, natural and organic flavouring.

Caffeine: 1 (low)

(From DAVIDsTEA: Organic Spiced Carob)


Steph's Thoughts:

I had this to drink during a staff meeting, so I couldn't review it right away (though I WAS jotting notes during the meeting). But the best part about this is that it's got a fuller leaf, so it can be brewed more than once and still taste just as good! I rebrewed the bag when I got home from the meeting, and am now enjoying a second cup.

The first thing that strikes me is the ginger and the cardamom. It reminds me very much of Le Digestif, or perhaps the Pu'erh Ginger. And then, there are hints of chocolate, but not too heavy. For some reason, I'm reminded of this candied ginger-chocolate thing I ate once. It was so amazing. This is almost like the tea version of that. Except better.

After the ginger, cardamom and chocolate hit you, then there come hints of cinnamon, which are reminiscent of the Cocoa Canela, with slightly less chocolate. It really is very subtle, but oh so delicious. I think recognizing the cinnamon really made it pop.

It doesn't need a lot of sweetener - I used half a pump of agave, which was more than sufficient to sweeten it. I drank the second cup black with no sweetener, and it was just as good.

Also, apparently oolong tea, carob, and ginger are all tummy-soothers, so if you have an upset tummy, but crave a little bit of chocolate, this might be your go-to remedy. It's very light, which is welcome when you have an upset tummy.

On second brewing, the flavour of the carob really came through - it was chocolatier than the first cup. Also, I think that oolong tea has a very distinct flavour that is really hard to describe. It's not in-your-face like black tea, nor punchy like maté, nor ... um... tweaky is the only word I can think of to describe green tea (I'm not a huge green tea fan, and I'm always little skeptical of it). Earthy maybe? But not bad earthy. It's nice on the palate. And my tummy says thank you, too.

This isn't a tea that I'd normally pick for myself, but today's been a weird day. This was a really good end to the day.

Verdict: Win, enough to drink it twice!

Today's Tea: Cherry Cola

Organic Cherry Cola from DAVIDsTEA

This tea is also a request from Kaseteufel. (Seriously, guys, if you have any requests, get them in!! I love taking reader requests!!)

Ingredients: Black tea, cherry pieces, stevia, with organic and natural flavouring

(From DAVIDsTEA: Cherry Cola)


Steph's Thoughts:

Smells very perfume-y. Also, this tea is very strong if you let it steep too long.

Initially, this is not my most favourite tea, but then again, I'm not a huge fan of cherry cola. It definitely has a cola aftertaste, though. Also, it is VERY WEIRD drinking hot cola. I think I will try icing it and see what the verdict is.

The ladies at the Grant Park DT store (who are AMAZING!!!!) recommend drinking it very sweet. I had it with a half pump of agave, but that wasn't enough. It definitely requires at LEAST a full pump. I added more agave when I got home, so in the end I think I had about 2 Tablespoons of agave in my tea. I know that sounds like a lot, but it's slightly healthier than white sugar......... (Please don't judge - I like my tea sweet...)

Hubby was intrigued by the smell, and decided to steal a sip. He then asked me why I was drinking liquified gummy coke bottles. He then recounted a story of one of his friends (who is a HUGE fan of anything with excessive amounts of sugar)  who left a large container of gummy coke bottles in the backseat of his vehicle on a rather hot summer day (yes, Manitoba gets those too...). When he returned to the car, the gummies had liquified. Rather than throwing them out, he let them solidify again, and then just cut chunks off and nommed them that way. I had some too, and I will admit, they were a little chewier than regular coke gummies, but definitely just as nomtacular!

And now that I think "gummy bottles," this tea is not half bad. I'm not a big fan of the INITIAL sip, but the cola aftertaste is decent. I'm sure the caloric content of this tea is significantly less than a cup of cola would have, and you can sweeten it with whatever you want - stevia, xylitol, honey, and agave are all (apparently) better for you than refined white sugar, or corn syrup.

*walks to the fridge to get the iced stuff*

It tastes marginally less weird iced. I wonder what it would be like to brew this double-strength and serve it with soda water...

Verdict: Not my cup of tea, but I'm sure it has a following.
I prefer the Root Beer stuff, iced. It's, in my opinion, better. Though I gotta say, even for someone who likes flat pop, it is WEIRD drinking pop-tea.

Today's Tea: Sweet Ginger Maté

Today's review DOES NOT come from DAVIDsTEA. (I know, shocking, innit??)

For about 2 months now, I've been receiving monthly samples from a company called "Natur'el Tea." They're also a Canadian tea company, run out of Banff, Alberta (David's is run out of Montréal). I don't remember signing up for this - maybe this is my birthday gift my sister-in-law was talking about. BUT they send me tea samples and a newsletter every month, and today, the October newsletter arrived with a sample of Organic Sweet Ginger Maté.

So after a long day at work, I decided to brew some tea to warm me up (because Winnipeg is RIDICULOUSLY cold for November), and also to WAKE me up (because me and 6:30 am do not get along. Heck, me and 8 am don't get along either...).

So without further ado, I review for you:

Organic Sweet Ginger Maté from Natur'el Tea

(unfortunately, they don't have pictures on their website of the teas... Boo! I should see if I can hook up the digicam and rock the photos...)

 Description: The full-bodied flavor and bold energy of Yerba Mate hand blended with aromatic forest spices and stimulating ginger offers a burst of energy and exotic aroma.

Ingredients: Organic shade grown yerba maté, Organic ginger root, Organic cinnamon, Organic cardamom, Organic licorice root.

(From Natur'el Tea: Maté)

Steph's Thoughts:

First thoughts: Definitely a maté. Smells like Christmas. Num! It also brews a beautiful colour!

I like this tea because it tastes like a very light, tea-ified version of a gingerbread cookie, with a maté twist. The ginger, cardamom and licorice come through, but the licorice is not overpowering, nor is the ginger too spicy.

I also like that I don't have to add ANY sweetener to this tea - it's perfectly sweet enough on its own. Apparently that's thanks to the licorice root, which is a natural sweetener. (Huh. Who knew?!)

I haven't tried any other teas from this company yet. I'm tempted to order samplers of all the teas, but I don't have any more room on my shelves for anything!! (also, it's Christmas and I'm broke...)

I am excited that this company is a) a Canadian company, b) a relatively small company, and c) a mostly-online company. The owner does do tours to various craft shows, farmers' markets, and the like. You can buy Natur'el Tea at several other retailers throughout British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, as well as online.

Verdict: Win!! I think when I have a craving for gingerbread cookies, this will be my go-to, sugar-free alternative.

Today's Tea: Sleigh Ride

Sleigh Ride from DAVIDsTEA

Ingredients: Apples, hibiscus blossoms, candied pineapple, candied papaya, beetroot pieces, cinnamon stick pieces, raisins, coconut, roasted almonds, popped rice, artificial flavouring.

Allergens: Tree nuts, coconut

(From DAVIDsTEA: Sleigh Ride)

Steph's Thoughts:

It makes your house smell like Christmas! Hubby and I pulled out the Christmas tree and the decorations, and started wrapping gifts today. He decided that he wanted tea, and asked me if I wanted some too. I said yes, and he told me to choose one for both of us. This is a PERFECT tea to complement this Christmassing-up process.

I was initially surprised that it brewed red, but when I looked at the ingredients, I shouldn't have been surprised - beetroot and hibiscus often mean redder teas!

I will also say that I was very skeptical of the tea when I bought the set (it comes in the Holiday Collection along with Santa's Secret, a minty black tea, and Merry Cranberry, a green tea with cranberries, anise and mistletoe. I wish I could write this post with footnotes instead of brackets because brackets break up my sentences...) because it wasn't my most favourite smelling tea, nor did "apple, hibiscus blossoms" strike my fancy,  but now I'm a huge fan!

Getting down to taste, the cinnamon is obvious but not overwhelming. Again, it comes from having the cinnamon bark in the tea, rather than ground cinnamon. It took me a few sips to figure out what else it tasted like - apple cider. But it's not your regular "hot apple with cinnamon in." It's a TWISTY cider! Hubby was trying to figure this out too. We went through the ingredient list, and thought for a few minutes. Then he said, "It's TROPICAL apple cider!" It makes a lot of sense, though. Pineapple, papaya, coconut, and almonds are not typical apple cider ingredients, but boy howdy, do they make one TASTY cup of tea-cider. I would love to brew this up in a great big pot (I'd probably need an entire tin full, rather than the mini-tin in the collection!) for caroling or for other activities in which cider would be an apropos drink.

I like this better than apple cider, though, because it is sweet enough to drink on its own with no added sugar, and it's not quite so "APPLECINNAMON" in your face.

Plus, it looks lovely in a white cup. Or a white and green cup, if you're so lucky.

Verdict: Win.

Today's Tea: Santa's Secret

Santa's Secret from DAVIDsTEA

Ingredients: Chinese black tea, peppermint leaves, candy cane sprinkles, natural and artificial flavouring.

(From David's Tea: Santa's Secret)


Steph's Thoughts:

I wanted something delightfully minty today, and Peppermint Amour just wouldn't cut it. I am reminded very much of the Mint Chocolate Rooibos that DT offers, though I haven't had that one in a long time, so my mind may be a little rusty. Even though no chocolate is listed in the ingredients, Santa`s Secret has just a hint of it. I think it tastes a little like those After Eight chocolate sticks that I tend to devour around Christmastime. I could never get enough of those things. (I`m pretty sure Santa likes them too, since there were ALWAYS After Eights missing on Christmas Eve....) Also, I am very much reminded of Peppermint Schnapps, without the overwhelming alcohol. Well, maybe not. Now that I think about it, Peppermint Schnapps tastes kind of like mouthwash (and can double as mouthwash in a pinch). This definitely doesn't.

The aftertaste is very light and refreshing. If it were summer, and I was hot, I would brew this tea, flash chill it, then dilute it with copious amounts of water to put in a spritz bottle. Or, you know, drink cold, because it`s, like I said, refreshing. But with a ZING, because - black tea!!!!

I was confused and slightly concerned about DT's description of the tea - "both energizing and remarkably soothing..." I was like

Pick one. 

(though, not quite, because I am a white chick with glasses, not Jackie Chan. Who is AWESOME. I'm just me.)

But then I drank it, and UNDERSTOOD. Because it's peppermint and it's soothing - comforting, healing, like a hug for your insides. And it's also energizing, because hello black tea. And ZING. It's a good "I need comfort but also need a bit of caffeine" kind of tea. Because peppermint is an herbal tea, it's got comforting refreshment, but not a whole lotta Good Morning! But this is a good tea to solve that problem. I am DEFINITELY awake.

Today's Tea: Red Velvet Cake

This one is for Kaseteufel!

Red Velvet Cake from David's Tea

Ingredients: Black tea, semi-sweet chocolate bits, white chocolate bits, beetroot powder, sprinkles, natural and artificial flavouring.

(From David's Tea: Red Velvet Cake)


Steph's Thoughts:
I like this tea! Not only does it smell lovely, and taste lovely, but LOOK at it! It looks happy! All the little chocolate bits, and the little red sprinkles.... My first thought upon smelling it was..... "I know this smell!!" and then it hit me  - it smells like butterscotch.

I haven't had much experience with red velvet cake (except for some deliciously yummy white-chocolate covered cake balls) so I have very little to go on. But if red velvet cake tastes like vaguely chocolate-y butterscotch, then DT wins.

This is one black tea that tastes fine if you leave the teabag in. It brews a little on the red side (that's the beetroot), and tastes lovely with or without sweetener. (I use the term sweetener generically. I don't mean Splenda or what have you. I mean YOUR sweetener of choice - honey, agave, sugar, xylitol, or, if you must, some other lo-cal sweetener.)

It has a nice aftertaste, smooth with a wee hint of chocolate. It's not overwhelming, which is nice. Even Hubby likes it, and he doesn't like chocolate tea, as a general rule.

I think it reminds me of my mum's butterscotch cookies, which are amazing. (And a secret family recipe... My grandma made them with chocolate chips, but my mum likes the butterscotch ones.

....

Great. Now I crave cookies. Nice job, DT. :P

Fixing

Hey everyone!

I've been going through my Blog fixing all the broken images and links. DAVIDsTEA has recently redone their website, and as a result, all of my images and links were broken. I think I got all of them, but if you find any, please let me know.


I'm hoping to have a new review up tomorrow. Things have been crazy the last week - yoga on Tuesday, parents' anniversary today (42 years!! GO PARENTS!!), plus working the early shift this week, SO.... I'm hoping that I can get a new post in on the morrow.

(That being said, I didn't review them, but go try Alpine Punch and Bamboozled! They are awesome!)

Today's Tea: Saigon Chai

Organic Saigon Chai from DAVIDsTEA

Ingredients: Assam Black tea, Saigon Cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, pink peppercorns. With organic and natural flavouring.

Caffeine Level: 2

(From DAVIDsTEA: Organic Saigon Chai)


Steph's Thoughts

DT has changed up their website so I can't copy-paste text anymore. So I might just leave out the descriptions from now on, and just describe the tea in my post.


This tea is a wonderful chai that is laced with cinnamon. Saigon cinnamon is one of the finest cinnamons in the world, but after the Vietnam War, exportation was halted. The cinnamon is complimented by the ginger. I can't really taste the ginger, but I know that if it would be left out, the tea would be empty.

I've had a craving for chai tea today, and this really hit the spot. I bought the chai collection, which is 8 different types of chai tea (I would link it, but it's not featured on the website anymore). This was the first one I pulled out of the box. I've never had it before, but the aroma was enticing and slightly intoxicating.

One of the suggestions on the site is that you drink it iced with sweetened condensed milk. I can imagine this would be absolutely fabulous. I typically drink my chai heavily sweetened, but I decided today to a) follow the brewing instructions and only leave my teabag in for five minutes, and b) attempt unsweetened chai. It's nomtacular, really.

I was expecting the peppercorns and the ginger to give it a really big KICK (because peppercorns and ginger are spicy), but they don't. They provide a subtle flavour that compliments the cinnamon and mellows the tea.

Also, this isn't a cinnamon hearts kind of cinnamon - the in-your-face, here-I-am kind of OMG CINNAMON. It's a very mellow cinnamon. A natural cinnamon, you might say. I don't know if you've ever smelled cinnamon wood. I don't mean a cinnamon stick, I mean a chunk cut from the tree without curling it. It smells very different from the stuff you usually eat or cook with. I think of it as the "hippie cinnamon," laid back, but still very much alive and robust. That's what this tea is.

Definitely worth many cups.

I'm going to try brewing it in a pot of warm milk on the stove later on. We'll see how that goes.

A Newbie's Guide to Tea: Terminology

Hello, fellow tea-drinkers! (and non-tea-drinkers too. All are welcome!)

I was going to write an extensively wonderful post on Tea Terminology. However, a quick Google search points out that someone has done that for me far better than I could ever do. So.... I shall link you to it.

Go to THIS WEBSITE. Herein you shall find the necessary information.

I hope this is sufficient.

I am going to go brew myself a cup of tea, as there is a foot of snow on the ground (WHAT), and I am cold.

A Newbie's Guide to Tea: Types of Tea and Why It Matters

This is the second part of my "Newbie's Guide to Tea" series.

It can be overwhelming to read about tea and say, "White? Black? Green? Oo-what? What do I DRIIIIINK?!" In this post, I'll get all my information from Wikipedia, condense it into one blog post so you don't have to do all the research yourself, and basically explain the differences between types of tea as I understand it.

The basic categories of tea are as follows:

Black
Green
White
Oolong
Pu'erh
Rooibos
Maté
Herbal

Black Tea
- comes from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant.
- highly oxidized tea (left to turn black)
- known in China as "Red Tea"
- stronger in flavour
- generally higher in caffeine
- retains flavour longer than most other teas
- has been used as currency in some parts/ times of the world
- best steeped with boiling (98°C) water for 3-5 minutes
- generally from China, India, Sri Lanka or Tibet

Green Tea
- comes from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant
- minimal oxidization
- rich in antioxidants
- best steeped in ~81°C-87­°C water for 2-3 minutes (too hot or too long makes the tea bitter)
- can be steeped multiple times
- generally from China or Japan

White Tea
- comes from the buds and leaves of the camellia sinensis plant
- often slightly more expensive due to the delicate nature of the leaf
- very little processing is used for these leaves
- generally steeped in 94°C water for 3-5 minutes (some white teas are very picky with their water, though, so read the steeping information on your tea)
- generally from China, Taiwan, Nepal or Thailand

Oolong Tea
- comes from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant
- semi-oxidized
- contains caffeine, but less than black tea
- often rolled into beads or tubes
- can be steeped up to 4 times
- best steeped in not-quite boiling (93°C-96°C) water for anywhere from 3-10 minutes
- generally from Taiwan or China

Pu'erh Tea
- comes from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant
- considered "post-fermented" because they are oxidized twice rather than only once
- known in China as "Black Tea" (confusing, isn't it??)
- technically, this is green tea that's gone through the tea process twice (that is a VERY BASIC explanation of this. it's way more complicated and complex than I make it sound)
- often pressed into different shapes or bricks
- best steeped in ~95°C water (though higher quality tea requires a lower steeping temperature) for anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.
- generally from China, Vietnam, Laos or Burma

Rooibos
- comes from a broom-like member of the legume family
- means Red Bush in Afrikaans
- low caffeine
- high in antioxidants
- can be turned into a CapeTown Fog (like a London Fog, which is steeped Earl Grey with milk, sugar and vanilla)
- best steeped in ~98°C water for 4-7 minutes
- grown exclusively in South Africa

Maté
- comes from yerba maté, which is a South American holly
- very high in caffeine (considered a stimulant)
- more bitter than other types of tea
- high in antioxidants
- traditionally drunk out of a gourd or metal "guampa" or "mate" (two words for the same thing) with a straw that looks like a spoon with holes called a bombilla
- has a very particular brewing process for the best-tasting maté - very fascinating, actually. Check it out under "preparation".
- very social tea, especially in South America (considered "the drink of friendship")
- brewed in 70-80°C water. Never boiling. If you use boiling water for maté, it gets very bitter.
- leaves typically left in while drinking
- grown in Brazil, Argentina or Paraguay

Herbal Tea
- catch-all term for any tea or tisane that doesn't fit into one of these other categories
- can be made with herbs, fruit, plants or a mixture thereof
- extensive variety of teas
- brewing times vary. Typically brewed in boiling water for 3-6 minutes.
- grown... uh. anywhere you can grow things.

(Note: I got ALL OF MY INFORMATION from either Wikipedia, or the DAVIDsTEA website. The words are mine. The information is not.)

So why does it matter? 

It depends on why you are drinking tea. If you are drinking tea for health benefits, you're going to choose a different tea (most likely herbal or green) than if you are drinking it for flavour. If you don't want caffeine, chances are you'll pick an herbal tea. If you want MUCHOS caffeine, go with a maté or black tea.

Most teas come in a variety of flavours, so if you want to try a maté, but don't want a straight maté, you're in luck! If you want to experiment with oolong, I know that DAVIDsTEA has several varieties that might pique your interest.

If you don't have a thermometer, some of the finickier teas may be "not optimally brewed." (Don't worry, I brew them wrong all the time. They don't taste BAD, just not their best.....)

Your equipment may limit your tea-making experience. If you want to make traditional yerba maté, but don't have a guampa or bombilla, you're not going to be successful. Sure, you can put it in a tea bag or a tea ball and brew it in a cup, but you're not getting the "authentic experience" if that's what you're looking for.

Don't get me wrong. There's nothing WRONG with drinking tea in a tea bag. In fact, it's really very lovely (and entirely convenient!)! But there's something to be said for enjoying traditional tea in the traditional way (at least once, anyway). I know very little about tea ceremonies, or things like that, but I know that you shouldn't put flowering teas in a bag, because it completely defeats the purpose.



I hope this is at least somewhat helpful. Please let me know what else you'd like to see...

A Newbie's Guide to Tea: Getting Started

This is a request from a reader:

A Newbie's Guide to Tea

So you want to drink tea but don't know where to start.

Let's start at the very beginning - a very good place to start. When you read, you begin with A - B - C. When you brew you begin with.... well, this blog post. (My apologies to The Sound of Music...)



Things you will need: 
- Something to heat water with. (I prefer using a kettle, but you could use a pot of water on the stove, or the microwave if you're really desperate)
- Mug (if you're using the microwave to heat your water, make sure it is microwaveable and NOT METAL)
- Tea (in a bag if you don't want to get fancy)
- Spoon (optional, for stirring in sweetner, or removing your tea bag once it has finished steeping to your liking, if the tea bag has no string)
- Sweetener (optional)

Now, when it comes to choosing tea, it TOTALLY DEPENDS on what you like.

If you want to go to the grocery store and pick up some tea just to try it out, that's totally fine. You don't have to be all finicky about your tea, or spend tons of money on loose-leaf tea. BUT, this is what I have to recommend: you have to start with a flavour you like. The Hubby says, "If you don't like mint, you're not going to like mint tea, whether it's green, oolong or some specialty mint-flavoured whatever."

Good Starter Teas:
- Fruit teas - come in many flavours, and they're often not as strong.
- Herbal teas - mint and chamomile are probably the two most popular. Rooibos is also considered an herbal tea, because it's not made from tea leaves (camellia senensis plant).
- Orange Pekoe - one of the most popular straight black teas

Acquired Taste Teas:
- Earl Grey - black tea with bergamot flavouring. Can be considered perfume-y
- English or Irish Breakfast - more robust than orange pekoe
- Masala Chai - spiced tea, traditional in India
- Maté - very strong South American tea

You could start with a box of mixed flavours (for example, Celestial Seasonings Herbal Tea Sampler, or if you're adventurous and would like to try DAVIDsTEA [DO IT!! DO IT!!], the 12 Sachet Box or the Starter Kit) and try them to see which one you like. Use that as a base to build your tea collection.

I will write another blog post on different types of tea, and why the difference matters (fueled by information from Wikipedia). But in the meantime, let's get brewing.

Steps to making tea:
1) Choose your tea bag.
2) Put water in your kettle.
3) Plug in your kettle.
4) Turn it on.
5) Get your mug.
6) Put your tea bag in your mug.
7) Wait until the water is boiling. Turn off the kettle (or wait until it turns off on its own)
8) Let it sit for a second.
9) Pour boiling water over the tea bag. If it has a string, hold on to the string. BE CAREFUL YOU DO NOT POUR BOILING WATER OVER YOUR HAND. THIS IS BAD.
10) Let it sit for between 3 & 5 minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea. You can jiggle the teabag up and down, or you can just let it sit.
11) (optional) Remove tea bag.
12) (optional) Add sweetener, if desired. Stir gently.
13) Sip carefully. The water-that-has-become-tea is still hot.

Let me know what you think of this guide! Was it helpful?

Upcoming installments:
- A Newbie's Guide to Tea: Types of Tea and Why It Matters
- A Newbie's Guide to Tea: Terminology
- Your suggestions/ questions of what to cover next

Today's Tea: Himalayan Blend

Himalayan Blend from David's Tea

Description: Rich and complex, this blend is specially selected from the season’s best estate offerings, then carefully blended to ensure the perfect balance of flavours. Its aromatic woodsy leaves steep into a clear, golden and satisfyingly astringent liquor, while unique and refreshing mountain air notes mingle with a rich muscatel flavour. Enjoy the taste of the Himalayas at their peak… .

Ingredients: Estate black teas from the Highlands of Nepal and Darjeeling, India.

Caffeine Rating: 2

(From David's Tea: Himalayan Blend)

Steph's Thoughts:

This is the second cup of "straight tea" from David's Tea. It was one of the teas recommended to me by Chris, who is one of the Grant Park store's TeaPeople. (I don't think they're called baristas.... what do you call them? Tea-ple?) His first recommendation was the Jasmine Pearls one, but I'm not a giant fan of jasmine (too perfume-y), so he recommended two others - the  Second Flush Darjeeling, which I've already tried, and this one.

I chose this one over the Second Flush, partially because I'd already tried the Second Flush, but also because this one smelled sweeter. It's still definitely a straight black tea, which is more bitter than herbal blends, or even flavoured blacks. But on the smelling scale of EW to YUM, I'd definitely put this closer to YUM. For some reason, I smelled a hint of coconut, but maybe that's just because I had the smell in my nostrils from the Stormy Night I'd just smelled. And maybe because in my head, Himalayas = exotic, coconut = exotic, therefore Himalayas = coconut. I think my brain's gone wonky because there's definitely no coconut in here.

I had this tea served with a bit of milk and some agave. Unfortunately, it was still too hot to drink on my lunch break, so I had to wait until after work to drink it. It tastes alright cold, though warmer is better, in my opinion.
Surprisingly, this tea tastes just as good microwaved, so I could drink it warm for my review. HUZZAH! I did have to add a little more sweetener, as I'm not a fan of bitter tea, and straight black tea is bitter.

Also. With black tea, seriously, pay attention to the steep time. Maybe let it steep a little bit longer, but not all afternoon, or all evening.... Because then you're left with incredibly bitter tea. And the last sip is just BRUTAL. Which is why I took the teabag out of this tea after about 15 minutes. Maybe a little less - however long it took me to get my tea, get back to work, have a few quick sips and put it in my locker. It has made all the difference, though.

I don't know how to describe the flavour.... I mean, woodsy and earthy definitely come to mind. But maybe that's because those are the words in the description. It reminds me of going hiking in the forest.... and then coming home and drinking tea out of china cups to warm up. Or sitting outside by the lake at sunset on a fall evening, air crisp and cool, but not so chilly that you want to go inside. You watch the geese fly in and land on the lake, settling in for the night as the leaves, gold, red, and orange (and brown, if you're in Manitoba) fall from the trees. I think this is the kind of tea you'd drink on an evening like that.

Today's Tea: Second Flush Darjeeling

Second Flush Darjeeling from David's Tea

Description: Darjeeling is known as the “champagne” of teas: if it doesn’t come from India’s Darjeeling region, you aren’t allowed to use the name. That might be why the best Darjeelings taste just like the mountains they were grown on. While the first leaves in the spring tend to be delicate and almost green in flavour, second flush Darjeelings generally have a richer, darker taste. This one is bright, woodsy and earthy, with notes of honey, fresh mushrooms and meadow flowers – like a forest getaway in a cup.

Ingredients: Second flush Darjeeling tea (grade FTGFOP 1) from Darjeeling, India.

(From David's Tea: Second Flush Darjeeling)

Steph's Thoughts:

First reaction: AHHH TEA EVERYWHERE!!!!! My tea steeper got caught on something when I set it down on the table to steep, and I got tea ALL OVER. I hoped I wasn't too late to save the leaves, as I only actually had enough to brew one helping of this tea! So I ran to the kitchen, poured more hot water over the leaves, and cleaned everything up while it was steeping. Note to self: MAKE SURE THE AREA UNDER THE STEEPER IS COMPLETELY CLEAR BEFORE SETTING IT DOWN.

Second reactions: Unflavoured tea actually has some flavour to it. I don't taste the mushrooms - maybe it's because I let the GOOD stuff end up on the floor. Woodsy and earthy, definitely. A little flowery. I didn't use any sweetener of any kind, but it's got a bit of sweetness all on its own.

It's a 2 on the caffeine scale, so if you're looking for a low-dose of caffeine, this isn't your tea. But it's got an okay taste to it. I still like the flavoured stuff a little better, but for plain tea, this is definitely one of the best I've had. I think I'm going to continue to try the other plain teas from DT, just to see what artistry actually goes into creating the exquisite tastes. 

This tea tastes a lot better hot than it does cold. It might taste okay as sweetened iced tea. 

Other than that, not bad, plain DAVIDsTEA. Not bad at all.

On Tea and Friendship

So, I've been in and out of the hospital this week. Bad things happened, and I ended up needing surgery. The surgery went okay, and I went home to recover.

I haven't been up to making much tea lately, but now that I'm recovering, I'm able to move around a bit more. Which is great, because last night a couple of friends came over and brought me a care package with a handful of tea samples (Ginseng Oolong, Second Flush Darjeeling, Korean Sejak, and White Peony), as well as the "Sweet Indulgence" tea package, and the "Foodie Collection" package, all from David's Tea, as well as some nice lotion, cookies, and chocolate.

I've tried some of the ones in the Sweet Indulgence package. It comes with 12 different teas (Buttered Rum, Coco Chai Rooibos, Coffee Pu’erh, Cranberry Pear, Forever Nuts, Goji Pop, Green Seduction, Jessie’s Tea, Long Life Oolong, Mango Madness, Oh Canada and Read My Lips). I can say right now that I'm not a huge fan of one of them, so I'll probably foist that one off on one of my friends.

The Foodie Collection comes with recipes that all involve brewed tea. BREWED TEA IN COOKING!

I honestly think that tea should go in all care packages. Also, my friends are freaking awesome. They know what I love, and they bring me TEA!

I can't wait to start reviewing.

Also, I would like to say this. Even though I love my tea, I have no problem sharing. Everyone that comes to my house gets offered a cup of tea. Most decline. But I think it's important to share tea with friends. There's something to be said for sharing a good cup of tea with people that matter. Holding your tea as it cools, sipping while you listen, and letting your tea steep as you talk....
I find that tea acts like a wall-reducer. Like having a cup of tea in your hands makes the world a little safer. And so instead of talking about fluff, you actually end up talking about important things. Exclaiming about being pregnant. Mourning a pregnancy loss. Celebrating an engagement. Crying about relationship issues. Rejoicing in a new job. Stressing about work. Making decisions about the future.  It's all safe over a cup of tea with friends. And that's one of the greatest things about tea. It makes things ... not OKAY, but BETTER. Safer. A little bit brighter. Deal-able. Tea and friends - there's nothing better.

Today's Tea: Stormy Night

Hello readers! I've changed the format of my blog slightly, so now anyone can comment. Hopefully it will be all my dear and faithful readers, and not spambots.

AND NOW ON TO THE REVIEW!!!!

Organic Stormy Night from David's Tea

Description: It was three o’clock in the afternoon on a rainy Friday. David was hungry. He needed a nap, a shave, and a hot meal. What he had was a kettle, a pack of matches, and a bag of black tea. So he grabbed some ingredients and threw them in the water. Chocolate, cinnamon, coconut, vanilla – this drink was a real piece of work. He lifted his cup, took a drink and then another. It was hotter than an inferno and smoother than silk. It was good. Almost too good.


Ingredients: Organic: Black tea, chocolate, cinnamon, coconut, vanilla. With natural vanilla flavouring.

Allergens: Dairy and coconut

(From David's Tea: Organic Stormy Night)

Steph's Thoughts:

This was a really refreshing cup of tea after two weeks of lemon ginger and Cold 911.  I have been so ridiculously sick, and haven't been able to taste a whole lot of anything lately. Has made for a really grumpy Steph. BUT this tea made up for it.

I had it in the form of a latte, with 2% milk, and honey to sweeten. It tastes a little bit like gourmet hot chocolate. The only downside to this tea AT THIS MOMENT is that it's a black tea, and as such, has a "2" for caffeine rating. I'm not supposed to have a lot of caffeine right now, but I said, "Screw it." So, even though it's not the best for my body, it is SO YUMMY.

And the coconut isn't overwhelming either. I've had a lot of teas where the coconut is all you taste, and it's really very disheartening. But this is nice and subtle. Hubby even said, "huh, not bad for chocolate tea." (Hubby doesn't like chocolate tea, so from him this is an "OMG THIS IS AMAZING" in the way of chocolate teas. Mostly I get a "EWWWWW" face from him when he tries my tea.)

It really is a lovely tea. The vanilla and cinnamon add a little bit of "gourmet" to it. I would compare it to Cocoa Canela actually. It's a scaled-down, black tea version of Cocoa Canela. The flavour isn't quite as strong as CC is - the cinnamon is subtler than in CC, and there's a hint of vanilla with a little bit of Oomph.

All in all, I really do like this. I wonder how it would taste straight, rather than as a latte. Maybe I'll try it someday!

Apologies

Dear readers (if there are any):
I apologize for not posting on a more regular basis. I have started a new job (YAY!!!) which limits my posting time to the evenings, and I've been so tired that I eat supper and go to bed pretty soon after that.

I have been drinking an INSANE amount of Le Digestif lately. It really is brilliant. It solves all my digestive woes, and it's all natural so I don't have to rely on drugs. Ginger for the win.

.... That reminds me, I did order a DT Ginger Pu'erh the other day that I WAS going to review. I forgot I still had it in the fridge. I'm a little wary of warming it up now, because it's a week old.... I'll see how it goes.


Also, Phi, I have been thinking about the question you asked me (tea that's bitter like a black tea but with less caffeine that's not simply decaffeinated black tea). I haven't gone through my cupboard to look. Off the top of my head, have you tried Maté or Pu'erh? Also, check out the DT website (David's Tea Menu). On the page for each tea, beside the steeping time, they have a little lightbulb with the amount of caffeine. 0 is caffeine free, 1 is low caffeine, 2 is medium caffeine, and S is stimulant, which I'm assuming means "OMG YUM CAFFEINE!" I don't know about the bitterness, but I know that there is black tea with low caffeine. I find Maté to be pretty bitter. Alas, all of the Matés on the DT website are Stimulants.

Readers, do you have any advice for Phi?

Today's Tea: Le Digestif

Organic Le Digestif from David's Tea

Description: The Ancient Greeks swore by peppermint to relieve stomachaches and (OK, let’s be frank) gas. The Romans used catnip. In India, they’re into fennel seed. In China, ginger has worked for 2000 years. Other traditional remedies include sweet stevia, which reduces stomach acid, and orange peel for bloating. This smooth blend has them all. Try it. It just might do the trick. Caffeine-free.

Ingredients: Organic: catnip, fennel seed, ginger root, peppermint, orange peel, stevia leaf, organic flavouring

(From David's Tea: Le Digestif)

Steph's Thoughts:
This is another staple in my tea cupboard. I've been drinking a lot of this. The ginger helps with stomach upsets, especially when you've had too much to eat, or when you've got the flu. The fennel adds a little bit of zip to the ginger, the peppermint adds, well, peppermint *sticky-outy-tongue face*

I really do love this tea. It was one of the first teas I bought from DT, and I've had to replace my bag twice. The last time I went, I decided, I'm just going to buy a tin.

It really does help with upset stomachs, which says a lot. Any natural remedy works in my books! Stevia is also okay with my new "eating regimen," which is always good. I've had to limit so many foods the last little while that when I'm given a thumbs up, I kinda go a bit nuts. (not TOO much, mind you.)

I like that one can drink this tea with or without sweetener. The stevia adds a HINT of sweetness, but not enough to be overpowering, and not too little to be unnoticed. AND caffeine free, YAY!

Another win, DT. Another win.

Today's Tea: Persian Apple

Organic Persian Apple from David's Tea

Description: Apple pie, turning leaves, crackling fires – fall is all about familiar comforts. But it’s also a season for daydreaming. Cozied up in front of the fire with a hot mug of tea and a good book, our minds often wander to adventures in faraway lands. From the first cup of this exotic tea, you’ll find yourself dreaming about the intrigue and romance of ancient Persia. An alluring blend of green tea, apple, pistachios and rose petals, one sip is all it takes to whisk you away.

Ingredients: Organic: Green tea, apple, pistachio, almond, rose petals. With natural and organic flavouring.

Allergens: nuts

(From David's Tea: Organic Persian Apple)

Steph's Thoughts:
This is a nice morning tea. It's sweet enough that it doesn't need sugar. If you like apple but not the spices in apple pie, then this is a good tea. You can definitely taste the rose, but it's not like, "OMG WHAT IS THIS?! EW!" Subtle rose, rather than overwhelming rose. Definitely exotic. It really smells lovely.

It tastes much better warm than it does lukewarm or cold. Personally, I think it could be a little more apple-y. Maybe the other apple teas would satisfy this craving. Big Apple is a white tea/ green tea blend with apples. Mom's Apple Pie is an online exclusive with green tea, apples and cinnamon. I haven't tried either of them, but my friend Carly says that Big Apple is totally made of win. The downside to Big Apple is that because it's a white tea, it's a little more expensive than the others. Also, Big Apple and Mom's Apple Pie both have a medium amount of caffeine (2 on their scale, 35-80 mg/cup, which is still less than coffee), whereas Persian Apple has a low caffeine level (1, 1-35 mg/cup). Because they're green teas, they won't be caffeine free. However, if you're looking for a caffeine free tea, I know David's Tea has a few herbals with apple in them, though they won't be "apple flavoured."

I'd like to try the other apple teas to compare. I'm having tea with Carly on Sunday, so maybe I'll get her to brew me some Big Apple, if she'll share!

Verdict: Not bad. It smells wonderful.

On Amazing Customer Service (And Today's Tea: Oh Canada!)

So, a few weeks ago, I sent David's Tea a note, basically saying, "Hey, you guys are awesome, and you inspired a blog; here's the link, check it out."

They sent me an email back, essentially saying, "Hey, awesome! Which teas can we send you to review?"

And I kind of went, Bwuh???!!! Because I wasn't expecting "free stuff." I was just expecting a generic, "We'll check it out, thanks." That's what I've gotten from most other companies.
BUT David's Tea is no ordinary company. They care about the customer. They reply to feedback, and it's not just a generic email, either or one of those form letters where they generically reply to your comment/feedback/concern. I LOVE that they take customer service seriously.

Anyway. I sent them a list of ones I'd like to try. This was EXTREMELY HARD because, well, I want to try ALL THE TEAS (insert Hyperbole and a Half graphic here). I chose six teas.

Today when I went to get the mail, my tea was in my mailbox!! I can't tell you how loud I squeed about this. I got Assam Banaspaty, Kanpe tea, and Oh Canada (along with 3 mini samples of things I already have).

So today's review is Oh Canada! 

Description: Looking for a taste of Canada? Try this red rooibos tea. It’s sweetened with (what else?) maple syrup and sprinkled with delicious maple leaf candies. Plus it’s 100% diplomatic (well, caffeine-free) and tastes great in both our official languages. With green rooibos, honeybush, caramel and toffee bits to shake things up. A truly authentic Canadian experience.

Ingredients: South African green and red rooibos, honeybush, caramel bits , toffee bits , candy leaves, artificial and natural flavouring.

Allergens: Dairy, soy and tree nuts

(from David's Tea: Oh Canada!)

Steph's Thoughts:

It looks so cheerful!!!!! When you dump it in the steeper, the little multicoloured candy leaves are like autumn, going "Here I am! I'm here to make you happy!" And then, when you pour water over it, the tea turns a rich reddish-brown colour and it just makes me want to squee. It's earthy. It's ... almost the exact shade of red I want to dye my hair. Seriously though, the tea is happy. (Oh, also, DT has other Happy Teas. I should make a post one day about Happy Teas.....)

Smell: I don't normally like caramel, but this smells like maple syrup, autumn, honeybush tea, and Festival du Voyageur.

First sip: This one doesn't need sugar. The maple and the rooibos blend together so nicely. It's like my mouth is having a Canada Day party (hey, it matches my toenails! - I have Canada flags on my toenails from the Olympics). I mean, you COULD sweeten it. But then it would be like dessert. Also, if you look at the ingredients list,  there really is a great deal of sugar actually IN the tea.

Hm. This might make good popsicles. Ooh, Maple Popsicles. How epicly Canadian would that be??

Anyway! This is a good, smooth, after dinner or dessert tea. It's got a nice flavour, and it's pretty.

Because of the amount of sugar in the tea, I think this is going to become a "treat" tea, or a "once in a while" tea, rather than a staple. I'll definitely share this one, though, because it's worth spreading the love.

Today's Tea: Banana Nut Bread

Banana Nut Bread from David's Tea

Description: Like all amazing recipes, this one took years to perfect – and it was totally worth the wait. This tea miraculously captures the flavour of freshly-baked banana bread. The taste of real banana slices blends perfectly with almonds and the sweetness of dates and currants. It’s fragrant, with all the warmth of a loaf hot from the oven. As deliciously comforting as mama’s special recipe, but without the calories.

Ingredients: Dates, currants, almonds, banana pieces and slices, artificial flavouring.

Allergens: tree nuts

(From David's Tea: Banana Nut Bread)


Steph's Thoughts:

Here's another tea that came out of left field to knock me into OMG YUM territory. (I don't know why I keep doing this, because David's Tea CONSTANTLY proves me wrong!) I love bananas. I love banana chips. I like banana chocolate chip muffins (or cake). I think ANYTHING ELSE containing bananas is disgusting.

Except this tea. You know why? BECAUSE IT'S NOT SIMULATED BANANA! There are real banana pieces in here. (Trust me, I know. The first thing I did upon opening the package was begin eating the tea. I am not normal, people.) And mixed with all the other stuff, it actually tastes like banana bread. Normally I don't like nuts in my banana bread, but seeing as it's almonds, not walnuts, and it's in liquid form, I'll forgive DT for this oversight. *sticks out tongue*

It looks very weak upon brewing, but it certainly doesn't taste that way. When you smell it, it's got all the fresh-baked banana loaf goodness, and the smell lingers. It's not a bad smell. It's a homey smell. It's an "I'm going to Grandma's house and we're going to have lots and lots of yummy food and YAY I'M LOVED!" smell. At least, that's what it is for me, even though my grandmother rarely baked banana bread. But I think zwieback flavoured tea would be kinda gross. It's the sentiment behind the thing, though. And the sentiment behind this thing is love and om nom nom nom nom.

I really do love the flavour, and I think it's because it's authentic banana rather than chemical banana. Chemical banana is disgusting (think penicillin in child-friendly format). This is not that. I love the fact that David's Tea is a company that really does make you go "Dude, I was so wrong, this is exactly the opposite of bad!." My initial thought of banana tea was "ew what? Bananas in tea? Ew!" I have been proven very, very, very wrong.


Verdict: Another win. (seriously, how do these people keep doing this??)

Today's Tea: Chocolate Rocket

Chocolate Rocket from David's Tea

Description: Need a boost? Try this tea. First you'll experience a pure, sweet hit of chocolate. Then you’ll find yourself awash in the freshness of raspberries. Followed by the richness of almonds and chicory. And then, bang, you'll realize you've been infused with roasted Brazilian maté. How will you know? It's what's giving you all that crazy energy. Just fly with it.

Ingredients: Roasted Yerba maté (Brasil), cocoa, almonds, roasted chicory root, raspberries, natural and artificial flavouring.

Allergens: Tree nuts

(From David's Tea: Chocolate Rocket)


Steph's Thoughts:
I fell in love with this tea from the first smell. Normally I'm put off a bit by nuts, but the almonds just enhance the flavour. I mean, who can't love raspberries and chocolate?? 


This isn't the first time I've had this tea. This has become a favourite of mine. Usually I drink this tea with sweetener in it, but today I opted to drink it black. It was (obviously) less sweet than I'm used to, but the aftertaste was amazing. Definitely raspberries and chocolate, but not overwhelmingly so. I think I would add a little bit of sweetener, as it's a little on the bitter side. Don't get me wrong, it's not BAD. Just the opposite, in fact. But in this case, sweetness enhances the flavour, not detracts from it. But like I've said, to each their own.

This is a comfort tea. When I don't know what to drink but want something yummy, this is what I pull out. It tastes amazing hot or cold, though cold it requires a bit more sweetener.

Drinking it without sweetener, the initial sips are tangy and tart, but then the aftertaste is like.... chocolate covered roasted almonds with raspberry in. Like those really expensive 70% cocoa chocolate bars with the raspberry chunks...... But it's considerably lower in calories than a chocolate bar, with all of the flavour. Win? I think so.

Today's Tea: Toasted Marshmallow

Toasted Marshmallow from David's Tea

Description: Everyone loves a camping trip in the fall. Fresh air, beautiful scenery, hungry bears – ah, the great outdoors. Well, okay, we’ll admit it. We’re only in it for the marshmallows. Nothing beats a freshly toasted marshmallow straight from the campfire. But what if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth without going camping? Try this tea. It’s a sweet, toasty black tea blend with cinnamon, brittle and...you guessed it! Mini marshmallows. Now you can enjoy your favourite outdoorsy treat without a hungry bear in sight.

Ingredients: Black tea, marshmallows, brittle pieces, cinnamon, allspice, roasted kukicha green tea, natural flavouring.

Allergens:  nuts, not vegan

(From David's Tea: Toasted Marshmallow)


Steph's Thoughts:
This is officially my second cup of this tea, but the first time I've had a chance to review it. I will, however, give you both sets of thoughts.

My initial cup of Toasted Marshmallow was rather disappointing. It tasted more of cinnamon and allspice than it did anything resembling a marshmallow, let alone a gooey, nummy, freshly toasted marshmallow.
This may be a result of several factors:
 - I was away from my kitchen all weekend so I couldn't take my tea stash with me, and thought I'd be brilliant by putting "preloaded" teabags each in their own little baggie, then stored in a big bag, and take that with me, since the place where we were going is known for not having great tea. (Red Rose and Green Tea are fine in a pinch, but FOUR DAYS? No thanks.) However, this seems to severely compromise the quality of the tea. Next time I think I'm just going to bring my tea stash along, and to heck with space (and the funny looks from Hubby).  I don't really need a different outfit for every day, do I?? (Or shoes to match)
 - Also, I had no access to dish soap to wash out my travel mug, so I had to rinse it out between teas in the bathroom sink. While the body is metal, the lid is plastic and it is starting to absorb the flavours of the tea that I've (accidentally) left in the mug too long.... Anybody have any good recipes for a soak that will take the flavour out of the plastic??
My sister in law wasn't impressed either, mostly because of the overwhelming cinnamon and allspice. It tasted more like chai or gingerbread than marshmallow.

I made my second cup of Toasted Marshmallow for breakfast this morning, thinking, "well, if it's as disappointing as the first time, I just won't buy any more of it." I figure I should give new teas several tries before I make up my mind.  I opted not to put any sweetener in. I'm glad I didn't, because the second-go-round was exactly the way I expected it to be the first time 'round. Sweet, and tastes like marshmallow, except without all the unbelievable stickiness that is the downside to roasting marshmallows. The brittle pieces make it sweet enough that you don't really need sweetener, which is also the downside to real marshmallows - the overwhelming and all-consuming sweetness that makes you sick to your stomach after, like, four, except they're SO GOOD that you can't stop eating them.... This is a way to enjoy toasted marshmallows without any regrets.  Also, I'm pretty sure that even with the actual marshmallows and brittle in the tea, that this tea has less calories than toasted marshmallows. See? It's a win for everyone!

So, if you put the tea FRESH in a teabag (or steeper) and drink it out of a clean mug (rather than an oft-used travel mug that hasn't been washed [but has been rinsed!] in a while), it allows the TRUE flavour to really come out, and it's not nearly as disappointing.

Lesson: Pay attention to how you're brewing your tea, because it really does affect the quality of the taste.

Verdict: When brewed right, a win!

Tea Art

I'm sure most of my loyal readers (all, what, three of you?? Seriously, people, comment!) will wonder what I mean by "Tea Art."

This is something that my best friend Andy figured out. She came over for tea one day, and while I was spooning the tea into the teabags, she thought, "Wow, these teas not only smell good, but they're BEAUTIFUL to look at too!"

So many of the teas that you get from tea bags look like ... well, like dried oregano. Sort of a greyish-greenish colour, chopped up into little pieces, and very "BLEH" looking.

But the tea that David's Tea sells, if you look at the pictures of the tea itself, they're very beautiful. That's why I always post a picture of the tea leaves in my posts. Because not only do they TASTE good, they look good too! If it's a fruit tea, there's actually chunks of the fruit in there, not just "flavouring." When you order a berry tea, it's not "berry-infused leaves" or "artificial berry flavour added" (though there MAY be some of that), but you get actual, honest-to-goodness BERRIES in your tea. There are some teas that you don't even need to put in the steeper, because you can EAT THE TEA!! (I think Forever Nuts is one of those...)

I digress.

So, Andy was walking around a craft store one day when she found some picture frames on sale. These were "recessed" picture frames - the kind where there's a space between the picture and the glass, with a 3D mat. She had a brainwave. Combine the frame with some tea and spray glue, and you've got beautiful art!

I know it seems slightly sacrilegious to put glue over something that is perfectly drinkable. But.... it's PRETTY! And you really only need about twenty-five grams of the tea, which is enough for art, plus a cup to drink.

(These are two of Andy's Tea Arts - Pom Power and Vanilla Oolong)

I went to the same craft store, bought the same frames (although I didn't get mine on sale. Boo!), and brought over some of my tea, and we made tea into art. When we were finished, we drank tea, of course.

The trick with doing this kind of art is making sure you don't use TOO MUCH glue. It makes your art look very tacky if you use too much. If you're particularly sensitive to spray adhesives, you might want to wear a dust mask, or do this outside (though NOT on a windy day!!).

So, here's the "Recipe" for tea art:
1) Buy yourself a frame that can enable three-dimensional art. Also invest in spray glue and tea.
2) Cover the table with newspaper.
3) Take the frame apart into its components - the back piece, the mat, and the frame
4) Make a "template" for the spray glue. Basically, take an 8.5x11" piece of scrap paper (cardboard would work too), put the mat in the centre, and mark VERY LIGHTLY with a pencil around the INSIDE of the mat.
5) Cut the square you've marked out of the middle of the 8.5x11 paper.
6) Take the back of the picture (you know, the paper with the picture that comes with the frame, boldly proclaiming "your picture here" or somesuch. Mine had Gerber Daisies...), and turn it over so the white side is up.
7) Align the template with where the picture is (you may have to hold it up to the light), and place on newspaper-covered table.
8) Spray on a light layer of adhesive.
9) Take off the template, and put the mat around the area where the spray glue was (it should fit neatly over the area).
10) Put a layer of tea on the glue.
11) LIGHTLY spray the tea with glue
12) Add another layer of tea.
13) Lightly spray the tea with glue.

If it is looking a little sparse at this point, you MAY get away with a third layer of tea. It depends on what kind of tea you're using, and how strong the glue is. But trust me, when I say lightly, I do mean LIGHTLY. I used too much glue on mine, and it looks kinda dumb if you look at it too closely. *pouty face*

When the glue has dried (about 15-20 minutes), put the art in the frames, and VOILÀ! Tea art to hang on your wall!

(For those wondering, I used Jessie's Tea, Kiss my Lips, Glitter and Gold, and Pom Power.)

Today's Tea: Gold Rush

Organic Gold Rush from David's Tea

Description: Mulberries are a pretty precious fruit, so you don’t find them in tea very often. After all, mulberry trees are usually reserved for silk making, as they’re the only thing silkworms will eat. No wonder – they’re naturally sweet and rich, with an almost caramel-like flavour. In a word, decadent. Here we pair golden mulberries with creamy coconut and delicate white tea, for a tea that is guaranteed to give you gold fever. Eureeka!

Ingredients: Organic: mulberries, coconut, white Silver Needle tea. With natural and organic flavouring.

(From David's Tea: Gold Rush)


Steph's Thoughts: 
At first, I was incredibly apprehensive about this tea, as it contains coconut. My experience with coconut in tea has been pretty ... unsatisfactory to this point. So I'm sure you can understand my hesitation.

However, I was pleasantly surprised. This tea has a very, very light flavour, and you can't taste the coconut at all. My first thought upon tasting it was, "hey, it tastes like one of those white freezies I used to eat as a kid." Except without all the teeth-rotting sweetness. This tea has the "grown up" kind of sweetness.

I find it very light, with an initial "barely there" flavour, but there's the sweetness. And then the flavour creeps up on you, but not in a bad way. I think connoisseurs would call it subtle. Either way, it's a nice refreshing afternoon tea.

Today's Tea: Cocoa Canela

Organic Cocoa Canela from David's Tea

Description: This super-chocolatey blend is an homage to Mexican hot chocolate, which is traditionally spiked with cinnamon. First we take carob, cocoa nibs, cocoa powder and chocolate chips for a rich chocolate overload. Then we add pieces of cinnamon for a hint of spicy warmth. And to top it all off we add South American yerba maté for a seriously sweet energy boost. Try it as a latte with a shake of cinnamon and a warm churro for dipping.

Ingredients: Organic: Yerba maté, carob, cocoa nibs and powder, cinnamon, chocolate chips. With organic and natural flavouring.

Allergens: dairy and soy

(From David's Tea: Cocoa Canela)

Steph's Thoughts:
This tea has been on my "to try" list ever since I saw it hit the website. Holy frijole, it was everything I expected and more!

Upon walking into the store, I squeed when I saw that they actually HAD Cocoa Canela. (Those not versed in StephSpeak, a squee is an excited squeal. It can be lengthy or short, but it sounds kinda like, "EEE!" and it's that feeling that you get in your heart when you're hanging out and then all of a sudden, you see David Tennant walking down the street and he notices you and winks and says, "Hello, I'm the Doctor" and your entire heart feels like it's going to burst with excitement. Or, you know, when you walk into David's Tea and there's the EXACT KIND of tea you want sitting on the counter. THAT'S a squee.)

Anyway. Squeeing was had. And then I ordered a mug of it hot. The barTEAsta asked me if I wanted it as a latte, which was totally a yes.With a little bit of sweetener, it was JUST LIKE drinking a mug of superamazing hot chocolate. Except without all of the guilty "OMG YOU'RE GOING TO GET FAT WITH CALORIES!!!!" voice in your head. Because it's tea. And if you use skim milk and low-calorie sweetener? Hello, MADE OF WIN!

This morning, I made a cup of it with no milk and no sugar. Still love it. It has enough sweetness in it that you don't really need any sugar to still be able to enjoy the taste. If you want to drink a cup of "no-guilt hot chocolate" you're going to want to add a bit of sugar. I find that most hot chocolate powders are too sweet, and this way, you can make this tea with your desired sweetness and still get the same effect.

The thing I like about this tea is that it's got the distinct taste of cinnamon. It's not overwhelming, though; it's like it's supposed to be there. It makes me think of Mayan temples and warmth, and the ancient beliefs that chocolate was medicinal. (I'm not debating that belief, though. It makes ME feel better!)

I would also turn this into popsicles too. .... I really do need to start working on my popsicle recipes, because the last ones I made were SO disappointing.

Verdict: Amazingly fantastically made of win!