Today's Tea: Jungle Ju Ju

Jungle Ju Ju from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Head for the Ju Ju Jungle, made with a guayusa herb and fruit blend that’ll make you feel like swinging from the vines and hanging from the trees. No wonder. Guayusa contains a combo of the natural stimulants also found in green tea and dark chocolate. People claim it protects you against snake bites, gives you courage, and helps you spiritually connect to nature. With its smooth flavour and natural buzz, we’ll just say it makes for a deliciously stimulating cup of tea.


Ingredients: Guayusa (Ecuador), papaya, peach, artificial and natural flavouring.

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

Caffeine: S (stimulant)

(From DAVIDsTEA: Jungle Ju Ju)


Steph's Thoughts:
I needed something with a great deal of caffeine today. Also, since it is doing that spring thing of "freezing in the morning, hot in the afternoon" I needed something refreshing. Though, I wouldn't call -2 hot.... However, when it's -20 in the morning, -2 is downright balmy!

ANYWAY.

Today's TeaGuide recommended Jungle Ju Ju. It's a maté, so it has lots of caffeine, and it's a nice fruity tea. And, quite frankly, tastes quite wonderful iced.

It has a nice amber colour, with a slightly green tinge. The aroma of peach and papaya comes through quite nicely.

This tea goes well with sweeter snacks (like sunbutter balls, which is like peanut butter, but made with roasted sunflower seeds, and contains no nuts), rather than with savoury dishes.

It does have a few bitter notes, but the taste of the papaya offsets it nicely. Also, I find that agave is a good additive to this tea when steeping, prior to pouring over ice.

I don't feel quite as muzzy as I did when I started drinking it, so that's a total plus. That's probably due to the guayusa, which is one of three known caffeinated holly trees. Apparently, it has twice the amount of antioxidants than green tea. Also, it contains theobromine,, which is the thing in chocolate "that has been shown to reduce physical and mental stress." (says Wikipedia) Healthy, brain-clearing, energizing, and de-stressing?? I think I've found my new daily cuppa!

Jungle Ju Ju tastes pretty awesome iced. I don't know what it tastes like hot, though I have a feeling this is one of those "better iced" ones.


Verdict: Tea WIN!!!!!!

Today's Tea: Honeydew Maté

Honeydew Maté from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Whether you’re looking for a pick-me-up or just a great tasting drink, steeping a cup of this tea is one of the smartest things you can do. For starters, it’s got green yerba maté, for a smooth-drinking, all-natural energy boost. Then it has green rooibos, which is packed with so much good stuff, it’s even better for you than regular rooibos. And on top of it all, it’s got the fresh, juicy taste of honeydew melon. Energizing, healthy AND delicious? This one’s a no brainer.

Ingredients: Green rooibos, green yerba maté, white hibiscus blossoms, melon pieces, natural flavouring

How to Brew: 1.25 tsp 98°C/208°F 4-7 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Honeydew Maté)

Steph's Thoughts:

This was not my first time having this tea, but I had a craving for it this morning (which is odd, normally I crave chocolate or coffee teas), so I brewed myself a cup.

The dry leaves give off a fruity smell. It smells "green," very much like a green honeydew melon.

When brewed, it is a nice clear amber; at first it has a green tinge, but it's a really lovely colour. Very nice and clear, too, not cloudy at all. It has a nice sweet taste, so no sugar is needed. It actually tastes like honeydew, which is my favourite melon, so there's a win there!

The brewed tea smells like "green tea". Not green as in green tea, but as in the colour green. It smells like green and growing and fresh melons and reminds me of all manner of green things.

I can taste the maté, but it's not bitter and overwhelming, like some matés can get. It's a nice, subtle, supporting flavour to the melon, which almost makes the melon that much sweeter.

I find that Honeydew Maté is steeped better at slightly cooler than 98. 90-94 is ideal, I think. It might just be the tannins in the yerba that make it bitter when it's brewed too hot.

I think Honeydew Maté would be good iced, but is also super for those days when you crave green and spring/summer but are stuck drinking a hot beverage because there is still four feet of snow on the ground outside your door, and it won't be melting anytime soon. (Can you tell what kind of weather we're having? Ugh. I AM SO DONE WITH SNOW.)

Verdict: Way Win!

Today's Tea: Paradise Found

Paradise Found from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Ever hear about the tea utopia hidden deep in the jungle? Word is, it’s a pretty enchanted place. People say the hibiscus is always in full bloom, the oranges and mangoes are perfectly ripe, and the subtle scent of cornflower and safflower petals hangs in the air. How can you find this earthly paradise? It’s as easy as steeping a cup. One sip of this fruity black and green tea blend will take you right there.

Ingredients: Hibiscus, apple, black tea, green tea, orange peel, safflower, cornflower, candied mango, artificial flavouring

How to Brew: 1.25 tsp 98°C/208°F 4-7 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Paradise Found)

Steph's Thoughts

I steeped this in my new glass mug, so when I poured the water in, I got to watch as the tea swirled down into the clear water.

I was impressed by the colour of the dry leaves - white, red blossoms, blue blossoms, orange.... black tea, it's very colourful!

First sip: Very ZINGY! It's the hibiscus, I think. it adds quite a zing to tea. I might use this as a wake-up tea. It doesn't need any sugar, either. It's sweet enough without it.

The mango doesn't come through as much as I'd like it to. I would really like to taste more mango than hibiscus.

Also, the taste is far less zingy when paired with food. I had pasta with tomato sauce, and that seemed to calm the zing (I can't think of another word for the flavour!), though after a few sips, it ramped up again. It's not necessarily a bad thing. It's a nice fruity tea, which reminds me very much of a Hawaiian lei with mangoes in my mouth!

I will admit, this isn't my most favourite fruity tea. I'd say more mango, less hibiscus. But other than that, it's pretty decent!

Verdict: Decent.

Today's Tea: Organic Crème de Menthe

Organic Crème de Menthe from DAVIDsTEA

Description: It’s time to go retro and return this flavour to its rightful place as the Queen of Liqueurs. Are you ready to succumb to its charms? Our version is a rich, dark blend of organic pu’erh tea and peppermint, sweetened with all the creaminess of organic Madagascan vanilla, licorice and cinnamon. It’s as delicious as the original, only you can drink it everyday, all day. Now, that’s decadent.

Ingredients: Organic: Pu-erh (cooked, Shou type), cinnamon, peppermint, licorice root, vanilla bean. With natural vanilla flavoring.

Caffeine: 2 (medium caffeine)

How to Brew: 1.25 tsp       98°C/208°F       4-6 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Crème de Menthe)

Steph's Thoughts:

I've been waiting to try this one ever since my very first visit to DAVIDsTEA, but they have always been out of stock. They got new stock in as an online exclusive, so I snapped it up right away!!

Upon opening the bag, I was greeted with a smell that smelled very much like peppermint schnapps or,.... well, crème de menthe. (of course, now I crave alcohol, but I will drink tea and everything will be just fine!!)

I brewed this tea in a black mug, so I can't tell you what colour it turns, but it's got a lovely mild flavour. It's minty, without being INYOURFACE. It's also really nice and smooth, as it's a pu'erh tea. The Hubby also really likes pu'erh. It has a funny name, but a wonderful flavour!!

The cinnamon flavour is mild enough that it doesn't overpower anything else, and the licorice root is doing wonders for my stomach. (I've had an upset stomach for a few days, and it's finally calming down.) This is also a tea that really doesn't require any additional sweetness, as it is provided quite nicely by the licorice root.

A friend says that he imagines it like a liquid After Eight mint. After he said that, I took a sip, and thought, "You know, he's not far off..." It's sweet, though not nearly as sweet as the chocolate. And though the tea tecnhnically contains no chocolate, there is a hint of it that comes through. This tea leaves a nice, clean aftertaste in your mouth, very much like After Eights, with none of the calories!!

The tea tastes quite lovely hot, but can also suffice cold if you, like me, get distracted and forget to drink your tea while it's hot... Though I think I personally like it better hot. It's more like TEA tea rather than iced tea. (Also, hot chocolate + peppermint schnapps = win, and this tea is KIND OF like that, without all the alcohol.)

Verdict: WIN, and TOTALLY worth the wait!

Today's Tea: Coco-Lemon Thai

Coco-Lemon Thai from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Thai cuisine is known for its bold flavours and unexpected combinations. And this fresh, sunny white tea blend is no exception. It combines delicate white tea with zingy lemongrass and lemon myrtle, creamy coconut and spicy-sweet ginger, for a taste that’s subtly exotic and addictively refreshing. It’s a guaranteed jolt of sunshine that’ll turn any ordinary day into a trip to the bustling markets of Bangkok or a lush island in the Andaman Sea. Go ahead – you deserve a vacation.

Ingredients: White tea, ginger, coconut, lemon myrtle, lemongrass, sunflowers, natural and artificial lemon, cream and coconut flavouring.

Allergens: Coconut

Caffeine: 1 (Low caffeine)

How to Brew: 1.25 tsp 92°C/ 198°F 4-5 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Coco-Lemon Thai)


Steph's Thoughts:
I wanted a cup of tea from DT today, and the Hubby made me promise that I would not get anything I already had. That list is getting ever smaller (ack! or yay, depending on how you look at it...), so my options were limited. I explained my dilemma to the Tea Guides, and one of them (I am so sorry, I'm horrible with names, and I've forgotten! *sniff* Please forgive me!) suggested that I try Coco-Lemon Thai. This has been on my list of things to try since it became Tea of the Month.

The smell of the dry tea immediately whisked me away to the tropical shores of Thailand. The coconut and lemongrass cut through the tea, but not in an overpowering way. The brewed colour is a nice clear amber. The bouquet is very Thai. Hubby says that it tastes a bit too ginger-y for him, so he doesn't care for it much. I, however, don't notice this. Well, okay, that's not true. I DO taste it, and can taste the spice on my tongue, but I personally don't think it's overpowering. I find it's more coconut-and-lemongrass.

I would caution against oversteeping this. I find that whites, when oversteeped, get bitter. (in other words, STEPH, TAKE THE DAMN TEABAG OUT.)

It tastes a little like a sweet version of the hot and sour soup, or the stir fry that I order at Bangkok Thai (which is an amazing little Thai restaurant in Osborne Village in Winnipeg!). I could definitely see cooking with this tea. It would make an amazing glaze for chicken. Even more amazing, cook your rice for your Thai dishes in this tea! Oh YUM!

I like this tea a little on the sweeter side. It does taste just fine cold. It's nice and light, and very, very "spring-y," which is why I think it makes a great addition to the permanent collection, released along with the spring collection. I think there's also a recipe for a cocktail with this tea. I could see it in a hurricane glass with a cherry in it.

If you are looking for a vacation (or you're craving Thai food, and can't get out), drink this tea. THIS is what it reminds me of:

And really, when it looks like THIS outside:

I will take the tropics any day!!!!
(seriously. Whoever is praying for snow in Winnipeg, PLEASE STOP!)

Today's Tea: Toasted Walnut

Toasted Walnut from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Traditional Chinese medicine says walnuts are a warming food. Which makes sense, because this is the kind of tea you spontaneously want to cozy up to on a cold winter afternoon. The comforting, lightly bitter taste of toasted walnuts is sweetened and deepened with dried pineapple, coconut, almond and organic green tea. Sip it in front of an open fire and chase away the cold.

Ingredients: Chinese sencha green tea, nut brittle (sugar, hazelnut), candied pineapple (pineapple, sugar), coconut rasps (coconut, coconut fat, sugar), almond flakes, walnut bits and artificial flavouring.

Allergens: Tree nuts and coconut

How to Brew: 1.25 tsp 82°C/180°F 3-4 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Toasted Walnut)

Steph's Thoughts:
The bouquet of this tea, dry, is most definitely tropical. You can smell the coconut, as well as the pineapple and a hint of nutty green. (The walnut smell is a little plant-y...)

I made SURE that I followed the brewing instructions (letting the tea water cool before pouring it into my mug, only brewing a few minutes, removing the leaves after brewing), and that certainly cuts down on the bitterness. I am surprised at how much the green tea leaves open. I know I shouldn't be too shocked. Tea is constantly surprising me.
It has a wonderful blonde colour, very clear and light.

The first sip had me wondering - is it nuts, or coconut, or green tea that I'm tasting?? This is not a bad question! You can smell the coconut, but the flavour of the toasted nuts also comes through.

With every sip, I find myself wondering what this would taste like as an addition to blondies - like brownies, but without cocoa.

These are Butterscotch Blondies...
I really wonder if I could adapt a blondie recipe to include some Toasted Walnut tea. In my head, it tastes amazing. (Crap, now I crave fresh baking, and it's 10 pm. This isn't happening today.)

Anyway. The first couple of sips are nice and sweet, but as I keep drinking, I'm finding it gets a little more bitter. However, I've already had my sugar quotient for the day, so I'm going to have to drink it straight. It is a wonderful end-of-the-day tea. They are right in that it is very comforting, and smells good. Green tea still isn't quite my thing, but it's growing on me.

This is a tea that tastes a lot better warm, so don't let it sit while you browse for more recipes on your computer. Drink it right away!

Verdict: Win-spiring!