Today's Tea: Assam Banaspaty

Assam Banaspaty from DAVIDsTEA

Description: From the little Banaspaty estate in the Karbi Anglong district of India, this impressive Assam has a naturally sweet and malty body, a full red colour and a complexity that can handle a nice splash of milk. Perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea. (MK Kosher)

Ingredient: Fine black tea from the Banaspaty Estate in Assam, India.

Caffeine: 2 (Medium caffeine)

How to Brew: 1 tsp     98°C/208°F     4-6 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Assam Banaspaty)

Steph's Thoughts:
This little tea fell out of my cupboard when it was afternoon tea time, so I figured it was a sign.

Assam Banaspaty is an unflavoured black tea from the Northeast corner of India. It is reminiscent of Red Rose tea (the kind that comes in a bag), but with more of an oomph, and less siltyness. I think this comes from the fact that I used whole dried leaves, whereas most teabags have some tea dust or fannings in them. That's not to say that they're lower quality (though sometimes that is, in fact, the case). Whole cinnamon tastes different than ground cinnamon, for example. Whole leaf tea tastes different than smaller-leaf tea. I know it sounds weird, but .... it really does.

I had a few sips, decided it needed sweetener because it was a little bitter, and then had a few more sips. I then decided to add some milk. The milk mellows the flavour, and gives it a smoothness that is really quite lovely. It has a bit of a honey aftertaste.
This is the kind of tea that I can imagine brewing in a big teapot and serving for Afternoon Tea, with little sandwiches (ooh, cucumber and tuna.....) and dainty cookies. Oooh, Oma's butter cookies....
Hoooooly cow. Not only am I salivating over my tea, but I am salivating over the prospect of butter cookies. I feel like baking now.

Also, I learned several things while writing this review! I was going to write a long paragraph on the comparison between Assam Banaspaty and Red Rose Orange Pekoe, which is the kind of black tea I drank as a child. I still probably could. But anyway...

 I learned that Orange Pekoe isn't a FLAVOURING of black tea - it's a denotation of exactly which leaf on the plant is picked and used for the tea, and the quality of said leaf.

I've always wondered where the term "ORANGE" pekoe came from, if it wasn't actually flavoured with orange at all. According to Wikipedia, the term was coined by Sir Thomas Lipton, and could refer to one of two things:

1. The Dutch House of Orange-Nassau, now the royal family, was already the most respected aristocratic family in the days of the Dutch Republic, and came to control the de facto head of state position of Stadtholder of Holland and Zealand. The Dutch East India Company performed a central role in bringing tea to Europe and may have marketed the tea as "orange" to suggest association with the House of Orange.
2. Color: The copper color of a high-quality, oxidized leaf before drying, or the final bright orange color of the dried pekoes in the finished tea may be related to the name. These usually consist of one leaf bud and two leaves covered in fine, downy hair. The orange color is produced when the tea is fully oxidized.

You learn new things every day!!

I honestly have no idea which leaf they use to make this tea, or whether it's a pekoe or a souchong. But.... it's pretty awesome!!

Hey, I wonder if I could ask DT..... *tweets them, awaits response*

Verdict: Win on all levels!

Today's Tea: TeaPop!

TeaPop from DAVIDsTEA

So, my Friendly Neighbourhood TeaGuide told me that I absolutely had to come in on Wednesday (today). I did, and I was treated to the first day of a new promotion: TeaPop!

Now, I'd read that this was something new, but I thought it was tea-flavoured (or tea-infused) popsicles. Which, if I recall from last summer, have the potential to be amazing.
But TeaPop is not this.

TeaPop is.... well, the graphic says, "They're fun. They're fizzy. They're flavourful. And they have next to no calories."
The premise is that it's tea mixed with soda water to create something fizzy and refreshing, like iced tea but with a fizzy kick. Or pop, if you were. (haha, I am so funny.....)

The great part is that it comes in whatever flavour you want it. I needed something with a big kick, so I had Jungle JuJu (which I reviewed in March). It's a maté, and I think it required a bit more sweetener than I put in, because it was a little... well, not as sweet as I like my sparkling water. I can see something sweeter being better.

There are a few recommended teas, which are mostly herbal teas, though there are others. Midsummer Night's Dream, Goji Pop, Pink Flamingo, Tropicalia, Lime Gelato, Blueberry Jam and Pink Passionfruit are some that I can think of off the top of my head. If it's fruit-based, chances are it'll be good.

When I was talking with the TeaGuide making my TeaPop today, she said that David (and someone else from the DT corporate office) actually went through all the teas they carry and tried each of them as a TeaPop. THAT would be the coolest job in the world (I WILL TOTALLY TAKE IT, GUYS!). It shows dedication to the product and also, making sure that the recommendations are good ones and not "Hey, customer, try this!" and have it be kinda gross.

Since TeaPop isn't available on the website, and thus, I can't link to it, DT DID come up with a recipe for us:

Feel free to try it, and please let me know your results!!

DT makes it with a SodaStream, though I'm sure any unflavoured carbonated water would work well.

It would be best to add a bit more sweetener than you normally do, though, as the taste of the soda water really does come through. I don't know why, but for some reason, plain carbonated water tastes salty to me. Maybe I'm just used to oversweetened American soda, so much that my tastebuds are ruined when it comes to carbonated drinks. Apparently in Europe, plain sparkling water is normal. It's taken me a great deal of time to adjust to drinking plain sparkling water and not expect ZOMGSWEET on my tongue.

Verdict: Neat refreshing summer drink; cool idea!

Today's Tea: Cocomint Cream

Cocomint Cream from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Cream of the crop - Coconut and mint might not be a familiar combo, but trust us. It’s seriously addictive. As soon as you open your first tin and experience its fresh, sweet-mint aroma, you’ll understand. It’s the kind of tea you always want to have within arm’s reach. It makes a sweet little afternoon pick-me-up. Or a perfect finale to any meal. Or a midnight snack that won’t keep you up all night. Refreshing, creamy, sweet and comforting, it’s everything a tea ought to be.

Ingredients: Apple, coconut, peppermint, blackberry leaves.

How to Brew: 1.5 tsp     98°C / 208°F   4-6 min

(from Steepster: Cocomint Cream)

Steph's Thoughts:

This tea? Totally changed my view on coconut. (like I said in my last review.)

I generally hate coconut in tea. It's just too.... simulated. Fake. I'm not a tropical fruit kinda person. And when you mix mint with it? Blech. 

Originally, this tea was one of DAVIDsTEA's Winter Collection, and is actually unavailable now (hence the link from Steepster and not DT, but I like people to know where I get my info). I know - TOTALLY helpful, Steph! I didn't buy the whole winter collection initially, because I wasn't enthralled with the contents. When I read the descriptions of the teas, my honest first reaction was, "Coconut and mint? Blech. Never ever will I try that." I ended up getting a few of the winter teas, but avoided this one for quite a while until one day over the winter, I went into the store, and my TeaGuide made me this one. 

I didn't know what I was in the mood for, and was feeling adventurous. I told my TeaGuide to surprise me. She made me this one and BOY HOWDY, am I glad she did. I've ended up buying two tins of it so far. (I am sad that it is not a year-round tea, because it would be a lovely summer drink. BUT THERE IS MINT JULEP WHICH IS ALMOST AS GOOD!)

Initially, when it steeps, it has a pale green colour (kind of - hahaha - a creamy-mint green), but it mellows to a nice rich yellow if you let it steep long enough (Forgive me, I got distracted with the dog), kind of like unsweetened apple juice. 

There is definitely a mint smell, but it's a subtle mint. Apple mint, I guess (WHICH YOU CAN USE TO MAKE MOJITOS WHAT?!). It's not an IN YER FACE mint, but it's not Cool Mint, either. It has Presence. And you can smell the coconut too, but it's not Fake-o-nut. It's the nice, sweet, fleshy part of the meat. 

The coconut and apple make it nice and light, and the mint gives it a refreshing little tingle. I brewed this in my Perfect Mug, and it did send a little bit of debris down to the bottom, and brews with a bit of a film on top, but the film doesn't detract from the drink. I'm wondering if this is the coconut oil just rising to the top. Does it do that?? I don't even know. 

Either way, I am savouring every cup of this tea like nobody's business. And hoarding it. I actually hide the tin when my in-laws come over. (YES IT IS THAT GOOD)

Verdict: Major win of epic proportions (PLEASE BRING THIS TEA BACK, DT!!!!)

Today's Tea: Mint Julep

Mint Julep from DAVIDsTEA

Description: If you want a taste of the Kentucky Derby, the best place to start is a mint julep. So ice yourself a cup of this little number and hang on to your hat. With black tea, spearmint and lemon peel, it’s smooth and refreshing right out of the gate. Add a creamy touch of pineapple and coconut, and you’ve got a cool summer drink that’s best in class. Try it with a sprig of fresh mint, a splash of bourbon and lots of cracked ice. Trust us – it’s a winner.


Ingredients: Black tea, rooibos, spearmint, pineapple, coconut, lemon peel, natural and artificial flavouring.

Allergens: Contains coconut

Caffeine: 2 (medium caffeine)

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

(from DAVIDsTEA: Mint Julep)

Steph's Thoughts:
First off: Hi DT-Grant Park staff!! I ♥ you guys! You are my Tea-ple. (yes, I know your official title is TeaGuide... Just go with it.)

I was superduper unbelievably excited to try the new summer teas from DT, so I rushed in to the store from work today. I checked out the new teas on Facebook before I went in to the store, so I knew that Mint Julep was going to be one of the ones I was going to buy even before smelling it (I really do love mint teas). I definitely needed something exciting today.

A year ago, I would have said, "Coconut and mint?? Ew gross, you are CRAZY." And then came Cocomint Cream (which I MEANT to review, and never did. Whups. Sorry!), which changed a lot of my views on tea.

And so we have Mint Julep. Apparently this is traditionally an alcoholic drink with bourbon, spearmint and a sugar syrup (or just sugar). Personally, I'm not a bourbon fan, so I'm thinking that I'll like the tea a whole lot better. And it is quite fantastic. It's a nice rich brownish-red colour, and brews VERY clear.

Upon first sip, the taste of coconut comes through, but it is not overpowering. I think I also taste the pineapple, but again, it's not overpowering. When you swallow, there's the refreshing aftertaste of mint. And THAT'S not overpowering either.  It's .... just the right amount of flavouring. It's summery, and energizing and... refreshing.....  I can see that, if you drink this in a silver cup, it would make you feel VERY posh. Alas, I just have it in a take-out cup from DT. But it's still pretty fabulous.

It tastes wonderful cold, and I feel like this is a tea that I should always have a brewed iced pitcher of. I really could drink this by the litre. I know I say that about every new tea that comes into my life (I'm a little fickle that way...), but really, this is pretty darn fantastic, even if it doesn't smell like much. "Ooh, black tea with some mint and coconut and it smells a little weeeeird." But trust me, It makes for an EXCELLENT cup of iced tea.

Verdict: MAJOR win. 

Today's Tea: Bollywood Chai

Bollywood Chai from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Mumbai’s the word - They’re colourful. They’re over the top. In a word, they’re epic. Nothing can quite compare to the sheer energy of Bollywood films. But we’ve tried to at least do them justice with this lively, colourful chai. It’s a delicately sweet black tea blend with all the warm, comforting flavour of a fresh spice cake. Not to mention the fun, vibrant pop of candy-coated fennel seeds, a classic Indian breath freshener. It’ll have you singing and dancing with the Bollywood greats in no time.

Ingredients: Black tea, fennel candy (fennel, sugar, menthol, food colouring), ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, pink peppercorns, natural ginger, vanilla and cinnamon flavouring*.


How to Brew: 1.25 tsp     96°C/205°F     5 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Bollywood Chai)

Steph's Thoughts:

Nom. Nom nom nom nom nom nom nom nom nom.

First: Candy coated fennel. MADE OF WIN.
Second: Chai? MORE MADE OF WIN.

It's not spicy-spicy. It's got the right amount of cinnamon.

Though, it DOES taste a lot better with some sweetener in it. The candy-coated fennel doesn't add enough sweet for my liking. I do love the colours, though. It's like HAPPY in a cup. It's bitter if sipped cold, which is where I think the sweetener would come in handy.

When the TeaGuide made it for me, she added the right amount of agave to it. I haven't quite figured out the perfect ratio of agave to tea. I'm gonna keep working on it.

The black tea is a little bit bitter, but I think it's because I steeped it too long.

Verdict: Total nomulous win.