Today's Tea: Happy Kombucha

Happy Kombucha Oolong from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Our deliciously fruity blend has its roots in the 1960s, when every cool hippie was growing kombucha. Today, hipsters are again promoting this fermented tea for its delicious taste and good vibes. We’ve combined it with oolong, mango, pineapple and safflowers to make it taste like a golden ray of psychedelic sunshine. Yeah.

Ingredients: Oolong tea, mango, pineapple, Kombucha Powder, safflower petals, artificial flavouring*.

Allergen Information: Contains gluten-free wheat starch

Caffeine: 1 (Low caffeine)

Brewing Instructions: 1.5 tsp     94°C/201°F       4-7 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Happy Kombucha)

Steph's Thoughts:
I felt like picking up an oolong yesterday, so I went to DT. The Tea Guide at St. Vital recommended Happy Kombucha.

The dry leaf notes are sweet, with pineapple and mango. I want to compare it to Mango Madness, but with a little more dried pineapple.

Those two flavours come out very strongly in the tea itself. I don't know what kombucha is supposed to taste like, or even what it is, really.

A quick Google search informs me that Kombucha is a fermented sweetened black tea (or I suppose you could use oolong as well...). The tea is fermented using a "symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast." (from Wikipedia) Some claim that kombucha has significant health benefits, lessening the effects of arthritis, depression, heartburn, and even cancer. It is also claimed to be full of probiotics and other gut-happy things. I don't know if science has PROVEN any of these claims to be true, but ... one can always hope, right? A tea that makes my gut, brain AND body happy? I could get behind that. And one that tastes amazing too? Yup. Done and done!

The tea itself is very sweet, and doesn't require a lot of sweetener. Because it is an oolong, though, it does have the potential to get bitter if steeped too hot or too long. I, however, left the teabag in for 24 hours (yeah, it takes me a long time to drink a cup of tea...), but due to the sweetener that I added it's still good!
I prefer this tea warm, but it is also refreshing when iced. It's a very versatile all-season tea!

Verdict: Nicely done, DT! Another yummy tea. Fruity and healthy.

Today's Tea: Chocolate Orange

Chocolate Orange from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Some things are just meant to go together. Cups and saucers. Cream and sugar. Tea and cookies. And chocolate and orange. It’s a harmonious combo alright – rich, sweet and decadently dark. And this delicious pu’erh blend has it all: big chocolate chips to satisfy your dessert craving and zesty orange peel for a touch of fruitiness and spice. It’s the kind of thing you could get used to. Which is good, because you and this tea are totally made for each other. (MK Kosher)

Ingredients: Pu'erh tea, chocolate, orange peel, natural and artificial flavouring.

Allergen Information: Contains soy. May contain milk

Caffeine: 2 (Medium caffeine)

Brewing Instructions:  1.25 tsp    98°C/208°F     4-6 min

(From: DAVIDsTEA: Chocolate Orange)

Steph's Thoughts:
I went in to DT today, craving chocolate. I spoke with the TeaGuides, and they recommended a few, but they were all ones I had at home. I wanted to try something new. Chocolate Orange is the only tea that I haven't tried.
I'm not a fan of orange-flavoured chocolate. I don't like Terry's Chocolate Oranges. I'm often disappointed when things taste like orange (except... oranges. Them I'm okay with. Although not always. Some are too orangey). So you can understand my reluctance to try the Chocolate Orange tea. It is a pu'erh, though, which is often quite smooth. So I decided to bite the bullet and try it.
The TeaGuide mentioned that it's not really ORANGE, but more creamy. I don't necessarily know if I agree with her. It is smoother than most, but that's because it's pu'erh (which is awesome).

Dry leaf notes are definitely citrusy. There is the aroma of chocolate as well as the distinct smell of pu'erh leaves.
The steeped flavour is of a chocolate pu'erh with a bit of citrus. The orange isn't as overwhelming as I'd thought, but it's still distinctly there. It is on the sweeter side, so it doesn't require a lot of sweetener. I do like my tea on the sweet side, though, so I added agave. I might add a little more to bring it up to my sweetness level.
The Hubby , who doesn't normally like chocolate teas, says "mm, good!" In fact, he asked for more. I GUESS I can share.... While there is no vanilla in it, he did pick out hints of vanilla. This could be part of the chocolate, however.
It's not as chocolate-y as some, so if you're looking for a chocolate kick, I'd recommend another tea. But if you want a hint of chocolate in a smooth cup of tea, then this would definitely be up your alley.

Verdict: Pretty decent. It's not my favourite, but it's good!

Today's Tea: Crème Brûlée

Organic Crème Brûlée from DAVIDsTEA

Description: No one can resist this organic green rooibos tea. Seriously. The aroma is just too outrageously tempting. Creamy, caramel, decadent, rich. And the taste! How can something so sweet be so light and fresh? Plus, rooibos is caffeine free, making it the perfect drink for after dinner or before bed. Could life be more wonderful? (MK Kosher)

Ingredients: Organic: green and red rooibos, safflowers, calendula marigold. With natural flavouring.

Brewing Instructions: 1.5 tsp        98°C/208°F      4-7 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Organic Crème Brûlée)

Steph's Thoughts:
This is a really beautiful tea to look at! I can imagine it would make beautiful tea art.
The dry leaf notes are rife with caramel.
I normally don't choose caramel, but Laura at DT was so excited about this one. Also, it's beautiful to look at, and it smells really lovely. It's what I needed on a cold day.
Never having had crème brûlée, I don't know what this tea is "supposed" to taste like. The flavour is really quite lovely, though. It's smooth and creamy without being overpowering.
It pairs very well with sweetener. It is on the sweeter side by itself, though, so I would be attentive to how much sweetener you're putting in. Too much and it's like liquid cavities. Not enough and it doesn't quite taste right.
It is definitely a rooibos, with the red leaf flavour coming through, though not overpowering the caramel.
I won't say it's my favourite, because it doesn't quite grab me the way others have. However, it is soothing and comforting!
It tastes alright both hot and iced (I had minutes from a board meeting to write and it went cold on me. Whoops), though I would recommend it hot.

Verdict: Pretty decent! If you're a caramel fan or like decadence, this is your tea.