Today's Tea: Mint To Be

Organic Mint To Be from DAVIDsTEA

Description: It’s no secret that some of our best ideas come from our customers. So when you guys asked David for a minty black tea, he knew he had to deliver. He took a rich base of black tea and cool peppermint, and added a creamy hint of coconut. To top it all off, he asked our customers to help him name it. We got tons of amazing name ideas, then everyone voted for their fave. We hope you all love the result as much as we do. Trust us – you and this tea are simply mint to be together.

Ingredients: Organic black tea, peppermint, blue cornflower petals, coconut flakes. With natural flavoring.

Allergens: Coconut

Caffeine: 2 (Medium Caffeine)

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

(from DAVIDsTEA: Mint To Be)

Steph's Thoughts:
So, I've tried to go into DT several times in the last little while to get a cup of this. However, many things have thwarted my attempts. But today was the day. It was .. hahaha, mint to be.

The dry leaf notes call to mind Read My Lips, which is a black tea with chocolate and mint.

The steeped tea tastes very much of chocolate and mint. It is mintier than Read My Lips, and not quite as bitter. I can't taste the coconut as much. The cornflower petals just add beauty to the tea; I don't know how much flavour they add. But this is REALLY pretty tea. (See picture above!)

It starts to get bitter about the 1 hour mark, so I would recommend keeping the steep time lower. Although, to be fair, most people drink tea well before their tea sits for over an hour so..... (I had things occupying my time and attention. Please don't begrudge me for taking my time!)

The peppermint is very refreshing. I like that it makes my mouth feel clean. And the added chocolate is just a yummy bonus!

Verdict: Thumbs up!! Get this in your mouth.

Today's Tea: Super Ginger

Organic Super Ginger from DAVIDsTEA

Description: The idea came at about 2 in the morning one chilly night. David had a cold. He’d been drinking cup after cup of ginger tea, but there was a problem. His ginger tea had a ton of caffeine. His throat felt great, but he couldn’t get any sleep. Something had to be done. So he decided to create an herbal ginger tea – the spiciest, most comforting tisane he could imagine, with lots of ginger, peppercorns and green rooibos. And, most importantly, zero caffeine. The result? A cold remedy so soothing…you might even say it has superpowers. (MK Kosher)

Ingredients: Organic: Ginger, certified fair-trade green rooibos, pink peppercorns, black pepper, white pepper, flavouring.

Caffeine: 0 (caffeine free)

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp    98°C/208°F 4-7 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Super Ginger)

Steph's Thoughts:

Since I'm sick with a sore throat, and I'm a little sick of Cold 911 (soooo muuuuuch Cold 911 this month!!!!), I wanted something a little different.
Even though I was smelling with a very stuffy nose, the ginger cut right through. That's good news.

First sips aren't as strong as I thought. Either I didn't put enough tea in the bag, or my taste buds are sick too. It's also not as spicy as I expected, given ginger and peppercorns. But, at the same time, grateful, because I'm not feeling like spicy right now.Maybe it will taste different when my nose isn't so plugged.

It is nice and soothing for my scratchy throat. I didn't add any sweetener, but I would recommend honey, which is both a sweetener and has antibacterial, antiseptic, and antifungal properties (especially raw honey, which DAVIDsTEA also sells!).

I noticed the last few sips were significantly spicier, which could be from lots of steeping, or from a clearer nose. Either way, it's not a terribly bad thing.

Verdict: So far so good. I'm feeling a little better than I did when I started drinking, so we're on the right track!

Today's Tea: Chai on Life

Chai on Life from DAVIDsTEA

Description: What do you reach for when you need a little pick-me-up? Maybe you go for something sweet and satisfying. Or perhaps you prefer the feel-good glow of something super healthy. Lucky for you, this lemongrass-spiked white tea is the best of both worlds. It’s a uniquely fresh and delicate chai, filled with traditional warming spices from Ayurvedic medicine, like cinnamon, cloves, ginger and black pepper. Sweet, smooth and refreshing, this blend is revitalizing, comforting and tasty to boot. (MK Kosher)


Ingredients: White tea, green tea, cinnamon, lemongrass, pineapple, pink peppercorn, coconut chips, ginger black pepper, cloves, cardamom. With natural flavouring

Allergens: Coconut

Caffeine: 1 (Low caffeine)

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp     84°C/183°F 6-7 min

(from DAVIDsTEA: Chai on Life)


Steph's Thoughts:

Chai on Life is the January tea of the month. I was excited about having a new chai, but was not quite sure about the lemongrass.

My Fabulous TeaGuide said that it's like Exotica, except mellower and with actual TEA in. They have many similar ingredients, only Exotica is an herbal tea, but Chai on Life is a white tea (well, technically a white/green mix).

The first smell was heaven. It smells like fresh cinnamon bark (which is SO DIFFERENT than the ground cinnamon you get in the store. That stuff's crap.), slightly cardamom-y, but not overwhelmingly so. It's a very soothing, happy chai smell. Nom nom chai.

I was a little worried about the lemongrass, but it's not overwhelming at all. In the cup that I tried, I could barely taste the lemongrass, but I know that it's adding vital flavour.
It's a nice smooth chai, mellower in flavour than regular chai, and lacking the slightly bitter aftertaste. The chai spices are very present, but again, not overwhelming. I would say the dominant flavour is cinnamon, but again - the good stuff, rather than the cheap powdered stuff. (The good stuff is SO MUCH BETTER!!!!)

 I could see this pairing very well with some milk.

I have such a hard time expressing myself with this tea, because all I can think is yum yum yum yum yum yum happy tea.

Verdict: I say again, NOM NOM CHAI. (that means it's yummy!)

Today's Tea: Ginseng Oolong

Ginseng Oolong from DAVIDsTEA

Description: At first sight, this ginseng-coated tea looks more like moss-covered pebbles than tea leaves. And it tastes just as wonderfully weird as it looks: rich and crisp with a hint of shea butter and a sweet ginseng flavour that lingers long after each sip. Plus oolong and ginseng are two of Chinese medicine’s favourite ingredients – you’re basically one cup away from being a superhero. Try it “gung fu” style, by steeping the leaves multiple times. Every cup is a completely new experience. (MK Kosher)

Ingredients: Oolong tea from Fujian Province in China, ginseng.

Caffeine: 2 (Medium caffeine)

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp    94°C/201°F 5 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Ginseng Oolong)

Steph's Thoughts:

I can tell right away that I steeped the tea too long. I got carried away with some work stuff and forgot about it.

Initially, I was a little hesitant about the tea, as it doesn't particularly look all that appealing. However, I've learned that you can't judge by appearances. I also have very little experience with oolong.
It's a very earthy tea, with a mild aroma. Its smell evokes a comparison with Chinese green tea.

My first impression was "oh. Bitter mistake." Probably from oversteeping. HOWEVER. The aftertaste that it leaves in your mouth is quite lovely. It has a sweet aftertaste, with honey notes. Crisp is definitely a word I would use to describe this tea; I would say at times it is almost biting. However, it mellows out after you swallow.

The Hubby says it tastes a bit like Genmaicha, without the burnt flavour. He also says that it has a tangy aftertaste, activating his sour tastebuds.

I find that everyone reacts differently to different flavours within the tea.

I would like to try steeping it again (properly), reusing the leaves to see how the flavour changes.

Edited to add: Also, this expands LIKE CRAZY, so make sure that you have a big enough steeper for it. (It's actually kind of frightening to see how much it expands!) I have visions of someone thinking it'll fit in one of those little spoon steepers and then having a teasplosion in the cup!

Verdict: Not bad for a first try. I love the aftertaste.

Today's Tea: Sheng Pu'erh

Sheng Pu'erh from DAVIDsTEA

Description: This dark, mysterious tea is totally unlike anything else in our collection. Also called Green Pu’erh, Sheng Pu’erh is a « living » tea – it continues to mature and improve like an excellent wine. Taste a cup of this young tea today and it will be rich and earthy, with sweet, vegetal mushroom notes. Try it again in a year or two and it will be sweeter and mellower, with a delicious hint of honey. We recommend buying enough to drink this year, then storing some away for a serious treat a few years down the road. If you can wait that long…

Ingredients: Sheng (green) pu’erh.

Caffeine: 2 (Medium Caffeine)

Brewing Instructions: 1.5 tsp     85°C/180°F     2-4 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Sheng Pu'erh)

Steph's Thoughts:
This is one of the teas that I picked up for Hubby when I went tea shopping. He loves pu'erh tea because of its smoothness. We typically drink flavoured pu'erh, so I thought I'd go for a straight one to compare. I loved the smell of this one. It has an earthy aroma, but not off-putting.

The taste of this tea is slightly indescribable. It is earthy, yes. But there's a hint of green, of some sort of plant-ish... fruity.... It's really hard to pin down. I wouldn't call it mushroom. I'm torn between wanting to add sweetener and wanting to savour it straight. It really doesn't need sweetener, though. It's not bitter like some straight blacks or greens.

When I asked the Hubby about it, he said "Some things aren't meant to be described. I mean, you could describe it if you added things to it. It's not a flavour, it's a feeling I get when I drink it. And that feeling is Mmmmmmm."

Why should you buy this tea? It's smooth, it's yummy, it makes a great cup of tea. It's a tea win!

So....

Verdict: Mmmmmmmmm.

Today's Tea: Mango Lassi

Mango Lassi from DAVIDsTEA

Description: If you’re a lover of Indian food, chances are you’ve had a taste of a Mango Lassi. If not, it’s time you got acquainted. It’s a deliciously creamy blend of fresh mango, yogurt and a hint of rosewater – just about the coolest, most satisfying drink around. And this rich, fruity blend is our homage to the classic. It blends sweet, succulent mango with creamy vanilla and a floral hint of honey-kissed Egyptian chamomile. Our advice? Try it as an iced latte…or blend it into your next smoothie. (MK Kosher)

Ingredients: Mango, chamomile, orange peel, vanilla bean, vanilla extract, natural and artificial mango flavouring, natural cream flavouring

Caffeine: 0 (caffeine free)

How to Brew: 1.25 tsp       96°C/205°F        5-7 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Mango Lassi)


Steph's Thoughts:
 I stopped by DAVIDsTEA today because a) I wanted to pick up a few teas and a cupboard organizer, and b) it's my birthday, and c) .... TEA (do you really have to ask why??).

DT is awesome in that they let you pick a cup of tea for free on your birthday.

I've tried Mango Lassi before, but I kind of let it go bad in my Timolino. I was SAVING IT because it was so good and then.... I saved it too long.
Note to self: Don't save the tea. DRINK IT.

Anyway. Mango Lassi is a really nice, light tea, even though it says it has "cream" in it. I found out that a lassi is a drink with yogurt, water, spices, and sometimes fruit.

The flavour of this particular tea is like the taste of a nice, ripe mango, which you don't often get from other teas. There's a HINT of mango in other teas, but this one tastes like biting into fresh fruit. The chamomile comes through, but it complements the mango quite nicely, as does the vanilla. It seems like there's a lot of vanilla in the tea when you look at the ingredients, but I find that it is not at all overwhelming.

I find that it tastes just fine hot or iced. I also find that it tastes just fine when left to steep, rather than removing the bag after 5-7 minutes.

Verdict: Pretty awesome.

Today's tea: Giverny Monet Rooibos

Giverny Monet Rooibos from The Metropolitan Tea Company

Description: Chocolate and Pineapple waft gently through premium rooibos. A light nutty finish.

Ingredients: Cedarberg South African Rooibos, chocolate pieces, cornflower petals, natural flavours

Brewing Instructions: none given,  but I'm assuming it's similar to other Rooibos,  which is 1.5 tsp, fully boiling water (212°F/100°C),  4-6 minutes.

Caffeine: 0 (Caffeine free)

(From the bag)

Steph's Thoughts:
Happy new year! I'm at a friend's house and she offered me tea. I figured I'd take the opportunity to try something new. As always,  the chocolate won out.

Dry leaf notes are rooibos with a hint of chocolate.
Brewed aroma calls to mind sweet rooibos with an after-aroma of fruit.

Upon first sip, I realize that this tea doesn't require any sweetener as it is a very sweet tea. There is a little chocolate flavour but it's not overwhelming. The rooibos cuts through the other flavours. I suppose the fruit taste that they were going for is pineapple, but it's very mellow,  almost like a candied dried pineapple rather than a fresh juicy pineapple. I find the tea pairs very well with both a sweet snack and a salty meal.

I find that with flavoured rooibos, companies often err on the side of less flavour, more tea. I tend to prefer my flavoured rooibos the other way around. The problem with rooibos,  though, is that it has such a distinct flavour of its own. It's hard to pair and blend properly.

I think that this tea could use a bit more flavour, if they're going for "flavoured tea." If they're going for a straight tea with very subtle chocolate and fruit notes (and I do mean very subtle), then they've succeeded. Perhaps my expectations are too high.

Verdict: Not too bad. I would drink it again.