Today's Tea: Vanilla Pu-erh

Vanilla Pu'erh from Rishi Tea

Description: The cooling, alluringly sweet character of vanilla beans perfectly complements Pu-erh tea's cocoa-like sweetness and earthy richness. Premium grades of V. planifolia vanilla beans are blended with enticingly aromatic cassia cinnamon from Vietnam and hints of cooling organic peppermint for a truly decadent taste experience. Rishi Tea artisans blend Pu-erh Vanilla in micro-batches for a consistently rich, luxuriant flavor.

Tasting Notes: Decadent with sweet Saigon Cinnamon, creamy vanilla bean and notes of chocolate

Ingredients: Organic and Fair Trade Certified™ pu-erh tea, organic peppermint, organic cinnamon, organic vanilla bean, organic licorice root.

Brewing Instructions: 1 tbsp     100°C/212°F    5-6 minutes (5 for 1st infusion, 6 for second)

Additional Info: Pu-erh tea has an ancient past originating in Yunnan, China millennia ago. This rare, rich tasting tea is treasured as a healthful, energizing tonic. Its deep, smooth flavor is created through an artisanal pile fermentation process that transforms sun-dried green tea into ripened, full-bodied Pu-erh tea.

(From Rishi Tea: Vanilla Pu-erh)

Steph's Thoughts:

The Hubby and I went out to Salisbury House for breakfast this morning. Well, okay, it was noon. Anyway, I looked at the menu, and they have an entire page devoted to tea - with pictures and everything. I mean, it's not the widest selection of tea, but they brew LOOSE LEAF tea!!! And it all looked very good. I wanted ALL THE TEAS! But I had to pick one, so this is the one I picked. 

When I poured the tea into my cup, I could smell the cinnamon. It smelled like The Good Stuff (the kind I get from Ten Thousand Villages, not the cheap stuff), which made me VERY happy. Tea companies that use the GOOD cinnamon rather than cheap cinnamon are A1 in my books! 

The infusion was a lovely rich chocolate colour, which is partially from the pu-erh leaves. 

The first sip was a bit of a surprise. Having not seen the ingredients prior to sipping, I was surprised by the mint flavour. It tasted very much like the mint chocolate rooibos from DAVIDsTEA. There was a mint tea on the menu, so I did have to double check with the server that she'd brought me the right tea. She had, in fact, brought me the right tea.

It's got a nice refreshing taste, with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. I don't think I'd label this VANILLA pu-erh, though, because of the mint. It might be better with a different name???

The second steep (more hot water added to the leaves) produced a darker colour. I felt like it would be a good coffee alternative, as I could feel my energy increasing while drinking. It's a very smooth tea! (I love pu-erhs for exactly this reason.)

The second cup had a slightly funky aftertaste, which could be the vanilla bean. I don't actually know, though, so don't take my word for it! It just tasted a little funny.

This is a tea that doesn't pair well with honey. It does not need sweetener at all, as is very sweet on its own. It could possibly be very refreshing, though slightly heavy, iced tea. However, the Hubby figures wouldn't ice well, as would be bitter. After several moments of consideration, I'm inclined to agree. It would sit too heavy.

It's a great "sit and contemplate the world" tea, or a "curl up on the couch and read a book" tea. I would definitely purchase this for the winter months when I need a heavier tea.

Verdict: Pretty decent for taking a chance on a new loose leaf tea. I want to try more from this company!

Today's Tea: Sangria

Sangria from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Imagine the perfect summer day. Chances are it involves sunshine, a patio and a big pitcher of sangria. Seriously, summer just isn’t summer without that tasty concoction of wine and fresh fruit. And with tart hibiscus and big pieces of apple, orange and berries, this fruity, all-natural tisane tastes just like the real thing. Try brewing up a big pitcher with red wine, agave and a splash of sparkling water. Bistro table and sunny patio not included. Limited edition. (MK Kosher)

Ingredients: Apple, hibiscus, licorice root, sweet blackberry leaves, orange, strawberry , raspberry , natural flavouring

Caffeine: 0 (Caffeine free)

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

(From DAVIDsTEA: Sangria)

Steph's Thoughts:
I wanted something caffeine free for a post-workout treat. I'd initially thought I'd spoil myself with chocolate tea to kick the craving, but this was at the front of my cupboard and I thought I'd try it. It's from the new summer collection.

Please note, I've never had an actual sangria before, but it is on my list of things to try!

Dry leaf notes are very fruity, citrussy, and the blackberry comes through.

It brews a beautiful reddish-purple colour. First sip: Yup, blackberry. Also hibiscus. Which is okay, I suppose.... Still not my favourite. But what can you do.

I can imagine this would make a wonderful cup of iced tea. It's bold and citrusy, and quite refreshing. Aftertastes are subtle and fruity. I really like this tea, but not all do - my friend Megan thinks it's *nose wrinkle* not her cup of tea.

Verdict: yum. Definitely getting onto the "need this" list.

Today's Tea: Buddha's Blend

Buddha's Blend from DAVIDsTEA

Description: We don’t like to brag, but we’re pretty sure we just found the key to achieving nirvana. It’s easier than you might think – you’re actually just a cup away. You start with a fresh, delicate mix of white and green tea. Then you sprinkle in a few jasmine pearls for their sweet, floral perfume. Next, you add the unexpected fruity aroma of some beautiful white hibiscus blossoms. Finally? You sit back, relax and take a sip. Heavenly...


Ingredients: White tea, green tea, jasmine pearls, white hibiscus blossoms, natural and articifial flavouring

Caffeine: 2 (Medium caffeine)

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp    90°C/195°F 4-5 min (HOWEVER, Claire recommended 1 minute steep and at VERY MAXIMUM 2 minutes, as it does have the potential to get bitter)

(From DAVIDsTEA: Buddha's Blend)

Steph's Thoughts:
Normally I steer clear of both white tea (because it's picky) and jasmine (because it's perfume-y). But after celebrating a successful shopping trip to buy choir pants (in which I had to drop not one, but FIVE pant sizes, going from a size 14 to a size 6!!!!!!!!!!), I wanted to reward myself with some tea.

I bought this for my brother in law, who has been staying with us. I figured it would be a "Just For Jonathan" bag, so he wouldn't drink all MY tea. :P He really liked it, and so when I saw that it was the Tea of the Day at DT, I figured, well, why the heck not.

Dry leaves have a peachy smell. First sip is light, definitely peach with a hint of floral. It's a bit bitter, but I wonder if it's because it was left to steep too long. Claire, the TeaGuide at Grant Park, recommended a shorter steep time for this tea, and that's probably why. It does have a very nice flavour to it, though.

I don't know if this would be a staple in my cupboard, mostly because I'm not a huge peach fan, and it's a wee bit floral for me. It is yummy, though, as a celebratory treat.

Verdict: Good if you like peach. Yum.

Today's Tea: Fig Formosa Oolong

Fig Formosa Oolong from TeaLeafs

Description: A full, whole leaf base with a rich taste of Smyrna figs

Ingredients: Taiwanese Oolong tea, Cornflower, Poppy Flower, Natural flavor

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp    85°C/185°F 4-7 min

(from TeaLeafs: Fig Formosa)

Steph's Thoughts:
This is one of the teas that I picked up while on holiday in Buffalo, NY last September.
I'd read about the tea online, and sort of wanted to try it. Oolong usually isn't my thing, but this one sounded, and looked, so delectable. (I love blue. It's blue. It's tea. It's yummy. WIN!)

Before I talk about the tea, I want to talk about my experience in TeaLeafs. This is the one place I'd made sure that we went while we were there. Upon arriving at the store, I was greeted by the owner, Syd. When I said that we'd made the trip from Manitoba, she remembered the email I'd sent to her, inquiring whether tea was sold by the ounce or gram. (Ounce, because... well, imperial measurements) She's a very friendly lady, and encouraged us to smell the teas along the tea wall. She's got little jars of  tea, labelled and organized so that you can smell them for yourself, rather than having to ask someone to take them down for you. Once we'd selected our teas, she measured and labeled them. We had a wonderful conversation, and she encouraged us to come back any time. I would HAPPILY fly back to Buffalo and spend lots of time in this shop! If you ever find yourself in the Buffalo area with a few hours to kill, drive over to Williamsville (a suburb just northeast of Buffalo) and spend some time with Syd. It's more than worth your while.

Anyway, back to the tea.

Like I said, I'd read about this tea online, and was a little hesitant, as I'm not a terribly huge oolong fan. When I smelled it, I instantly fell in love. It has a bit of a perfume-y smell, but it's not... bad or overwhelming. It's a little flowery, actually. It's sweet and fruity, without being fake. I fell even deeper in love with this tea when I had my first sip. It's light, and requires absolutely no sweetener. The taste of the figs comes through nicely, as does a slightly sweet floral flavour. It's not gross like some floral flavours can be. I tend to let it steep a little longer than it says, because this is one tea that I like strong. It brews a beautiful caramel colour.

It has become my go-to favourite, although I am hoarding it a little because it's not readily available. I do have a supplier, though, should I need more. My friend Bryan, who lives in Buffalo, is more than willing to make the trek to TeaLeafs to pick up a package, and ship it over.

Verdict: It's so far in the win category, it's out of this universe. Go get some. Right now. You will thank me.

Today's Tea: Blueberry Kona Pop

Blueberry Kona Pop from Teavana

Description: Deliciously fruity and refreshing! This blend of our Blueberry Bliss Rooibos tea and Pineapple Kona Pop herbal infusion conjures up the flavors of Hawaii with a blueberry pineapple hibiscus combination that beats the heat. This caffeine-free delight is perfect hot or iced and is great for the whole family to enjoy.

Caffeine: 0 (Caffeine Free)

Ingredients: Sugar, apple pieces, green rooibos, blueberries, candied pineapple (pineapple, sugar), raisins, black currants, rosehip peels, beetroot pieces, hibiscus flowers, natural and artificial flavoring (pineapple, blueberry), rose blossom leaves, rosebuds, marigold blossoms, orange blossoms

Brewing Instructions:  1.5 tsp     100ºC/212ºF    4-6 min

(From Teavana: Blueberry Kona Pop)

Steph's Thoughts:
This was the "free sample" included in my Teavana order. I wanted to try their Wonderberry Chocolate Truffle and the Raspberry Lemon Maté, and I got a free sample with my order.

Upon reading the ingredients, I was a little shocked that they included sugar as THE FIRST ingredient. They aren't listed on the website, either. I had to do a little bit of digging online (and then look at the bag, as sugar wasn't listed on the website that I checked). When I looked at the actual tea, it looked like there were pieces of glass in my tea. Those are the hunks of rock sugar that they add.

The bag requires a bit of shaking, as the tea tends to settle to the bottom, leaving all the chunks of fruit on the top. Depending on the chunks of fruit you get in your cup, the flavour might change.

Hubby and I brewed up a batch of this to share. It did have a nice smell and a nice colour. Hubby's first sip, though, was very disappointing. He said that it was like hot juice. "If I wanted this much sugar in my tea, I'd put it in. This is TOO SWEET." (though, he did end up finishing it!)

My cup wasn't as sweet as his, but it does not require ANY sugar as it is very, very sweet on its own. The blueberry flavour comes through very strongly, as does the hibiscus, which gives it a bit of a kick. I find that the flavour changes with every sip - some are blueberry, and some are pineapple. It's definitely interesting, that's for sure.
This does make a pretty nice iced tea, although like hubby said, it might as well be juice.

Verdict: Would be better if Teavana let customers add their own sweetener rather than doing it for them.  Okay otherwise.