Today's Tea: Cherry Snowcone

Cherry Snowcone from DAVIDsTEA

Description: When summer really turns up the heat, there’s one cool treat we turn to. A bright red, tangy-sweet cherry snowcone. There’s just no better way to beat the heat. And this tart and fruity cherry-packed blend is our take on the summer classic. Try brewing it extra-strong, sweetening with agave and pouring it over cracked ice for the ultimate refreshing summer treat. A little splash of white rum certainly wouldn’t hurt either.


Ingredients: Hibiscus, rose hip peel, apple, currants, elderberry, sugar crystals, sour cherries, acerola cherries, natural cherry flavouring.

Caffeine: 0 (Caffeine free)

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

(From DAVIDsTEA: Cherry Snowcone)

Steph's Thoughts:

This is one of the teas in the new Carnival Collection.

I will admit, this is the one tea that I wasn't terribly sold on when I bought the Carnival Collection. It didn't smell quite as sweet as the others. Also, I'm not a terribly huge cherry fan. When snowcones were available, I would always opt for blue.

However, this does brew a very nice cup of iced tea. I was worried that 1.25 tsp (x2, for iced tea) wouldn't be enough, because the cherry pieces are quite large. There are some whole dried cherries in there, one of which almost takes up an entire teaspoon!!

I let this tea steep a little longer than recommended, because I wanted a nice bold flavour for iced tea. It brews a nice clear cherry-pink.

I don't think it needs a whole lot of sweetener. The initial tastes are a little bitter, but it's got a very sweet aftertaste that I think sweetener would just... ruin. It's like... a mouthful of ripe cherry, slightly sour with very sweet aftertastes.

I found out that acerola cherries are very rich in vitamin C and are a source of antioxidants (Ooh, look! Health buzzword!).

And even though I'm not a big cherry fan, this is definitely a lovely cuppa.

Verdict: Nicely done, DT. Thanks for changing my mind about cherries.

Today's Tea: Caramel Corn

Caramel Corn from DAVIDsTEA

Description: It’s sweet. It’s salty. And it’s totally addictive. It’s no surprise that caramel corn is such a popular fairground treat. And we just can’t get enough of it. So of course we had to make it into a tea. With real popped corn, caramel pieces plus fresh hints of apple, pineapple, almonds and coconut, it’s rich, buttery and beyond satisfying. And thanks to a touch of beetroot, it brews a fun bright pink colour. Now you can experience that fairground treat anytime, anywhere.


Ingredients: Apple, cinnamon, pineapple, caramel, currants, almonds, beetroot, coconut, popcorn, natural & artificial flavouring.

Allergens: Contains almonds, coconut and milk

Caffeine: 0 (Caffeine Free)

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

(From DAVIDsTEA: Caramel Corn)

Steph's Thoughts:
New collection day means new teas for me! Yay!

Initially, I wasn't sure about this one. I mean, I'm not a huge popcorn fan. But this happened to be one of the Teas of the Day at DT, and it really surprised me.

It has the wonderful caramel corn flavour with none of the calories. Well, okay, maybe like, 5. It doesn't need any sweetener, and makes a fabulous cup of iced tea.

Apparently it tastes really funny when paired with a chicken sandwich, so I wouldn't recommend it to have with a meal. This is more of an "I'm craving something sweet but don't want to/ can't eat" kind of tea.

I didn't realize that the tea contains almonds, so if nuts are your allergen, or if you're hanging out in a place that is designated "nut free" (ie, the daycare!), don't drink this tea. Although, somebody told me that almonds aren't technically a nut, but are the interior meat of the pit of a fruit akin to the peach. However, they are still classified as nuts in a culinary sense.

THAT being said, this tea totally surprised me. I didn't think I'd like it, but I totally love the flavour. The bonus is that it tastes like caramel corn without the sticky teeth, or getting the kernels/ husks stuck between your tooth and your gums! I can totally get behind this idea because that's why I don't eat popcorn as a general rule. Also, the colour that this brews is SO pretty! It's a beautiful pinkish colour, which pairs very nicely with the DAVIDsTEA signature teal.

(that picture was stolen from my afternoon Twitter post!)

I don't know how it tastes hot, but iced it makes a LOVELY treat.

HOpefully I'll be able to review ALL of the carnival collection in the next few days!

Oh, I love tea.


Verdict: WIN. Just go pick up a bag. You'll thank me. I promise.

Today's Tea: Kiwi's Big Adventure

Kiwi's Big Adventure from DAVIDsTEA

Description: There’s something about a kiwi fruit that just makes us smile. It could be their cute round shape, or their fuzzy skin, or their bright green colour. But we think the best thing about a kiwi is the taste – like a cross between a peach and a melon, only better. So it goes without saying that this kiwi-spiked green tea is a real treat. From the second the aroma hits you, you know you’re in for something special. Sweet, fruity, tart and lively, it’s an adventure you won’t soon forget.

Ingredients: Green tea, apple, kiwi, lemongrass, lemon peel, artificial flavouring

Caffeine: 1 (low caffeine)

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp    85°C/185°F 2-3 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Kiwi's Big Adventure)

Steph's Thoughts:
So in lieu of being able to take my dad out on Father's Day, I took my dad out for tea today. It was his first time in DAVIDsTEA, and he found some teas that he was willing to try (YAY!). And I decided to try Kiwi's Big Adventure.

I asked Andrea, the TeaGuide on duty, if this iced well. She said that it did, and that it's not a strong tea. So if you want a nice light, fruity iced tea, this is your tea.

It is a green tea, so be ready for a Green flavour. I didn't think it tasted like kiwi, more like a really light honeydew melon. Although I suppose honeydew and kiwi kind of taste similar?? In this particular cup, the apple came through - it tastes like they used granny smith! It's the lightness without the "ZOMG TART"-ness of Granny Smith apples, though. It steeps a very nice pale clear yellow colour, almost like a white tea. It does have a good flavour, though. It's not as robust as a black tea, but still flavourful. It's like comparing meringue to whipped cream. Both have their  benefits and their respective corresponding pies. But you're not gonna put meringue on a pumpkin pie. But apparently you can put whipped cream on meringue. So maybe that wasn't the best analogy. But do you get what I'm saying?

It makes a nice light cup of tea on a hot day. Alas, today is kind of overcast so HOT tea would have been better today.

It's not my favourite because of the "green tea" flavour, and it's a little lighter than I would have liked for today. Don't get me wrong, it's still a good tea. Just... not quite right for today. If it had been, like, 40 Celsius and humid, I might be absolutely raving about this tea. I'll try again on a different day.

But cold tea is better than no tea. :P

Verdict: Not my favourite, but definitely good.

Today's Tea: Champagne Raspberry

Champagne Raspberry White from TeaLeafs

Origin: China

Ingredients: White Tea, Safflowers with Champagne flavor and Red raspberry flavors

(from TeaLeafs: Champagne Raspberry)

Not listed, but assumed based on ingredients:

Caffeine: 2 (medium)

Brewing Instructions:  1.25 tsp    90°C/195°F 4-5 min, though some would steep 2-3 minutes

Steph's Thoughts:

This is another tea that I got from TeaLeafs in Williamsville, New York, just outside of Buffalo. I've said it a dozen times, and I'll say it again, GREAT tea shop. If you live in the States (particularly near Buffalo!), avail yourself of the products from this tea shop. You'll thank me. Unfortunately, they don't ship to Canada. Thank goodness my friend Bryan has agreed to be my supplier!!

I decided to steep this for 3 minutes rather than 4 or 5. I think I didn't steep it long enough, because there's not quite enough flavour. I'm always worried that oversteeping white tea can make it bitter. 

It has a wonderful fruity flavour that is nice and light. It steeps a lovely pale yellow topaz colour. It could use a little more fruit flavour, but that could be because I didn't steep it quite long enough. IT doesn't require a lot of sweetener. I didn't add any, but if you absolutely must add some, don't add TOO much because it could overpower the lightness of the tea.

Verdict: Major win, even with understeeping. So yummy.

Today's Tea: Just Peachy

Just Peachy from DAVIDsTEA

Description: It took us years to find the perfect peach iced tea – but this sweet, summery blend is so peachy, it tastes like it’s fresh from the orchard. Now that we’ve finally mastered our favourite summer fruit, we just can’t get enough. And we keep discovering new, delicious ways to try it. It’s amazing mixed up with peach sliced and frozen into ice pops. Or served chilled with a splash of Prosecco. But the best way might just be straight up, with lots of ice and a touch of agave. However you enjoy it, this blend is a real peach. (MK Kosher)

Ingredients: Apple, sweet blackberry leaves, peach, natural and artificial flavouring.

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

(From DAVIDsTEA: Just Peachy)

Steph's Thoughts:
Today is National Iced Tea Day, so I decided to brew myself a cup of this tea. Iced, of course!!

Normally I'm not a fan of peach tea. Well, peach ANYTHING. However, this was one of the tea samples a few weeks back, and it's an amazing iced tea. The peach flavour is natural and not overwhelming. It's nice and sweet and doesn't require a lot of sweetener; however, if you're icing this tea, it does taste better with a HINT of sweetness. That's when agave is really nice, because you can add it to cold tea and it'll mix right in.

For some reason, I've got an urge to mix it with orange juice and ginger ale for a non-alcoholic Fuzzy Navel punch. If you wanted a REEEEEEALLY peachy drink, add peach schnapps!

Verdict: Just peachy! I like it!

Today's Tea: First Flush Darjeeling

First Flush Darjeeling from DAVIDsTEA

Description: We've found some of the very best Darjeeling of the season and rushed it to stores - so you can taste it right off the bush. It's fresh and nutty with hints of spring vegetables and mountain air.

Ingredients: First flush Darjeeling tea from Chamong Estate, India

Brewing Instructions: 1 1/4 tsp per 240 mL water     85°C/185°F      2-4 min

(From: the bag, from DAVIDsTEA)

Steph's Thoughts
This is an in-store exclusive, hence the "no-link" situation above, and the slightly less-than-professional photo.

These particular leaves have gone through the "black tea" process, but the leaves themselves are very green. It is not recommended that it be brewed on the "black tea" setting (DON'T BOIL YOUR WATER!), but rather on the Oolong setting. After my first sip, I might even try brewing it slightly colder.

One thing to note with this tea is that you need to pay attention to your steep time. Oversteeping tends to lead to a much more bitter infusion. I think this is what my problem was - I got distracted during steeping and oversteeped it. Oops. Next time, I will pay attention to my steep time! My research recommends a shorter steep time, closer to two minutes, rather than the lengthy four. I'm the kind that likes strong tea, but too long, and your tea will bite back.

It does have a very green flavour, despite the dry leaf notes having a slightly floral aroma. It brews very clear, having a nice amber hue. Normally, I wouldn't recommend sweetener for this tea. However, since I oversteeped it, I'm going to go put a little bit of sweetener in. Bitter tea is no fun, guys.

What makes it a first flush is that it's picked between March and May, and does tend to be a little more on the expensive side. The tea was picked in May and flown into the stores almost right away. Hence the limited-time, in-store exclusive.
I was also doing a little bit of research into the Chamong estates, up in the Darjeeling region of India. It's absolutely beautiful. Also, most of the tea estate isn't actually tea. This is what their website says:

Our flagship garden, Chamong, became a tea plantation as early as 1871. It was one of the first Darjeeling gardens to be acquired by the Lohia Group. Stretching over 332 hectares of land, Chamong is set into the side of a hill and its altitude ranges from 1150 meters to 1850 meters above sea level. Only about 132 hectares of this space is given to tea plantation, while a small area holds a tea factory and a village for laborers. Most of the property is forest-land filled with a great variety of flora and fauna...

I've taken a look at some pictures and gah. I want to go there. Apparently, a group called Tumsong Chiabari runs a retreat centre out of the tea plantations.... How awesome would that vacation be?? Spending time on a tea plantation, getting to see things in process.... fresh tea and hikes in the mountains....... Oh man.

Also, according to their website, and all publications I've seen regarding the tea estate, everything that is produced there is 100% organic. Now, the question is, are they fair trade?? Because if so, WIIIIIIINNN!!!!

Verdict: Would be much better if not oversteeped. I have learned my lesson. But otherwise, VERY nice. I think it would make a wonderful afternoon tea. I could see myself sitting on an adirondack chair, hanging out in the mountains, sipping a cup of this wonderful brew. How nice would this be???

Today's Tea: Hot Tropic

Hot Tropic from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Calling all beach bunnies...you are going to flip out over this tea. It’s amost excellent blend of tropical fruit, coconut and spices. It’s sweet and mega creamy, just like a totally primo piña colada. And if you really want to get amped, try freezing it into ice cubes and putting them in your blender with agave and a little coconut milk. It’s, like, off the wall. Take it from the big kahuna: this is one wave you definitely want to ride. Toes on the nose, dudes!

Ingredients: Apple, mango, raisins, cinnamon, coconut chips, star anise, vanilla, natural flavouring.

Allergens: Contains coconut

Caffeine: 0 (caffeine free)

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

(From DAVIDsTEA: Hot Tropic)

Steph's Thoughts:

New month means new tea! So, of course, after my job interview, which was, conveniently, near the mall, I hightailed it over to pick up some Hot Tropic!

I must admit, I'm not a huge piña colada fan, but it looked so pretty, and smelled so good. I kind of wanted to take the chunks out of the container and just eat them like trail mix. But I figured it would be bad form.

Even though there's no pineapple in this tea, the flavours of pineapple and coconut come out strongly. It definitely tastes like summer. If you like piña coladas, you will love this tea. The anise flavour adds a very nice little touch. It's not overwhelming at all.

While this is not a tea that I would gravitate towards every day, it's definitely refreshing. It doesn't require any sweetener, as it's plenty sweet enough on its own.

Verdict: Not bad. For Piña Colada lovers!