Gold Rush

Ingredients: Organic: mulberries, coconut, white Silver Needle tea. With natural and organic flavouring

My brother has been trying to get me to try this tea for at least a year now. I haven't because 1. It has coconut, I am so sick a DT teas with coconut, and 2. It isn't very cheap

So, he gave me enough to make myself a cup so I could see why he likes it so much.


I am pleasantly surprised.

While I have never tried a mulberry before and never really heard anything about them besides that silly ice-cream truck song... I could not believe that they taste like!
Caramel!

This fruit and coconut tea tastes like a light and creamy caramel.
It's the weirdest thing... but I actually really enjoyed drinking this tea.
It's delicious! And organic!
Plus, it's a DT staple, so I don't see it going away any time soon.

I would recommend everyone give this tea a chance. Unless you're allergic to coconut, that is....



Happy Steeping,

~K

White Nectarine

Ingredients: Apricot, white tea, blackberry leaves, safflowers, natural nectarine flavouring.


Before I being, I would like to take a moment to bitch about something that DavidsTea has been doing quite often... LYING! Gr!
I am so sick of a tea being named a certain thing -this one for example, White Nectarine- and then that ingredient is only a flavouring and not the actual fruit -White Nectarine's featured fruit is apricots. WHAT?! 
Their Key Lime tea did the same thing, which made me so angry I still haven't tried it.
DavidsTea, please! Stop with the flavouring and just use the ACTUAL FRUIT.


Let's begin.

I love nectarines. I will choose them a thousand times over peaches, or nearly any other fruit for a snack. I suppose it is safe to say that they are my favourite fruit. But it was not only this that made me excited to try this tea, it was the smell! By the gods, does this tea every smell beautiful!
My brother was amazing and bought this for me because I was short on cash and was so in love with the smell.

Such a gorgeous and robust flavour. While it definitely tastes more of apricots than nectarines, it is love at first sip.
This just might be my new favourite fruit tea.

The blackberry leaves blend so nicely with the apricot, and while the white tea is slightly hidden in the background, it still adds to the flavour very nicely.
Incredibly smooth and fruity without being intrusive on the natural, leafy flavours.

Fantastic!!
Everyone, this tea. This tea!

Aaron!! You are the BEST!!


Happy Steeping,
Get your butts to DavidsTea and get yourself some of this beauty before it is all gone!

~K

Butterfly Jasmine

Butterfly Jasmine from DT

Ingredients: Chinese green tea from Fujian Province, scented with Jasmine blossoms

So exciting!!!

I have been wanted to try this tea for quite some time.
What was stopping me? It is the most expensive tea that DavidsTea sells! Twenty dollars for fifty grams! 
What finally got me to buy some? The fact that I didn't have to buy it! I used my DT frequent steeper points and got 50 grams for free! (I used the other 50 grams of free tea I had saved the points up for and got more Quangzhou milk oolong)

 Not going to lie, I had my nose inside of the bag the entire drive home from the mall. I think I told Chris "This is the best smelling tea ever" about fifty times within those ten minutes. This tea makes Dragon Pearls jasmine smell like afalfa.

I steeped these gorgeously wrapped leaves for four minutes my plain old ceramic pot. 
Everything smells amazing!

It tastes exactly the way that it smells. 
This is the smoothest, creamiest jasmine I have ever had. It is beautiful. The floral accents are at the perfect level and there isn't a hint of bitterness. I'm sure that the second cups worth that is still in the pot may be a little too strong by the time that I get to it, but it won't be long. I am powering through this absolutely perfect cup I have right now.

I was wrong. Even with the second half of the pot sitting for fourty five minutes, it is not at all bitter or overpowering; just stronger and still delicious and perfect!
Holy shit, this tea is magical!

Beautiful. 
Everyone should treat themselves to this tea at some point in their lives.
I am in LOVE.

Best tea?
I might just have to say YES.


Happy euphoric steeping,

~K



Update:
Yoshi loves it so much he is trying bathe himself in it!

Kiwi's Big Adventure

Kiwi's Big Adventure
From DavidsTea

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


Laura made me want to try this tea forever ago, but since I was in the midst of penny pinching... it took me a while to finally order this tea.

It smells SO good. As soon as I took a whiff I was glad that I was giving this tea a go.
Only one problem....

HOT OR COLD?!?

Why not both?
Hot: maybe it's just the warm weather, but I was just not feeling this hot today. It still tastes amazing, but I definitely needed to ice it.
Cold: so good. So much kiwi and apple goodness. This is something I think kids would really love. (And bonus for parents: it's actually HEALTHY - yay!)

This is a pretty awesome tea and I can definitely see why it has stuck around so long.
The apple, kiwi, and green tea are just so perfectly balanced here. I love it!!


Give it a try both ways. It doesn't matter the mood you're in; Kiwi's Big Adventure will bring a smile to the hearts of the lovers of sweet green teas.


Happy Steeping,

~K

 

Just Peachy

no picture right now
sorry

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

I tried this for the first time this Saturday while waiting for Chris to get a hair and beard trim. The barber shop was only two stores down from DavidsTea and I could not resist popping over for a nice cold drink. I also wanted to try something different and new, so I went with Just Peachy.

Wow.

The biggest wow. I was SO surprised by this tea. So surprised, in fact, that I went back and bought some less than five minutes later, literally.
THIS is a peach tea!

It tastes almost exactly the way that it smells. So peachy and delicious. It's not sweet, but you don't need any sugar added. Nothing needs to be added. Peachy heaven. I was afraid that the apple would over power the peach, but it definitely does not. It tastes like apple and peach juice, without a bunch of sugar-y junk in it.

I made myself some at home the very same day! Does this tell you how in love with the amazing iced tea I am? It should. Especially since I have a whole jug of a "cluster fruit" (as Laura so awesomely called it) of iced teas.

I have yet to perfect the making of on the spot iced tea, like they do in store... but soon. Soon...


Bravo, DT. You made an iced tea that I am just crazy about.

Green Seduction

Green Seduction from DavidsTea

Inredients: Organic: green tea, black tea, green rooibos, rosehips, pomegranate arils. With natural flavouring 


This tea smells so lovely, like sweet pomegranates and fresh green tea leaves. I am a big fan of everything rosehip (it is SO good for you, especially your skin) and pomegranates are pretty awesome. Seductive...? We shall see.

Steeped between 3-4 minutes. I got excited and poured my water before waiting for the minute to change to start new. (I should just used a timer, honestly, Kayla... get your shit together). It smells so good!

Even though it smells super sweet, I was a bit shocked (mostly due to DT's slight obsession with everything being sweet) to find that it was perfectly balanced. I feel like I can actually taste everything; the green, the black, the pomegranate, even the rosehip (though that is the hardest to detect). 

It isn't sweet, it isn't bitter and will stay that way so long as you keep around the three minute mark... It's kind of perfect. Pomegranate and green tea are just a great match, and I'm really impressed.




Well, I keep getting distracted by watching/listening to Let it Go over and over and ovvveerr again on youtubes.... so, that's all!
This tea is super delicious!


Happy Steeping,
~K

Orange Blossom

Orange Blossom from DavidsTea

 Ingredients: Rooibos, currants, orange peel, orange blossoms, vanilla pieces, marigold blossoms, safflower petals, artificial flavouring 

I steeped this for five (maybe six, I got slightly distracted) minutes in my steeper from DT, which I use for practically all of my steeping. I'm a creature of habit, what can I say?

This is one awesome rooibos. I really love it. Super creamy vanilla with a punch of orange peel and blossom (two very different things, let me tell you), but never overpowering the rooibos. I am just in love with how all of the individual flavours shine, while coming together to make something so delicious. 

Now, it could be that I am a sucker for neroli (orange blossoms) ever since I started working with the essential oil as a massage therapist, but damn! I really really like this. I have stopped writing about a million times because I can't put my damn cup down!

I think that's all you need to know.

I'm going to go melt into my cup of nirvana now.

I know shit about photography.
Stop trying to be fancy, Kayla

Happy Steeping,

~K

PS. Sorry I didn't say anything funny... or write very much... or... screw it, who cares?! This tea speaks for itself *GLUG GLUG GLUG*
PPS I just got bitten for not sharing this delicious tea. birds are dicks

Mountain Organic Indonesian Oolong

Mountain Org. Indonesian Oolong
From Tea at Sea

Tea at Sea. So far they haven't much to offer as for selection of teas... but who cares! They are about quality and not quantity here, that is for sure! And I absolutely love them!! Not only is this tea so gorgeous that had me ordering right after trying it, just look at what they send you with your order!!

CORK BOAT!! LOOK AT IT!! AHHHH

Two samples for one little order of 50 grams of this amazing tea (which I swear I will get to very soon) and a little cork boat you get to put together. Unfortunately, the boat does not float in your tea (of COURSE I tried! Who wouldn't?!). And the packaging is just top notch and original!

I first tried this tea two Sundays ago when Laura brought it over when we had a mini tea/pizza party (what? We're on a budget, okay?!) and we made a nice big pot of it so we could both try it for the first time.
WOW!
This organic tea has everything that I love about oolong - light, earthy taste with none of the bitterness- but with a sooth, creamy punch of honey! This is a simple tea with a twist of something different that I can drink by the pot-full, which I did!

I fell in love with this tea. You will too.
Every lover of straight tea should have this in their tea cupboard.
Go! GO!! Get yourself this to-die-for oolong from an adorable company.

Happy Steeping
~K

White Peony

White Peony from DavidsTea

White tea from Fujian Province, China.

 I got this as one of my three free samples that you get with every DavidsTea order.

You hear "Peony" and you think floral, right? Those huge, ant-covered pretty flowers in nearly every garden across the country? That's what I thought.... It's what I was expecting. But, nope.

Managed this right before the weather turned

This is a really hard one to describe... but I could NOT stop drinking it. So, it's yummy; that's what matters, right?
The first infusion I did for the whole five minutes of the 2-5 suggested. Mm-mm! It is light, but still full of natural, delicious flavour! I described it to Laura like the smell of freshly cut flower stems (I used to work in my aunt's flower shop, so I'm quite familiar with this gorgeous smell). A bright and naturally sweet adventure. DT really hit it on the nose with their description of this tea.

The second infusion I only did for two minutes, and it is certainly strong enough. Tasting a little more earthy this time. Still super good.

I even did a third! Probably less than a minute... This tea just does not stop giving! wow!!

Even Yoshi likes this tea. I got a few vicious nips every time I tried to drink without offering him some first. (Someone needs to be taught some manners!)

Of course, I had just placed a huge tea order on Monday, which arrives tomorrow... and this tea was not on the list. DAMN IT! And I have already used the sample all up. This next list will have to be a Christmas one or something.

Curse being poor!

Anyways...! This is a great natural tea that is easy on the wallet. I definitely recommend it.

HOLY SHIT! I just looked at my Just the Leaf collection, I HAVE MORE WHITE PEONY! 

Sweeeeet

Happy Steeping,

-K

IF YOU HAVE ANY TEA YOU WOULD LIKE REVIEWED, LEAVE A COMMENT AND WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

Raspberry China Oolong

Raspberry China Oolong from Tea Desire

Ingredients: Oolong, raspberry bits and flavour.


Holy shit, an oolong with raspberries!! I couldn't say no. I DIDN'T say no. And I can't tell you how glad I am that I didn't....

Is this not the sweetest thing?

When my order from TeaDesire showed up (with an adorable little hand-written thank you note - aren't they just adorable?!) I ripped the bag open to inhale the most heavenly scent that I wanted to rub all over myself as a perfume and stuff in my mouth and chew right then and there. Reminiscent of raspberry gelato. A powerful scent for a surprisingly mild tea.

I tried several brewing times, the long the better for me. Never gets bitter, and with two perfect spoonfuls in a pot (the perfect spoon is really just a tblsp). Experiment with it. I certainly did.
Nowhere near as raspberry crazy as it smells, so don't fret if you're against that kind of thing. It's a soft, creamy hint of the tart fruit with that awesome-ness of oolong, best enjoyed on the hotter side. It isn't sweet at all, like one would expect from the intense scent. By the gods, is it ever perfect!

Eee! Teapot. My dad's favourite

BY FAR my favourite flavoured tea. I have already finished off half of my 100 gram bag! Addicted? Hell yes!
I love this. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Definitely a favourite. I recommend it to everyone. Except my poor mum, who is allergic to raspberries (so tragic!)

This tea has captured my heart!

Better get your hands on some before I buy them out! ;)



Happy Steeping!

-K




 IF YOU HAVE ANY TEA YOU WOULD LIKE REVIEWED, LEAVE A COMMENT AND WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

Dragon Pearls

Dragon Pearls
From DavidsTea

Chinese green tea from Zhejiang Province, scented with jasmine flowers.

Yup, that's all it is! Beautiful green tea! No added stuffs. Ooooo

Cute little tea pot.

This is probably my favourite tea (so far anyway... dun dun duunnnn). It was also the first tea that I ever bought from DavidsTea several years ago for my mum as a birthday present and she insisted I share a cup with her. It has stuck with me ever since, even though (gasp, a but is coming) it's pretty damn expensive. ($27 for 100 grams - HOLY SHIT) booo

Now, I love green tea. I think I get it from my dad (I totally do). Seriously, he named our dog after his favourite tea; Jasmine (I shit you not!). And this reminds me so much of his special stash of tea. So, whenever I drink it I get a little sad, but also a lot happy - so please forgive my blathering. Here's to you, daddy. Skål!

Ahem!! As I was saying.... I love green tea. But, that bitterness that can cling to your tongue if you don't brew it just right can kill it for me. It takes a LOT to get that nasty-ness from this tea, but still... FOLLOW THE DIRECTONS FOR THIS TEA. If you're one of those strong green tea weirdos that I just can't, for the life of me, understand... still try four minutes first (of the recommended 3-4). Don't ruin a good (and expensive) thing. I used my awesomely adorable cast iron teapot that I got from my boyfriend's dad for Christmas a few years back to steep, it did a lovely job! I love green tea steeped in cast iron, it just...works!

The tree in the background makes it look darker than it really is.

Don't let the lightness of the tea deceive you, it still has flavour. And it is a GREAT flavour! The green with the sneaky hint of jasmine blossoms (not crazy powerful like Silk Dragon). It's simple, so simple... but heavenly. I would say this is the perfect any-time tea, but -again- it's just too damn expensive, so it's more of an indulgence for me. But if you can afford it... I hate you, Mr/Ms/Mrs Moneybags, you just go away.....

Anyways! Love this tea. Love love love it


INDULGE! do eet... dooo eeet

 
Happy Steeping!

-K