The Circle of Magi: Mulberry Magic

I honestly could not decide whether to do a tea I knew, or suspected I would, hate for this one. I carry such a major dislike towards the Circle level (mostly just THAT QUEST) that it honestly would make sense. BUT I decided to do Mulberry Magic. Why? Because magic that's why. That, and letting my dislike pre-guide a review wouldn't be as much fun as a wild guess!
The first time I played this, I ended up accidentally killing all the mages at the circle, and having to use blood magic with Arl Eamon. THIS TIME I ended up getting help in doing it correctly, and had the help of the mages. Bonus! EXTRA MAGIC TO GO WITH MULBERRY MAGIC

So this tea basically tastes like a less sweet version of how it smells. It's overall really pleasant (unlike this level), but I wish it had some nice sweet green tea in it as well, to help brighten things up. It just feels like it's missing something...a certain...magic. Don't judge me for trying to be punny. I swear adding some green tea would help it's case! Something with a honey taste to it?

I'M A DWARF FOR MAKERS SAKE. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT MAGIC????

It's a good tea! Taste test in store first though.

Still rocking that romance,

L

Creme Caramel Rooibos

Ah, Creme Caramel Rooibos by DavidsTea! This tea smells amazing. Like Creme Brulee but with a much more potent caramel punch.

I've only had this tea once before, and I can't remember what I thought. So, this is basically a play by play.

I love caramel. Like adore it. So I'm really excited!

I used once scoop using my David's Perfect Spoon. I set my kettle to the "herbal" setting and, steeped it for roughly 5 minutes, then let it sit for a few minutes under Stanley (the tea cozy) until I was ready.


Since this is being done during renos, I've had to turn my bedside table into a mini kitchen, and I am also making Ichiban at the exact same time.

I do like how there are actual caramel cubes in the leaf. Even if it doesn't affect the flavor (which, since as of this paragraph I still haven't had any tea) then it's still a cute idea.

It's a little darker than Creme Brulee and a even steeped smells a lot more like caramel.

Now for the taste!


It tastes a lot like Creme Brulee. Like...a lot. It's not bad at all, in fact it's rather good! But, it tastes like Creme Brulee, just less creamy tasting. And for a tea with CREME in the NAME (creme being French for cream) you'd think it be like drinking a caramel custard or something.


But it's not. It's the slightly more boring twin of Creme Brulee.
So, this is not a hate speech, but I am certainly not going to buy more.

Laura

Three Wishes

I know Kayla reviewed this back in 2013, SO NOW IT IS MY TURN.

This tea is lovely.

L.O.V.E.L.Y

My one qualm with the tea, is the artificial flavoring. It doesn't elaborate as to what the flavoring is flavored as, so it's not 100% positive what belongs to what. Honestly though, the tea still tastes great so fuck it.



My qualm with DavidsTea is that they have it in JUST the Black Tea section, instead of both the Green and Black. Considering it has both green and black tea in it, it just seems unfair and misleading! I'M BEING PETTY. DON'T JUDGE.

A little tip with this tea, I've brewed it at both a full boil, like you would normally do for a black, and then at the lower temperature that tends to suit greens better, and SURPRISINGLY brewing it as if it were JUST a black tea is what works best. That may be why it is in the black tea section

It smells kind of pineapple-y, kind of mango-y. Basically really refreshing. I have tried it iced. It get's this weird bitter after bite, and loses the fruity qualities. 2/10. Would not do again.

Flavor wise you can absolutely taste both the green and the black tea, with a hint of that pineapple-y and mango-y taste.  This is one of those teas from DavidsTea that makes me keep coming back. Lately there are fewer and fewer of those, which makes me sad.

But, this tea rocks. Go buy it. Like, right now. But don't ice it, you'll feel bitter and disappointed.

-Laura

Jasmine Pearls

Picture from here

In honor of Game of Thrones starting up on Sunday, and the amazing Khaleesi and her dragons; Viserion, Drogon, and Rhaegal, I'm reviewing Jasmine Black Pearls, by DavidsTea.
Kayla gave me some of her Jasmine Pearls (because she's awesome), so I'm very excited!

Don't worry, I'll keep it spoilers free!

Also, our kitchen reno's started yesterday, so this is basically the last review until the reno's are done that won't be prescheduled. Considering I am typing this up after Game of Thrones, so it's like past 10pm, give me a break if it sucks. SILLY MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME. And the fact that I was up early today may have an effect on my writing quality



I just plopped 3 of the pearls directly into my pot and boiled my water to the green setting on my kettle. So, it steeped until the pot was done

It tastes like green tea and jasmine. It is really, really yummy. I just found that 3 pearls was a little too strong for me (since it was just sitting in the pot). I think next time I'll try it with one pearl, see how it goes. It didn't turn bitter with the very long steep time, which was fantastic! I WAS AMAZINGLY SURPRISED.




It smells like jasmine. Really nice jasmine perfume.


On the Game of Thrones note, IT WAS SO GOOD THE HOUR WENT BY REALLY QUICKLY. ARYA. ARYA YOU ARE A BAMF.

Remember, all men must die - but we are not men.

-L

Long Life Oolong

Today's post is Long Life Oolong by DavidsTea (Organic Shui Xian oolong tea, peach pieces, apricot pieces, almond slices, orange peel, safflower petals, natural and artificial flavouring)

I'm steeping this little bugger how all Oolongs should! NUMEROUS TIMES.

So, I started off boiling the water on my tea kettles 'oolong' setting (190F), then into my pot I scooped two spoonfuls with my David's Perfect Spoon (because this tea has just as much fruit/nut in it as tea leaf itself) straight into the pot I use specifically for Oolongs (it has a mini strainer in it, so it catches most of the tea). No other pot will do!

On the first steep the Oolong sticks out the most, with a slightly peachy aftertaste. The almonds are lost in the first steep. It smells fantastic. Like dried peaches. Looking forward to the next steep! It can only get better!

The second steep is so much better. The Oolong is much lighter and less imposing, which allows the peaches to poke through a bit more. If the first steep could be exactly like the second steep, then it would be perfect.

But, in my opinion, the point of a good Oolong is to not only enjoy many cups, but to enjoy many cups with friends. You don't make a quick cup to go, you make a pot over conversation, then another pot.

I never got to a third steep because I don't think I physically could drink 12 cups of tea in one sitting.

All in all, I say if you like peaches, you may be a bit underwhelmed on peachy flavor, but...just add a few extra dried peach bits to your tin?

Overall, a pleasurable experience that was brought to me by Zachs family for Christmas.


-Laura

Santa's Secret

The weather today

So I'm going to start with how I like to make this tea, because it's my review, and I'm an adult who can do what I want!

Today's tea is Santa's Secret.

I steeped the tea with 2 tablespoons PER FOUR CUP POT, and steep it 5 minutes. So it's pretty strong. I also stir the leaves while it steeps so all of the candy cane sprinkles dissolve.



Then I add 1/3 cup skim milk (use whatever milk you have), heat that fucker up. I microwaved it on high I think for 54 seconds. Specifically 54 because I stopped it when it started to bubble.

To that, I add 2 teaspoons of vanilla agave, stirred it around.


Then  poured that awesome hot milk and agave mixture directly into my pot of hot freshly brewed tea, gave it a quick stir.






Then I drank it. All of it. Because it was yummy and I put effort into making it  however little effort is actually was I don't know because I am lazy today

It tasted creamy, vanilla-y, with tiny peppermint afternote. If I had plain peppermint tea, I'd add just a sprinkle more. Like a literal pinch. Just so the afternote becomes a bit stronger.
It inspired me to try this with a bunch of my other black teas, but switch to my maple agave when appropriate.

SO IT WAS DELIGHTFUL. Which actually made it taste a lot like White Chocolate Frost shhhhhhhhhh

But, having it plain...it didn't really make me go "this is a delight yum yum" it made me more think of "did someone add Pure Vanilla to Orange Pekoe?

Kayla's post describes it pretty good actually. So...read that, and take this as evidence that this tea needs extra to taste special so you may as well just get White Chocolate Frost

I can't go to the gym today like I wanted to because of the first blizzard of the year and all the lights need to be on otherwise it's dark inside, so I ARE GRUMP.


Keep on drinking* and stay warm,
Love your grump,

L

*Whether or not you turn it into a Hot Toddy is up to you. Wiki defines it not how I was taught; tea with booze. Not this. Ignore wiki.