Day 21: Cardamom French Toast

Hi Tea Drinkers,

Happy Monday! Today Brooke and I were able to skype for a few minutes before I had to go back to work and she had to get ready for a trip to the dentist. We probably could have just talked about the smell of this tea, my goodness! Does it ever smell good! We decided to steep it though and give it the ol’ taste test. Here we go!

Tea: Cardamom French Toast

Description: Something about cardamom just puts us in a festive frame of mind. We love its rich, fragrant taste any way we can get it. One of our faves? The buttery, cardamom-scented Christmas breads popular in Sweden and Finland. And cardamom toast is great, it only stands to reason that cardamom French toast would be out of this world. With black tea, cardamom, cane sugar and cinnamon, this rich, sweet blend tastes just like the decadent breakfast of our dreams. Only this is one brunch item you’ll be wanting all day long.

Ingredients: Black tea, cinnamon, lemon peel, coriander seeds, cardamom, coconut sugar, cane sugar, natural and artificial flavouring.

—

Stacey: This tea smells amazing!
Brooke: Yeah, it does. It’s all caramel-ly smelling.
Stacey: Caramel?
Brooke: Yeah, almost like a butter smell.
Stacey: Maybe that’s the cane sugar, that’s melted?

*sip*

Brooke: Is there vanilla in here?
Stacey: Nope, no vanilla.
Brooke: Mmm, this is such a Christmas tea. It might even be our Christmas morning tea! I love it!
Stacey: Yeah and it’s not sweet at all, which I love!
Brooke: I would say it’s sweet, but not the fruit sweet we usually taste. The only sweetness is the butter-yness I described.
Stacey: I’m just glad I can drink it, usually if they add sugar I don’t want it.
Brooke: I like that they put sugar in it and not Stevia.
Stacey: Yep, Only coconut sugar and cane sugar in here.
Brooke: Give it to me!
Stacey: It does taste a lot like french toast.
Brooke: Makes me not want to have french toast because I feel like I am already having it.
Stacey: This is seriously very delicious.
Brooke: Uh oh, I am starting to taste a bit too much sugar now.
Stacey: Oh not me, are you further down the cup.
Brooke: Yeah, maybe halfway through.
Stacey: Nope, no sugar for me. Mmm.

Here’s what the Twitter-verse had to say:

@bailamefitness: Day 21 – #24DaysOfTea. This Cardamom French Toast would definitely make a good latte! #TeaADay…

@misssable:  Today’s tea was like liquid cinnamon toast crunch to me #24daysoftea

@kimcottini: #24DaysofTea-Day 21-cardamom French toast @DAVIDsTEA yummy French toast without the calories, perfect for my new cup

Final Thoughts: 

Stacey: I left the drippings out on my desk for the rest of the day and I am so glad I did…it made my office smell delicious! And it tasted just as good! As my Mom said, this is one for the cupboards!

Unfortunately Brooke had to go for a root canal today so she wasn’t able to share her final thoughts. Remember how I said to wish her a happy birthday yesterday? Well today, you should send her some love for her sore tooth. I know she would appreciate it.

Another one for the books! Wish we could have ended it on a happier note, but there’s nothing happy about a root canal. 😦

Until next tea,
Stacey and Brooke

Day 19: Dark Chocolate Delight

Hi steepers!

Day 19 brought friends and dental work- what a day! While Stacey and Eric had our friends Des, Kathryn, and Steve over, I had just gotten back from a poke and a prod from my dentist when we settled down to discuss today’s tea. Lots of catching up, chatting, and tangents occurred, but we did talk tea enough for a blog post. Here we go!

Tea: Dark Chocolate Delight

Description: What is it about dark chocolate? Its taste is sinfully decadent, but studies say it might actually be good for you. But wait – it gets better. Now you don’t even have to wait until dessert to get your fix. With this black tea blend, you can treat yourself anytime, anywhere. With cocoa shells, blueberries and big chunks of luscious dark chocolate, it’s a deliciously rich taste of our favourite indulgence. Welcome to the dark side…

Ingredients: Black tea, spiced dark chocolate (cocoa beans, sugar, cocoa butter, ancho chili, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, allspice, clove, chipotle chili, ground vanilla), blueberries, cocoa shells, natural chocolate flavouring.

—

Kathryn: It smells like mild chocolate.
Steve: How can it be mild? It either is chocolate or it isn’t!
Brooke: Well, some advent calendars have “chocolate-y treats” in them that aren’t even real chocolate, maybe it smells like that? Either way, it smells delicious and I’m excited.

*Sip*

Brooke: Hm. Chocolate water!
Stacey: It’s supposed to have spice in it. Peppers and stuff…
Desiree: I think there is supposed to be cumin in it.
Brooke: I just steeped mine for 5 mins, but maybe it should have been there longer? I don’t taste any spices.
Stacey: I thought we’d be able taste some sort of spice.
Brooke: Didn’t we have chocolate chili chai once before? Did you know, root canals are expensive?!

A tangent ensues- then we’re back on track.

Stacey: Hm, we only had a few teaspoons for the whole pot I made, I think ours might have been too weak, too.
Brooke: Yeah we need to steep it with more tea and for longer, I say. There are flavors in there that I want to taste!
Desiree: Yep, nothing too special about this one. I can taste the spice a little bit, though. I can tell there is something there but I want more.
Stacey: Yeah, I don’t really taste cloves, cinnamon or any spice.
Kathryn: Yeah, it’s is *okay*
Brooke: Aw man, you’re going to Upper Canada Village- so envious!

Second tangent on time difference, friends, and co-ordinating tea reviews, before final thoughts occurred.

Final thoughts:

Everyone agreed that while this tea had a neat chocolate flavour to it, we all were left wanting more spice. Our next cups of this will be steeped longer and with more loose leaf in hopes of hitting the spot.

Twitter reacted with mixed responses:

@hellomunroe Missed yesterday’s @DAVIDsTEA #24DaysOfTea so I combined it with today’s. Forever Nuts and Dark Chocolate, it tastes freaking AMAZING!

@HalieC_Lassie @DAVIDsTEA #Advent DAY 19: Dark Chocolate Delight: not as delightful or chocolately as Hot Chocolate. #24DaysofTea‏@AshG87 Olivia is enjoying her dark chocolate delight tea today #24daysoftea #elfonashelf @DAVIDsTEA

Well, we may not have steeped our tea long enough today but we certainly had a great time chatting it over with friends. Tangents and all!

Until next tea,
Brooke and Stacey (and Kathryn, Steve, Desiree, Eric, and Andre)

Nothing like a hot tea while enjoying some Christmas lights!

Day 18: Forever Nuts

Hello tea lovers!

We’re slowly winding down the advent calendar, with today marking 1 week until Christmas! And while there may not be snow in the air, the hustle and bustle of Christmas is definitely present! Luckily, we opened our drawers to find one of favourites teas today. We have enjoyed this tea every year (2012, 2013, 2014) since we started the tea blog and I think this year will be no exception.

Tea: Forever Nuts

Description: It looks all normal when it’s loose. But steep it and you’ll see that it’s nuts. Within seconds, this tempting jumble of almond slices and chunks, apple bits and cinnamon bark starts turning a crazy shade of pink. Why? Because it contains a hint of beetroot. That’s what gives this rich almond tea its earthy depth and its all-natural signature colour. Deliciously nutty, decidedly addictive. Caffeine-free.

Ingredients: Apple, almonds, cinnamon, beetroot and artificial flavouring.

—

Stacey: So I may have steeped this for 10 minutes accidentally…
Brooke: Oopsie, I steeped mine for barely 4 minutes, so we can compare!
Stacey: I was excited to find out that this was the tea today because I know how much we love it!
Brooke: Andre has his top five teas and this one is in mine. I was introduced to it one year when my Secret Santa in Halifax wanted it for Christmas. I asked my Mom to pick it up for me and she said “It is a tin full of nuts, I don’t know how this could be a tea”. And so began my relationship with DavidsTea.

*sip*

Stacey: Oh yeah, still good.
Brooke: Ohhh! Sooo good!
Stacey: I don’t know why you like it, it has apple.
Brooke: I don’t dislike apple, I love apple! And this is the only way I can get apple without inflamed lips and a scratchy throat!
Stacey: I think I like this because sometimes when you have almond in a tea, it’s too over powering, but here it compliments the apple and cinnamon perfectly.
Brooke: A lot of the teas so far this year are cinnamon or fruit teas. But this isn’t a cinnamon tea or fruit tea. It is more like eating an apple crumble. It reminds me of the nutty granola on top and the cinnamon sweetness from the apple at the centre. Delicious!
Stacey: But it’s not too sweet, which I LOVE. Often with herbals it’ll be too sweet for my taste.
Brooke: I remember when I was doing my Master’s degree last year and I was having an off-day at the lab. I had made a tea for myself but didn’t turn out right and tasted awful. I had texted Andre to tell him my tea woes and about an hour later he texted me to come outside. And there he was looking oh-so-cool in his leather jacket leaning up against his car with a cup of “Forever Nuts” in hand for me. Swoon.
Stacey: I remember that! So cuute!
Brooke: This tea reminds me of so many good memories. And the apple in it is exactly what you want. This is so worth the little scratch in my throat if I get one!
Stacey: We should have these in cute china tea cups at some point, because the pink would look super cute. The pink is so lovely!
Brooke: Yes, good ol’ beetroot at it again.

Final thoughts:

Brooke: This tea is a liquid dessert that you don’t need to feel guilty having at any time of the day. Not too sweet, with just enough apple and cinnamon to warm you right up. 5 thumbs up!
Stacey: The perfect comfort tea. A must-have… except I don’t have any at the moment. But that’s what Christmas is for, right?

Here’s what the folks on Twitter had to say:

@jkbeitz: Day 18 is Forever Nuts. It looks (and tastes!) more like müesli than #tea! #24daysoftea…

@RealAmyD: #24DaysOfTea#Day18#DavidsTea#ForeverNuts yum!! I will always like this tea!

@Mad_Me: Nuts about today’s tea. Can’t figure out what it reminds of #mystery

Well folks, that’s it for today. Another day, another favourite. Now if you excuse me, I think I’m going to have another cup!

Until next tea,
Stacey and Brooke

That pink!

 

Day 17: Mulled Wine

Good morning (afternoon) tea drinkers!

Today poor Stacey stayed home with a headache while André and I slept in far too late. All of us were a bit groggy as our teas were steeping but we still managed to enjoy ourselves once we got sipping. Who would have thought mulled wine was a nice tea to enjoy at breakfast? Read on!

Tea: Mulled Wine

Descriptions: Maybe you spent the day on the slopes. Maybe it was a frantic afternoon of holiday shopping. Or maybe you’re coming in from an epic snowball fight. No matter what you did on this chilly day, there’s no better way to warm up than with a great cup of tea. And it doesn’t get more comforting than this mulled wine-inspired all natural oolong, with orange zest, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Whether you’re sipping it at the ski chalet, in front of a roaring fire or just between errands, it’s the perfect way to warm up your winter. 

Ingredients: Oolong tea, apple, orange peel, cinnamon, clove buds, ginger, natural flavouring.

 —

Stacey: I feel like we’ve had something like this before… the smells seem familiar.
Brooke: Sleigh Ride, maybe?
Stacey: Probably? It’s an oolong tea, though. It’ll be different!
Brooke: When I saw which tea it was today I was really excited … but then I smelled the loose leaf tin and was completely turned off. I almost got a headache from the smell- urgh. Far too fruity.
André: Was Sleigh Ride the one I couldn’t even finish?
Brooke: Yep. Here we go!

*Sip*

Stacey: Oooh! I like it!
Brooke: Wow, me too!
Stacey: It’s like Sleigh Ride without the tartness at the end!
André: *cough* It’s in my air pipe!
Stacey: The oolong tea did something to this one.
Brooke: Like what?
Stacey: It made it taste good.
Brooke: Ah.
Stacey: None of the tart flavours come through in this, the base is stronger and keeps them at bay.
Brooke: The spices are the strongest part of this tea, like clove and ginger- yum!.
André: I find it almost medicinal, it has that slight taste of cough syrup.
Brooke: In a good way?
André: Yeah… Yeah in a good way!
Brooke: It kind of reminds me of Cold 9-11, or the Sore Throat tea. Maybe because of the ginger.
Stacey: I taste the orange peel- so nice!
André: The ginger is a great compliment to the fruit, that’s for sure.  It’s very nice and delicate, I like that it was cool so I could drink it right away.(Steeping it at 85 degrees is important!)

Our discussion veered off and we began discussing mail and packages and the vastness of Canada and the USA, but we did have a few final thoughts to say on this one:

Final thoughts:

Stacey: I like this tea! The ingredients all work well together to create a nice flavor. The cinnamon, orange peel, cloves and ginger really come together nicely. I can get mulled wine when I taste it. Reminds me of when my friend Kara brought a mulled wine kit to a pot lock and the wine was warming on the stove. Yum!

André: I like how light and delicate this tea is, I like it surprisingly a lot for a fruity tea but it’s because the fruit flavours aren’t overly strong. No one ingredient comes to the foreground for too long, nothing is overpowering in this one. All around it’s a very nice tea.

Brooke: I was happily wrong about this tea when I first made judgements. I’m still amazed when the smell is so different than the taste. This one is nice and spicy but not in the way that The Spice is Right was. DAVIDsTEA did really well with this one, and I’ll happily have another cup as we devour our gingerbread house today.

Twitter was also quite impressed:

@Koosa_party Mulled wine is an oolong tea with a heady clove and ginger flavor. Perfect to add a shot of whiskey for a hot toddy! @DAVIDsTEA#24daysoftea

@JamesLBrereton @davidstea#24daysoftea Day 17: Mulled Wine. Please steep responsibly 😉 #mistertea#jamesdrinks

@suziconfesses Today’s #24daysoftea is mulled wine, it smells pretty lovely sitting here steeping!

Did you have a sip of this one today? What did you think? For us, it put us right in the mood to get out and do some last minute shopping. Wish us luck!

Until next tea,

Brooke, Stacey, and André

Drink up!

Day 14: Alpine Punch

Tea enthusiasts, hello!

It’s a sunny day in Victoria (a rare occurrence during winter months) and we’ve just had a lovely egg and toast breakfast, courtesy of Dr. Dré. While Stacey is busy today with meetings and anniversaries (congrats, you two!), André and I graciously took on the responsibilities of today’s tea: Alpine Punch. Come along and enjoy this favourite with us!

Tea: Alpine Punch

Description: This is the kind of tea we imagine they serve in fabulous ski chalets in the Swiss Alps. With apple, cinnamon, ginger and the heady scent of almonds, it’s warm, comforting and totally decadent. What better to sip after a long day of skiing, sledding and snowball fights? Just cozy up in front of the fire and warm up with this sweet, fortifying brew. And if a little splash of brandy makes it in there too, all the better.

Ingredients: Rooibos, coconut chips, coconut rasps, apple, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, rose blossoms, almonds, natural and artificial almond cream flavouring.

—

Brooke: They suggest putting brandy in this! Who owns brandy these days?
André: Brandy? Like the alcohol?
Brooke: Yes! Did you know that brandy is distilled wine?
André: I did. I took a wine class in college, way back in the day.
Brooke: Well then!
André: As for brandy, it’s not something I drink on a regular basis.
Brooke: Ah, but Alpine Punch IS! Why, you just had this last night when we went to climb!
André: You bet, I can’t get enough. As I said a few days ago, this is one of my top 5 favourites.
Brooke: Agreed. Something about almond, apple, and ginger that just fits.

*sip*

André: Mmm. I think half of what I love about it is the smell. I totally feel the Swiss chalet getting ready for a summit bid.
Brooke: A what?
André: A summit bid. A mountain climbing attempt.
Brooke: Oh.
André: It’s odd to drink this tea while it’s still so warm out (3°C). I always associate this tea with really cold weather. The hot tea in your mouth paired with the cold snowflakes on your lips.
Brooke: I imagine myself back in Ottawa in the heart of winter, my eyelashes freezing together and wind sneaking its way into my sleeves as I walk to campus. One sip of this in my thermos and all would be well again. What flavours really come out for you?
André: I taste the almond and rose each time. The rooibos bark is well chosen for this tea, it compliments the other flavours very well to deliver a well balanced brew.
Brooke: There’s a really good mix of spices, fruits and nuts and yet it still manages to be delicate and not overpowering. Forever Nuts is fruitier and sweeter, while this one is more of a complex mix of sweet and spice. Mmm Mmm, this one will never get old.

---

 

Twitter was equally pleased with today’s tea:

@keryngill #24daysoftea Day 14: Alpine Punch. Who wants to go to the mountain!? #snowday @davidstea

@DilaraLit .@davidstea#24daysoftea Day 14: alpine punch. A creamy, almond-scented rooibos perfect on a cold winter day.

@gothicflamingos Today’s #24daysoftea is martianradio’s fave, #alpinepunch. In a boot because Ich bin eine entzückende Deutsche. #liquidmarzipan #punchalpin

---

Final thoughts:

Brooke: There has been, and always will be, a tin of this in our cupboard. A perfect winter tea that warms you up, keeps your day sweet, and delivers a pleasant burst of almond and ginger.
André: A five star tea in my books. Alpine Punch is my go-to winter tea. Can we have another cup?

And there you go- an obvious choice for a stocking stuffer or Secret Santa gift. : )

Until next tea,

Brooke and André

Our Chalet in Adelboden, Switzerland: a perfect place to a cuppa Alpine Punch. 

Day 12: The Spice is Right

Welcome to Day 12, folks!

Today Stacey was able to Skype with me and Andre and together we hummed, hawed, and slurped our way through today’s tea. Come on down and read along with The Spice is Right!

Tea: The Spice is Right

Description: Is there any flavour combo more comforting than orange and cinnamon? There’s something about it that’s instantly comforting – like warm spice cake or a glass of hot punch. But nostalgia isn’t the only thing giving you that warm fuzzy feeling. Cinnamon is said to have warming properties, and one sip of this spice-laden green tea is all it takes to get that cozy fireside feeling going. Add some sweet orange peel and a zingy hint of chili pepper, and you’ve got a zesty blend that warms you up from the inside out.

Ingredients: cinnamon, green tea, orange peel, cloves, chili pepper. With natural flavouring.

—

Brooke: My Dad said it “did not like this one at all” and opted to brew some Nepal Black instead. My mom, on the other hand said she quite fancied it. Smelling it now, all I really get is that blast of cinnamon hearts again, so I’m nervous about how strong the flavour will be.
Stacey: I smell apple!
Brooke: …There’s no apple in it, Stace. Your nose is wrong.
Stacey: What? I…Oh you’re right…Well. Weird.

*sip*

André: This tea is spicy like a chai, mm! It reminds me of a tea my mom used to have called Mandarin Spice. It’s a lot like a chai in the sense that it’s spicy, but you mostly taste the cinnamon and cloves. I like it even though I usually like heavy duty chai teas. This is a lot lighter than a normal chai.
Stacey: The cinnamon hits you pretty hard at the beginning, so the green tea is a bit of an odd combo.
Brooke: What makes a chai tea a chai tea? Hmm.. Apparently it needs to be a “black tea with Indian spice such as cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and clove”, often served with milk. I think I would still classify this as a chai because of the dance between the cinnamon and cloves that plays out on your palate. Although the green tea leaves and the shorter steep time make this one a little less intense. I am wondering maybe if my experience change if I add milk…
Stacey: But it’s a green tea, you don’t normally add milk to a green tea.
Brooke: The internet says that you can add milk to green tea, although apparently the health properties are negated when you add milk- who knew! Sorry antioxidants, not today.
Stacey:  Hmm, I’m tasting more of the orange flavour now. I think the green tea tones down the cinnamon flavour once you sip the tea a bit.
Brooke: I do feel the heat of the chili pepper and I like it!
Stacey: Really? Aw, I don’t taste it at all.

Final thoughts:

André: All my thoughts on this one are positive.
Brooke: Overall, I liked it too. I am still confused as to why they didn’t call it chai… but maybe it’s because it was a green tea. I would probably have it again, for sure.
Stacey: I think it has one of those cinnamon-y flavours that I don’t particularly enjoy. Although it definitely tones down with the green tea pairing, it’s not something I would choose to drink again I think.

Twitter seemed to enjoy this brew, overall:

@bailamefitness Day 12 of #24daysoftea. Organic The Spice is Right is a sweet and spiced green tea, great addition to a good book or just reflection on this rainy morning. Happy Saturday! #MorningTea #TeaAddict #TeaADay #simplethings #CalmBeforeTheStorm

@loosy83 Der roch schon durchs Geschenkpapier so gut 😍 #adventskalender #24daysoftea #12von12

@suziconfesses The Spice Is Right! Tastes like liquid cinnamon hearts!  #24daysoftea @davidstea

What were your taste buds saying? Did they have a ballad playing out on your tongue?

Until next tea,

Brooke and Stacey (and André)

 

Spice up your life!

 

Day 9: Cinnamon Rooibos Chai

Hi tea drinkers!

Today was another busy one; Stacey was in meetings all morning and I was off teaching science to grade 8s…in French! Phew! Look at us. To add to the fun, I decided that it would be a great idea to speak about the tea today en francais. Let’s see how it turned out!

Tea: Cinnamon Rooibos Chai

Description: Cinnamon is so much more than just the tastiest spice around. According to aromatherapy principles, it supposedly enhances your ability to concentrate. Plus it has a clean and refreshing taste your breath will thank you for. In in this cinnamon-packed rooibos tea, its benefits truly shine. Amazing hot, iced or as a spicy tea latte, it’s a delicious new way to enjoy a classic spice.

Ingredients: Rooibos, apple, cinnamon. With natural cinnamon flavouring.

—

Stacey: Brooke I HATE this tea.
Brooke: What?! You haven’t even sipped it!
Stacey: I just remember this tea from one of our previous posts and I think every word out of my mouth was “ick” and “yuck”. It’s just too sweet for my taste buds. But my Mom said that it reminded her of cinnamon hearts that her Dad would get her every Valentine’s Day.
Brooke: Aw, that’s super cute. I love how tea can evoke such vivid memories.
Stacey: And my Dad really liked the tea, probably because it was so sweet.
Brooke: Well it certainly smells like candied cinnamon hearts to me.
Stacey: Ugh, I don’t want to drink it.
Brooke: But maybe it’s different this time, Stace! Give it a chance.

*sip*

Brooke: [Cue the French] Que penses-tu?
Stacey: Oh….It’s not as bad as I remember. I mean, wait, um…
Brooke: Tu l’aimes?
Stacey: Wait why I am I the one typing this? I won’t be able to know what you’re saying. My French is okay but not necessarily “scribe” ready!
Brooke: That is going to make that much better.
Stacey: Er… Ce n’est pas…sweet? (sucré) aujourd’hui.
Brooke: I find it doesn’t really go well with my pickle. I mean…Je pense que le goût…
Stacey: Oh god.
Brooke: …ne vas pas avec ma lunch.
Stacey: Ma lunch?
Brooke: Déjeuner? Parce que j’ai encore le goût de cornichon dans ma bouche. Je suis d’accord avec tes sentiments, Stacey. Ce thé n’est pas aussi sucré qu’on a pensé.
Stacey: Okay, back to English, I can’t handle this.
Brooke: Well, we tried!
Stacey: I think it’s not as sweet this time because DAVIDsTEA changed the ingredients again. Ah yes, no honey or orange peel this time.
Brooke: Yeah, André was harping on the orange zest last time too, so he may enjoy the blend this year! Hooray!

Final Thoughts: 

Stacey: Any other thoughts Brooke?
Brooke: I am going to give this one away.
Stacey: Oh, why?
Brooke: I just I don’t think I would have a craving for this type of tea. Cinnamon has never been a flavour I have searched for in my food. In the same way I don’t much like cinnamon hearts and hot lip candies, this tea really isn’t my jam. It’s neat, though. Just not one I’d reach for.
Stacey: I actually like this one better this time, surprisingly!
Brooke: Well, my Mom approves of this tea, too.
Stacey: Mom and Dad approved! Win!

Twitter was also confused and pleased with Day 9:

@dilaralit @DAVIDsTEA #24daysoftea Day 9: cinnamon rooibos chai. Not a big fan of this one but it sure is festive with my sugar cookie 🎄

@joolstothegools I like Day 9, but I’m mixing it with a caffeinated chai because MORNINGS. #24daysoftea

@JillProcter Day 9 was a strong & festive tea. Might be in the running for #1. #24DaysOfTea @DAVIDsTEA

This tea shocked us and rocked us (in a mostly good way), how about you? Did it make you feel festive? L’as-tu aimé?

Au prochain thé,

Brooke and Stacey

Yum! I mean, miam!

Day 6: Glitter and Gold

Hello tea lovers!

Stacey here to bring you day 6 of the 24 days of tea. Today’s tea is one that Brooke and I enjoyed before exactly 3 years ago when, if you remember, Brooke’s toe had an unfortunate accident with our apartment wall. This year thankfully Brooke’s toe went unscathed but there has been a change to the ingredients list. Let’s see if this brew will still have our toes a-tingling!

Tea: Glitter and Gold

Description: Looking for a little star power? This sweet, spiced black tea is filled with pretty little gold star-shaped sprinkles. Take a sip and the slow suggestion of cinnamon will warm your body. Your toes will tingle and your mind will turn to fireworks, falling stars, late-night seduction. It’s basically magic.

Ingredients: Chinese black tea, lemon peel, sugar sprinkles (sugar, rice flour, partly hydrogenated canola oil , shellac, titanium oxide, iron oxide, potato starch), sugar, cloves, natural and artificial flavouring.

—

Stacey: Okay, so, my parents say the cinnamon is strong with this one, and they kind of think it reminds them of chai. What do we think?
Brooke: The tea isn’t glittering and my heart is broken! What…what happened? There aren’t any glimmering sugar crystals in this one like there were before. The glitter stars have no shimmering effect!

(Brooke: People, this is big. Glitter and Gold was gorgeous- it made your tea look like liquid gold, but this just looks like a regular black tea- I am so sad). 

Stacey: I’m Googling it, apparently there’s a petition (signed by 48 individuals) to bring back the old Glitter and Gold. Wow, people are angry! (Side note: If you are angry too, you can sign the petition here)

*sip*

Brooke: Mmmm at least they didn’t change the flavour!
Stacey: Uh oh, I think I might have over steeped mine. It’s a bit too strong right now.
Brooke: Wow, yeah, not me.  The cinnamon’s nice, the cloves are nice, everything about this tea is nice.
Stacey: Actually, no I didn’t over steep at all. This tea is great! Maybe it doesn’t need to glimmer! It still shimmers taste-wise.
Brooke: What a weird thing to say.
Stacey: My brain’s not working properly yet, Brooke.
Brooke: I bet my Dad’s going to like this one.
Stacey: Yeah, it’s sophisticated like him. It’s not a chai, but it’s got a lot of the same flavours.
Brooke: I think so far out of the calendar, this is my favourite taste and smell wise.
Stacey: I did like the smell, too. The cinnamon and cloves were hitting me in the face. But in a nice way, you know?
Brooke: Of course, I do that all the time!

We then took a little break from the tea review to chat about Christmas shopping, stockings, and stocking fillers. (Brooke: It’s Christmas! It’s December! How exciting! I want to sing carols!)

Brooke: Mm, I am really enjoying this tea! The cloves just make me feel so Christmas-y.
Stacey: Eric said it tasted like fruit cake to him, so that makes sense!

Final thoughts:

Stacey: This tea is toasty and has some really nice flavours. I like it, even without the shimmer!
Brooke: Me too. I find this one to bring back some great memories of DAVIDsTEA Christmases of past, and I’m happy they’re including some good ones this year. I think this tin won’t last long!
Stacey: Ours is already gone…

Here is what the people of Twitter had to say:

@Koosa_party : It’s a mild spicy cinnamon flavor & has a pretty,lustrous shimmer to it. Gltr&gold is the Elizabeth Taylor of tea! @DAVIDsTEA #24daysoftea

@PetiteAyvie Jour6! #Destiny avec un thé favori le Briller de Mille Feux. Une combinaison parfaite! #24daysoftea @DAVIDsTEA

Well, even without the shimmer  DavidsTea has us hooked on this one. What are your thoughts? Does the lack of sparkle get to you or are you in it for the flavour? We’d love to hear from you!

Until next tea,
Stacey and Brooke

A refined tea for those with a sophisticated palate.

 

 

 

Day 1: Sleigh Ride

Happy December 1st, tea lovers!

That’s right, the roomies are back with another round of DavidsTea’s #24DaysofTea and we are SO excited! Are you?! Sure, maybe we’re on the opposite sides of the country now, but we still love each other and tea just as much and we are making it work. Starting with me getting up at 6:45am in order to be able to message with Stacey and skype with my Mom before heading off to campus. The things we do for tea! Door #1: *Gasp* SLEIGH RIDE! Giddyup!

Tea: Sleigh Ride

DAVIDsTEA Description: Falling snow, popping chestnuts, cold hands and noses…yep, winter has arrived. But don’t worry, we have the perfect tea to warm you up all December long. Cinnamon, apples, raisins, almonds, and hibiscus combine for a tea that is sweet, tart, and earthy. And beet pieces make it as nice and rosy as a caroler’s cheeks. So hop in your sleigh, snuggle up, and pass a thermos around. It’s lovely weather for a Sleigh Ride together.

Ingredients: Apple, hibiscus blossoms, pineapple (pineapple, sugar), papaya (papaya, sugar), beetroot, cinnamon, raisins, coconut, roasted almonds (almonds, sugar, glucose syrup, vegetable fat, caramelized sugar syrup), popped rice, natural and artificial flavouring.

—

Brooke: Mom, are you excited?!
Cathy: Oh no, this is the one you really don’t care for! What don’t you like about it? It’s all very cinnamon-y and good! Apple slices!
Brooke: Hmm… It’s too sour for my taste, but we’ll see what we think of it this time!

We’ve had this tea each year of  DAVIDsTEA’s 24 Days of Tea set (see 2012, 2013, and 2014) … and we’ve never liked it. What would happen this time?!

Stacey, via Google hangouts: I was so disappointed with finding out it was sleigh ride! My Mom and I are both hoping our taste buds have changed.
(Stacey’s mom was texting her: “The aroma smells like cinnamon and peppermint”)

*Sip*

Cathy: Hmm, it’s too insipid [adj. “lacking flavor”]. There’s no oomph! Brooke, how do you hip hop dance?
Brooke: W-what?

Stacey: Whoa, whoa, WAIT! Guys, when it’s lukewarm… it’s so much better! WOW! For once I am happy for the time difference between us so I could let the tea cool off before starting to drink. It was difficult to wait, but it was well worth it. My mom agrees! Says she’s drinking it cooler, too. Apparently at the beginning it tasted like cough medicine, but as she drank it, it  got her in the mood for decorating!
Brooke: Odd combo, I like it!

Cathy: Hmmm… It makes me think of an apple cider, like a mulled cider thing.

Brooke: I dunno… Still tastes like warm juice to me, ick!

Stacey: But what about the flavours? They are so nice this year!

Brooke: When I start drinking it, it reminds me of Forever Nuts (yay) but then I get this sour and bitter finish (boo).

Cathy: Oh, well I like it.

Stacey: I think that it tastes exactly like warm apple cider. Wait, Brooke, where’s Andre?

Brooke: Probably awake in bed, since I’m being loud and beat boxing with mom.  Hey…wait! The tea is getting better!
Stacey: Told you! Let it cool a bit!

Following our final dissections of the tea itself, we expressed how excited we were for the next 23 days of tea and blogging. While this tea didn’t light us up, it didn’t rile us up either, which was a pleasant surprise. We all agreed that this tea should be had at a cooler temperature rather than piping hot. This seemed to help with the bitterness and sourness that it sometimes tasted. And, hey! With that, we completed day one! HOW EXCITING!

—

 Psst!! Wait- there’s more!

 

We also hit up instagram and twitter to see what other tea fans were saying, and found that they were just as pleased!

@moushline O.V.E.R.E.X.C.I.T.E.D. ❄️ #24daysoftea

@mad_me Started off my morning right! THERE’S A CINNASTICK!! #butnofire #24daysoftea

@DarlingLilRed On the first day of #teamas @davidstea gave to me Sleigh Ride. Appley, tart and sweet. #24daysoftea

What did YOU think, reader? To let cool, or drink hot?

Until next tea,

Brooke and Stacey (and our moms)

 

Stacey: Hey Brooke.. Let’s “sleigh ride” into December together… Brooke: *Sigh*

Day 22: Sleigh Ride

Hello Readers!

We were a bit disappointed to discover what tea was behind door # 22, because it’s a tea that we’ve had twice before (here and here) and is one that we don’t particularly like very much (sorry!). And don’t get us wrong, we want to like it (we really do!). In fact, we’ve tried numerous things to make it fit our tastes: not steeping it for long, adding cinnamon sticks, using the dredges of someone else’s brew, eating fruitcake with it, etc. But every time, we end up throwing it down the drain. So this year, we thought it best to not to even try (*spoiler alert*or so we thought…).

Tea: Sleigh Ride

Description: Falling snow, popping chestnuts, cold hands and noses…yep, winter has arrived. But don’t worry, we have the perfect tea to warm you up all December long. Cinnamon, apples, raisins, almonds, and hibiscus combine for a tea that is sweet, tart, and earthy. And beet pieces make it as nice and rosy as a caroler’s cheeks. So hop in your sleigh, snuggle up, and pass a thermos around. It’s lovely weather for a Sleigh Ride together.

Ingredients: Apple, hibiscus blossoms, pineapple, papaya, beetroot, cinnamon, raisins, coconut, roasted almonds, popped rice, artificial flavouring.

Steeping Instructions: 2 tsp, 98°C, 5-7 minutes

—

Stacey: Did you see what the tea is today?
Brooke: Yep. No way!
Stacey: Agreed!

*A little later that morning, Stacey receives a surprising text from Brooke.*

Brooke: Hold the phone! Game-changer…Mom and I made an iced version. Whoa.
Stacey: Ohhhh! Much better???
Brooke: Yes!!

Well this is indeed a game changer! After creating a cooler version, Brooke and her Mom, Cathy sat down to review this brew:

*sip*

Brooke: It still comes out strong, but it just makes more sense as a cool tea. Even the cinnamon found a place to fit in!
Cathy: Do you get any other flavours from it, now that it’s chilled?
Brooke: It kind of makes me think of a fancy vitamin water.
Cathy: The cinnamon is odd, isn’t it? I continue with my theory that these teas can be better cooled. You can still steep it hot, of course! Can you cool teas quickly?
Brooke: The pouring the water into another cup method!
Cathy: I often feel like I want to add sugar to my teas but I find the sweetness comes out when it’s cooler. All teas are better this way!
Brooke: At least herbals are, they’re just fruits and flowers after all! This poor tea deserves better!

Tea Vibes:

Stacey:  Make sure you have no idea. Didn’t have it, it’s gone gross. Sorry.

Well there you have it folks, Sleigh Ride seems to be a bit better when it’s over ice. What you all think? Do you like Sleigh Ride hot or cold, or not at all? Either way, we’ll see you all tomorrow for the second last tea (oh my!).

Until next tea,
Brooke and Stacey

The carnage of one bad sleigh ride