Day 18: Silk Dragon Jasmine

Good evening, tea drinkers!

With the bustle of December and our lives rarely overlapping these days, we reviewed today’s tea via text yet again. We promise tomorrow we will sit down in the morning and share our cups together again. Right, Stacey? Good. For now, enjoy our banter on a floral brew with a mythical name and an elegant taste!

Tea: Silk Dragon Jasmine

Description: Made from premium green tea, our Silk Dragon is a limited-edition treasure. To create it, night-blooming jasmine is gathered in the morning and kept cool all day. In the evening, when the flowers burst open and release their scent, they are placed with the tea until midnight. This is repeated with fresh flowers over the course of five nights, infusing the tea with a most magical flavour.

Ingredients: Organic Chinese green tea from Jianxi Province, naturally scented with jasmine flowers.

Steeping Instructions: 1.25 tsp, 80°C, 2-3 minutes

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*Sip*

Stacey: Very earth today!
Brooke: Yeah? I just like that it has the word ‘dragon’ in it.
Stacey: Mhm, very majestic. You taste the green tea base and the jasmine hits you hard.
Brooke: Does it ever smell like grandma perfume! I mean, I would never wear it or want the scented lotion… but it’s quite comforting.
Stacey: We had this tea last year and you said almost the exact same thing.
Brooke: WELL. At least the tea and I are consistent.
Stacey: Oh. Well, yes.
Brooke: Last time I thought it was a little bitter but today I steeped it perfectly and it’s just right! Earthy is a great way to describe this base.
Stacey:  I think my water was too hot again.
Brooke: But what about the pour-it-into-another-cup-and-then-back-again-to-cool-it-down technique?
Stacey: I didn’t do it, last time I burnt myself. : (
Brooke: Aw, poor boo.
Stacey: You know, this tea makes me feel more exquisite somehow.
Brooke: I totally get you, gurl.

Tea vibes:

Brooke spoke the final texts into her tablet and they were translated as such:

Brooke: With the amount of flowers in this planned, it really hits you like a bouquet. It’s been an iced tea and I have it again if I was meeting someone coming with no spices and fruits.  Seven and a half on 10.

Stacey: The key is cozy and sweet potatoes but flowery. Really, its green tea base live in the up a simple flavour and brings it to something exquisit, he taunted.

With a few days left until the roomies split up for the holidays, hopefully we can get in a few more brews together (we taunted).

Until next tea,

Brooke and Stacey

Organic Breakfast

Hi readers,

Happy New Year!! Hope you all had a great time with friends and are looking forward to the new year ahead. Let’s celebrate with tea!

I got a text from Stacey the other day saying that she and her mum were going to try Organic Breakfast. When I suggested it to my mom, she answered with “oh sure! We just got those sausages from the market and our eggs are local, too, so …” I had to interrupt with “oh, sorry! It’s a tea, Mom! Just the name of the next tea”. Pause. “Pah! Well then. Get the kettle!” It’s going to be a good post, people. I can feel it.

Tea: Organic Breakfast

 DAVIDsTEA description: It’ll change your life

This is the kind of tea that puts you in a great mood, inspires harmonious relationships and makes you outrageously productive. How did we do it? First we selected our favourite organic and biodynamic black teas from Yunnan, Assam and Darjeeling. And then we sipped different variations until we’d created the ultimate balance. Could there be a better way to start your day?

 Ingredients: Organic black tea from India (Darjeeling), China (Yunnan) and Sri Lanka (Ceylon).

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Mom and I each made a big mug and poured steaming hot water onto about 1.5tsp of loose leaf. We let it steep for 6 minutes before removing the infusers.

In Bolton, Stacey and Lorie did the same and basked in the memories of teas past.

Lorie: It reminds me of Twinings English Breakfast Tea. I should have had this in a tea cup rather than a mug!
Stacey: Oh yes, it’s the type of tea you would have at a tea party.
Lorie: Or one you would drink at a bridal shower. I picture little tea cups with saucers, finger sandwiches, and petits fours.
Stacey: Petits fours?
Lorie: Yes and we’d have something like this at my Granny’s house.
Stacey: Mmm, yes sipping on this tea reminds me of an afternoon with Grandma.
Lorie: The tea is mellow, it has a nice aroma. It’s a nice blend of all three—it’s a not overpowering. Yum!

Back in Halifax, Mom and I were surprised with how “normal” the tea turned out to be.

Cathy: Hmm… I don’t know if it’s going to do all those things it claims…
Brooke: Why not?
Cathy: Because it’s just a black tea. It is what it is! What do you think about it?
Brooke: I find it heavier than Glitter and Gold and because of that I like it more. Nice and strong.
Cathy: It doesn’t have the bitter aftertaste that black teas do, though, no need for milk and sugar.
Brooke: Sorry mum, I wanted to do a fun flavour with you but this is kind of … simple!
Cathy: Well wow, I just love it anyway! Mm!
Stewart: Hmm… are you going to finish that mug, Cathy?

Tea vibes:

Stewart: That’s a right tasty tea! My Cape Breton roots fully approve. I don’t know about the claims for exuberant productivity but I could drink this any time. It’s certainly more refined that Red Rose but no less tasty. This suits those people who do not enjoy the perfumed and flavoured teas but want a genuine black tea experience. This brew certainly delivers. 8/10

Lorie: I would definitely buy this tea, because its flavour is very mild and enjoyable. The tea brings back happy memories of my Granny and Nana. The teas they would offer me were often too strong for me with almost an iron taste but this tea is not like that at all! I feel like I’m energized for the day now—time to do some cleaning! 9/10.

Cathy: I frequently find that teas smell better than they taste but this one tastes just like it smells. I don’t want to say it’s not as exciting as the others, there’s not much to explore with it, but I like it. If someone served it to me I’d say “thank you very much!”  7.5/10

Brooke: What a wonderful change of pace. I feel like I’m at home. Not physically, (though I am, heh) but just… this fits. Suits me very nicely, yes! I don’t even have to think about it, it doesn’t stress me out, I like it. 8.5/10

 Stacey: It’s a good staple tea to have; I would give this tea to our guests. I can’t quite pick out the three teas, but I feel very worldly for having sipped on tea from China, India, and Sri Lanka. It’s a very nice blend. Well done, David! 9/10.

Well, this tea sure was a hit with both parties- Dad even got some in his stocking because of how much he enjoyed it!

Only one more tea until Stacey and I reunite back in Ottawa. Up next- Detox!

Cathy: And may I just say thank you for inviting me into tea land and thanks to Stacey and her mum, too. How fun!

Until next tea,

Brooke and Stacey

 

Glitter and Gold

Hi readers!

We hope you’ve been enjoying your Decembers so far. In Ottawa, it’s been cold and rainy but the Christmas tunes have started and lights are up! It’s a groggy morning and after doing a quick grocery run, we figure having a tea after breakfast was just right. Today’s tea is a toe-tingling, sparkly brew that is sure to dazzle up anyone’s morning. Visually, at least.

Tea: Glitter and Gold

Ingredients: black tea, sugar crystals, gold sugar balls, vanilla, orange peel, cloves

DAVIDsTEA description: see below.

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Since I had a meh sleep, we decided to brew a pot with the whole loose leaf tin. Stacey was only allowed to have one cup, of course. As we munched on our breakfast of croissants and blueberries and waited for our teas to cool, we were delighted to see glitter and shimmering gold in our mugs.

I was just heading out of the kitchen into our family room with my brew, ready to set up my laptop for our tea time, when SLAM. My pointer toe made contact with our arch in the hallway. AAARGH! My poor new white sock never stood a chance. The burning feeling of pain is still strong as I type this, so Stacey suggested we try the teas to distract me.

*sip*

Stacey: It’s a black tea, mhmm, but there’s something there.
Brooke: I’m getting a creamy feel but I don’t know why.
Stacey: I taste the cloves. They come out nicely. Ahh!
Brooke: Urgh, my toe still hurts.
Stacey: Hmm, let’s read what DAVIDsTEA has to say about this one…

“Sophisticated seduction…

This deep dark Chinese tea is like a gorgeous starry night, glimmering with gold and silver sugar crystals that shimmer as they steep. Take a sip and the slow suggestion of cinnamon will warm your body. Your toes will tingle…”

Brooke: WHAT?
Stacey: Um.. Your toes will tingle…
Brooke: WAIT… WAIT. WHAT? WHAAAAT?
Stacey: The universe just knew, Brooke. Oh my God. Oh wow.
Brooke:  HOW DID THEY DO THAT?
Stacey: That is too perfect. I am crying laughing over here…
Brooke: Are you kidding me?
Stacey: K, wait, the rest goes…

“[…] Your mind will turn to fireworks, falling stars, late-night seduction. It’s basically magic. (Is it getting hot in here, or is it just the tea?)”.

…Is your toe tingling yet?
Brooke: Oh, it’s tingling alright. MAN!
Stacey: HAH! There are definitely fireworks; this blows my mind, oh man.
Brooke: Well, DAVIDsTEA, kudos. I didn’t think it was possible but you’ve done it. This is no coincidence. You broke my toe.

 .
Stacey: Wait, the description also says “Allergens: Not vegan”? Um.. what’s… what’s in here that’s animal product?
Brooke: Beats me.
Stacey: Well, the feature ingredients are orange and vanilla. I definitely taste the orange, yummy!
Brooke: It reminds me of orange pekoe; it’s like our last one that was simple but had a fun sweet swing to it.
Stacey: It DOES just taste like orange pekoe. I think they might have just put glitter and orange in here and then went “oooh! You’ll love it!”
Brooke: With a hint of “take THAT, toes!”

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Tea Vibes:

Stacey: I think I get what you were saying earlier; DAVIDsTEA has a black tea base and this is it. I’d like to try this one with my grandma, I think, because it reminds me so much of orange pekoe which she loves. It’d be fun to have a clear glass to get the whole effect of the ‘glitteryness’, too. This tea is another not-too-crazy-pretty-solid-wouldn’t-scare-anyone-off tea. Simple, relaxing, and sparkling. 7.5/10

Brooke: Yep. I love the glitter, I think that’s really unique… but I think without the visual, this tea is quite normal. It’s a good breakfast tea; it’s got some sparkle… but dang. If I have to stub my toe every time I want a cup, I’ll pass. It’s not worth the throbbing ache I get to deal with for the next day or two. In all seriousness, it’s a decent tea, but the “ooh ahh” factor is in the sparkle, not the taste. 6.5/10

Phew. A stubbed toe didn’t seem to stop me from going on a skate with Stace at our uni’s ice rink but it did make for a more delicate climb when I bouldered later in the evening. Hopefully if you feel like trying it, you won’t have such a tingly toe experience. Instead, sit back and let it make your morning just a little more dazzling.

Until next tea,

Brooke and Stacey

I’m sure I said something as delicate as this…