Day 15: Honey, I Dew

Happy December 15th everyone!

As seems to be a trend this year, our schedules and the time change only allowed me and Brooke to sip our teas together for about 10 minutes. At least we can fit in a few minutes, right? Onward!

Tea: Honey, I Dew

Description: In Vietnam, melons are a sign of good luck. In Chinese medicine, they’re said to help cool the body down. Around here, we think they’re just about the tastiest fruit around – especially when you pair them with fresh, delicate white tea. With fruity hints of pineapple and mango, this melon-packed blend is refreshing, juicy and naturally sweet. The best part? This tea was named by our customers! Is there anything they can’t dew?

Ingredients: Apple, white tea, pineapple, (pineapple, sugar), melon (melon, sucrose, calcium chloride, citric acid, natural melon flavouring), mango (mango, sugar), rose petals, natural watermelon flavouring)

—

Stacey: I have so many little bitties in my tea. I would show you but I think I would spill tea on my keyboard.
Brooke: Well that certainly wouldn’t be very good. Keep it safe!

*sip*

Brooke: This tea would be SO nice in the summer as an ice tea! It has all the things you would want in an iced-tea, so much so that you wouldn’t even need to put a sweetener it like agave syrup.
Stacey: Agreed, but because it’s a white tea I don’t mind that it’s warm. It has the flavour of sweetness, without being too sweet…if that makes sense.
Brooke: I feel very weird drinking something so fruity at 8 in the morning.
Stacey: I feel less odd because it’s 11 am here.
Brooke: I think DavidsTea did a good job capturing the flavour of honeydew melon. I absolutely taste that.
Stacey: Agreed, I think this is a rare tea where you taste exactly what you smell. Also there’s apple in here.
Brooke: Right, it is the first ingredient. Dang.

Brooke had to head to another Let’s Talk Science event, so we continued our review via text: 

Stacey: I like this tea, but I’m not blown away.
Brooke: I am drinking it now, it’s at room temperature and wow! So much nicer. I would drink this all the time!
Stacey: I’d say it would be an “every now and then” tea.
Brooke: Mmm, Stacey! It’s like calorie-free juice. Still tea-y but fun!
Stacey: Actually, it isn’t calorie free. The website says there are 10 calories per cup.
Brooke: Ack! My blood sugar!

My Mom also had a few thoughts for today’s tea:

Lorie: This tea would be great iced, it tastes exactly like melon. It makes me think of summer and eating melon in my backyard.

—

Final Thoughts

Stacey: This tea didn’t necessarily ‘wow’ me, but it did have a lot of good flavours. I think I would have to try this one cold to give it a full review, but if you like honey dew this one’s for you!

Brooke: I say have this brew cold, or not at all. It was a very strange feeling to have such a sweet and fruity drink so early in the morning and so darn hot, but when it cooled down- voila! Its existence made sense. 🙂

—

Well, there you have it another summer tea that some how made its way into the #24daysoftea.

Until next tea,
Stacey and Brooke

 

Honey, I Dew want this on ice

Day 13: Buddha’s Blend

Hello friends!

Brooke and I decided to do a split post today–me enjoying a cup with my Mom over Skype and Brooke sipping the tea with Andre whilst doing some afternoon baking. Let’s see what this Sunday blend had in store!

Tea: Buddha’s Blend

Description: We don’t like to brag, but we’re pretty sure we just found the key to achieving nirvana. It’s easier than you might think – you’re actually just a cup away. You start with a fresh, delicate mix of white and green tea. Then you sprinkle in a few jasmine pearls for their sweet, floral perfume. Next, you add the unexpected fruity aroma of some beautiful white hibiscus blossoms. Finally? You sit back, relax and take a sip. Heavenly…

Ingredients: White tea, green tea, jasmine pearls, white hibiscus blossoms, natural and artificial flavouring.

—

Lorie: I am so excited for this tea, it’s my favourite!
Stacey: Me too! We’ve always loved this one.
Lorie: This is such a nice tea to enjoy on a deary, misty, yucky day like today. It’s perfect because I had a day of baking and now I get to relax, drink a tea, and watch my football.
Stacey: That does sound pretty perfect!

*sip*

Stacey: Hmm, I might have over steeped mine and it was piping hot when I poured it so I might have burnt it.
Lorie: Oh not me, I use my fancy kettle so it boils just at the temperature recommended for white tea.
Stacey: Well la dee daa. I still taste the floral flavours though. And the jasmine pearls are so nice.
Lorie: I don’t normally enjoy jasmine in my tea but in this case, I don’t mind it being there. I LOVE this tea.
Stacey: I remember there being a peach flavour to this last time, but I don’t really taste it.
Lorie: Mine tastes like peach, it’s nice and refreshing. There’s also no after taste, which I like. And I usually have my teas piping hot, but this is one I can have cooler.

Over in Victoria, the afternoon baking had just begun!

Brooke: I’ll let the butter get to room temperature while we sip this one.
Andre: First thing I notice about this tea is its fruity and floral smell. Secondly, this feel very nice in my hands. So cozy and warm.

*Sip*

Andre: I really do taste the floral notes in this- some sort of blossom, maybe?
Brooke: Hibiscus blossom!
Andre: That must be it! I really like it. It’s quite nice, I’ve never really had a tea like it before.
Brooke: Mm, another great flower-tea. Every time I have this one it reminds me of fields of lupins in Prince Edward Island.
Andre: You can definitely taste the oolong in it.
Brooke: Oolong? There’s no oolong in this one!
Andre: Well, then I definitely don’t taste it. It just reminds me of that vanilla oolong they used to have.
Brooke: I get hints of vanilla- I can see that.
Andre: This one reminds me of a tea that I used to bring with me to Gatineau Park where I would rock climb in the winter. Sending a boulder problem in the cold and then sipping a nice warm tea- this one could be it!

Final thoughts:

Lorie: This is a staple in my cupboard. I am always a fan of white teas and this one doesn’t disappoint. I always like having this tea after I’ve finished all my errands for the day and I can just chill out. Definitely recommend this one!
Stacey: I like the delicate flavours in this tea. The mix of white and green teas is very interesting on the palate. Always a favourite, I recommend this tea too!
Brooke: Super happy that this one is a 24 Days of Tea staple. It’s always a delightful blend that gives me the warm fuzzies.
Andre: I think this is a perfect tea for anyone who wants to just wind down and relax, whether it’s coming home from a long day at work or just trying to get into a calmer state of mind- this brew really has a calming effect. If you’re looking to relax, this tea delivers.

Well, it seems that today was a popular day for baking and relaxing, and Buddha’s Blend was the perfect compliment. What a great day to spend a Sunday! Maybe I’ll have a second cup to keep the calm effect going.

Until next tea,
Stacey and Brooke (and Lorie and Andre)

Mmm mmm good.

Day 8: Cherry Blossom

Hi readers!

Today we were late getting started and barely had time to chat about our brews but wow, this one was worth the wait. What a splendid mix of flavours and lovely aroma for today’s busy schedules. I hope tomorrow is actually today again so we can have more (a la Ground Hog Day). Oops, on to the blog!

Tea: Cherry Blossom

Description: When it comes to making a romantic statement, this alluring white tea simply can’t be beat. For starters, it’s packed with big, juicy cherries, said by some to be an aphrodisiac. Hey, it can’t hurt. Plus it’s strewn with pretty pink rose blossoms – a sure-fire sign of love, friendship and affection. But the real key to their heart? Its delicately bright and fruity taste. Just one sip and they’ll be saying “I do!”

Ingredients: White tea, green tea, cherries, coconut chips, rosebuds, natural and artificial cherry flavouring

 —

Brooke: My mom quite liked this one, she said it has “a sweet” and she “likes the sweet”. The giant rosehip in the loose leaf worried her but she loved the  cherry taste that gives it its name.
Stacey: My mom said that the smell of cherry blossoms filled the house this morning. She said it reminded her of those cherry chocolates with cream in the middle and it brought her back to her childhood. 🙂
Brooke: We seriously are out of a job when our friends and family review these teas better than we do. How adorable! Let’s drink!

*Sip*

Brooke:  Mmmm! Rosey. I never thought I wanted something to taste like a rose, but this is lovely!

Stacey:  Mhmm, very nice indeed. I don’t even mind that it’s not hot anymore. Actually, again, I think it would take away from the flavour if it was.

Brooke:It’s not nearly as sweet as Sleigh Ride or Mango Madness, it’s less harsh. It reminds me of the jasmine/lavender ones we’ve had before- makes me think I’m in a garden full of flowers!

 Stacey: Mhmm and the white tea makes it so delicate.

 Brooke: Yes- it’s cozy. It reminds me of a tea party/art show that I went to with my friend Hayley and our moms years and years ago. An artist invited guests and customers to her home for a gorgeous tea party as a showing of her works. It was all very special, and this tea would fit in so nicely at that party!

 Stacey: That sounds so sophisticated! I feel like I would want to drink this at a tea party that was outside where everyone is wearing big hats.

 Brooke: Sophisticated big hats? Or Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat hats?

 Stacey: Like at a party for the Queen! Queen hats!

 Brooke: Absolutely.

Twitter was abuzz with this floral brew, too:

@royalhistorian: Today in #24daysoftea- Cherry Blossom! White tea,green tea,cherries, coconut chips, rosebud-  perfume smell, tastes like cherry candy

@stet_: #24daysoftea @DAVIDsTEA Cocktail adventure day 8: Cherry Blossom. #imbibe #cocktail

@_jfleeve: Well, this one’s a #stunner. #24daysoftea (#day8) features #davidstea #cherryblossom. #Whitetea, #greentea, huge #cherries, #cherryblossoms, and #coconutchips! Super excited to try this one later today!

As we stretch on into week 2 of December, life continues to hurry along. Don’t forget to slow down and sip your tea, folks!

Until next tea,

Brooke and Stacey

See you tomorrow, DAVIDsTEA!

 

Day 2: Mango Madness

Hey tea drinkers!

Stacey here to bring you on day #2 of our 24 day tea journey! Today Brooke and I were able to Skype over my lunch break allowing Brooke to wake up at more decent hour.  And with Ottawa being pretty dreary and Victoria being its rainy self, today’s tea was the perfect fit to add a little sunshine to our day.

Tea: Mango Madness

Description: One sip of this tea and you’ll do anything to get your hands on more. In fact, we’re a bit worried about letting people get a taste. There might be riots. Looting. Traffic jams. It’s a lot of responsibility! But who can blame you for going crazy over this delicious white tea? It’s fruity. It’s refreshing. It tastes just like a ripe piece of mango. In short, it’s total madness.

Ingredients: Apple, white tea, candied pineapple (pineapple, cane sugar, citric acid, sulphur dioxide), orange pieces and peel, safflowers, strawberries, calendula petals, mango (mango, sugar, citric acid, sulphur dioxide), stevia extract and natural mango flavouring.

—

Brooke: Does this tea have apple in it? (Looks back to find our previous post from 2013) Ah yes, I only had a sip of this last time because I worried about my apple allergy.
Stacey: Do you want to risk it this year?
Brooke: Yeah, let’s do it! André is here if I need to go to the hospital.
Stacey: Can you drink it yet or is it too hot?
Brooke: I think we can drink it, here we go!

*sip*

Brooke: ARGH my throat!!… Oh actually , it’s quite smooth!
Stacey: Mmm, I think it has a lot of flavour but it is also very soft and delicate.
Brooke: This tea would make a good iced tea, but not in the same way sleigh ride would because this one is delicious and sleigh ride was not!
André: I agree. I think white teas make great iced teas, especially with coconut. This one tastes like coconut.
Stacey: It tastes very tropical. When I was talking to my Mom earlier it made her think of relaxing on an island.
Brooke: I love that your mom is playing along with us, too! Tropical may be too strong of a word, but it does calm me down and soothe me.
André: Hmm…You do taste the mango but it’s not overpowering. Very mellow.
Stacey: Do you taste a sweetness at the end of this?
Brooke: I wouldn’t have overtly noticed it, no.
Stacey: I didn’t either until the last sip….just as I suspected- they put stevia in it!
Brooke: It wasn’t in the old version of mango madness, I wonder why DavidsTea added it?
André: Now that you mention it, I do notice it is sweeter than it should be.
Stacey: Oh no, now all I taste it the stevia. It might be because my tea is cooler now, it wasn’t as obvious when it was warmer.
Brooke: Well, at least my throat hasn’t closed up!

 

Final thoughts:

Brooke: I really like how soft of a this tea is. It’s not harsh or too sweet, just a delicate reminder of the warmer days that once were.
Stacey: Aren’t you still having warmer days in Victoria?
Brooke: Well certainly warmer than Ottawa but unfortunately we’re not tropical here.
Stacey: Mango Madness doesn’t really make me think of December but it does make me think of the tropics. Good choice for the second day of December with all this wet weather.
Brooke: It’s like DavidsTea knew it would be raining!

We checked in with fellow #24daysoftea followers on twitter to see what they had to say:

@joolstothegools: Fighting a cold but day 2 is reviving my life right now! #24daysoftea

@misssable: This fruity pick-me up is just what I needed this morning #24daysoftea

 

Seems like Mango Madness, brought a touch of the Caribbean to this gloomy day. What did you all think? Did the tea add some sunshine to your day or was it too sweet for your taste buds? Let us know on twitter or in the comments! We’d love to add a dialogue to the blog this year.

Until next tea,
Stacey and Brooke (and André)

Like the sun peaking though the clouds, Mango Madness might just brighten your day.

Day 15: Buddha’s Blend

Hello Readers!

As the days until Christmas continue to dwindle we seem to be getting busier and busier and that means that we unfortunately have very little time for tea reviewing!  Luckily, DAVIDsTEA seems to be in the habit of repeating a few teas from last year’s advent calendar, as was the case with today’s tea: Buddha’s Blend. So if you’d like to see what Stacey’s family thought back in 2012, click here and if you want to hang out with Brooke and her Mom while they enjoyed this brew, click here. Or click both (we really recommend clicking both). Here we go, bring on day 15!

Tea: Buddha’s Blend

Description: We don’t like to brag, but we’re pretty sure we just found the key to achieving nirvana. It’s easier than you might think – you’re actually just a cup away. You start with a fresh, delicate mix of white and green tea. Then you sprinkle in a few jasmine pearls for their sweet, floral perfume. Next, you add the unexpected fruity aroma of some beautiful white hibiscus blossoms. Finally? You sit back, relax and take a sip. Heavenly…

Ingredients: White tea, green tea, jasmine pearls, white hibiscus blossoms, natural and articifial flavouring

Steeping Instructions: 1.25 tsp, 80°C, 4-5 minutes

—

We did manage to get a few quick texts in throughout our busy days, here were our thoughts on this flavourful white tea:

Stacey: Mmm, fruity and light this tea is a good one! What do you think?
Brooke: My lab and I agree, it smells peachy but tastes like flowers (Stacey: And they would be right, made with jasmine pearls and white hibiscus blossoms. They sure now their flowers! They are biologists after all).
Stacey: Agreed, I’ve always liked this one. It’s one of my Mom’s favourite’s too. Bloody expensive though.
Brooke: Yeah, Buddha would not be pleased.
Stacey: Darn white tea! Why must you taste so good but cost so much!
Brooke: Because capitalism.

Tea Vibes:

Stacey: Additive, light, and rule 34. Really, just all around a good tasty EP. 9 and 10.

Brooke: Misty is exactly the same as last year and I have absolve lute nothing new to add. Tate, smells like peaches, taste like flowers. Too expensive. Elan 10.

And they were go, a third tea review for Buddha’s Blend. Now to go do some bouldering (that’s fancy talk for rock climbing without a rope, we’re so adventurous)! Goodnight fellow readers!

Until next tea,
Stacey and Brooke

Wait, it’s how much?!

Day 5: Detox (read: Cresting Cranes of Legend)

Day 5 brought excitement in the Brooke/Stacey abode, as we were ready for something to perk us up this cold morning… yet… we didn’t like what we found.

Brooke: Detox?! Nooooooo!!!

Detox is a tea that we’ve reviewed before (click here to read our thoughts on the brew). We both agreed Detox is best served when sick because of the hints of lemongrass and chamomile. Since we were both not sick today, we saved it for a time in need and, instead, reviewed a tea we own but haven’t discussed yet: Nourish Tea’s tasty Cresting Cranes of Legend. Enjoy something new from your Tea Connoisseurs!

Tea: Cresting Cranes of Legend

Description: white bai mu dan is a classic Chinese white tea grown in the Chinese province of Fujian (where the best white tea in the world is grown) high up in the misty mountains. You can’t get closer to the whole fresh leaf than with white tea. Open the tin and you’ll witness for yourself how lovely and large a whole white tea leaf can be – “cresting cranes of legend” is honestly beautiful just to look at, especially as it steeps. With the highest in anti-oxidants and the lowest in caffeine of all teas, this velvety-smooth tea will win you over the minute it hits your lips.
Ingredients: White tea. (that’s IT! :))

—

Stacey: Mmm, I love white tea. It’s always so tasty. This is delicious!
Brooke: Here, André, you try some, too.
André: Oh that’s nice! It’s very light.
Brooke: Yeah, it is very “smooth and velvet-y”, eh? So subtle and simple.
Stacey: No artificial flavours or anything, either.
Brooke: Get your morning dose of antioxidants, people!
André: Tell me, oh Brooke science-y girl, how do antioxidants work?
Brooke: WELL, exposure to oxygen can break down atoms in cells, causing un-paired electrons (“free radicals”) to form, which suck for cells because free radicals poke around at other molecules, who wanna be left alone (like DNA!). Any chemicals that can donate an electron to these radicals have “antioxidant” properties because they stop the free radical bullying going on in your cells! They’re your cell’s first line of defense.
André: Oh! So it’s super hero tea.
Brooke: Yes.

Tea Vibes:

With the voice-type feature turned on Stacey’s phone, our opinions became a bit muddled: 

Brooke: Detox tea makes me feel sick! But this newish white tea makes me feel right at home. I love it and I’m glad we have it. Elan 210!
Stacey: I have to be with Brooke reading detox tea. Am I really, like, the nearest? I had the other day with a friend of mine and I’m so excited for my walk to work. Alright, I am on Thames.

And there you have it! Nourish Tea is a great company that we LOVE and deserves some attention, too. If you’re ever interested in giving one of their teas a try, stop on over. We’ve got LOTS. : )

Until next tea,
Brooke and Stacey

Did you learn something new today?

Day 18: Buddha’s Blend

Hi readers!

Well it’s a stormy one out there in Halifax. My flight was turbulent as I made my way home for the holidays, so a good warm tea after picking up our Christmas tree was JUST what the momma and daughter duo ordered. Mugs up and zen out to Buddha’s Blend, friends!

Tea: Buddha’s Blend

Description: Heaven Can’t Wait

We don’t like to brag, but we’re pretty sure we just found the key to achieving nirvana. It’s easier than you might think – you’re actually just a cup away. You start with a fresh, delicate mix of white and green tea. Then you sprinkle in a few jasmine pearls for their sweet, floral perfume. Next, you add the unexpected fruity aroma of some beautiful white hibiscus blossoms. Finally? You sit back, relax and take a sip. Heavenly…

Ingredients: White tea, green tea, jasmine pearls, white hibiscus blossoms, articifial flavouring.

Instructions: 1 tsp, 82°C, 3-4 min

—

Mom was worried she wouldn’t make a good substitute for Stace.

Cathy: Okay, I’m not Stacey. I’m not Stacey, I’m not a tea maaker… dee dee deeee!

Brooke: Did you just sing that last part?

Cathy: I’m prone to siiinging… unexpected tea songs! Deee dum dum.

Brooke: It’s good to be home.

Cathy: You said this has jasmine in it like that green tea? Doesn’t smell nearly as grassy. Smells good!

*sip*

Brooke: Did you just take a sip?

Cathy: I did.

Brooke: And?

Cathy: … I didn’t have a thought!

Brooke: Hm.

Cathy: Okay, let’s see. It’s more about the smell, I think. It’s pleasant, it’s not sour. I don’t know the real difference between white and green tea, I just like herbals, that’s what this reminds me of. I don’t particularly like black teas, you see. I want to know what you think now!

Brooke: I really taste the base leaves more than the extra flavours… I taste the green tea leaves and not so much the jasmine. It seems… just a bit dull!

Cathy:  You are so refined! I like it and I will drink it. It isn’t a crazy tea. Although, I do like that you can smell it and taste it and get lots from it at the same time.

Brooke: Yeah, and the dullness is kind of good- you don’t want the flavours to overpower you with a ‘zen’ tea after all.

Cathy: Yeah, it’s relaxing!

Brooke: White teas are steeped for less time, too, compared to black due to the leaves being so delicate. That may be it.

Cathy: Wow, Superstore is selling lobster for $5.88/lb!

Brooke: Soo pleased to be home. Seriously.

Tea vibes:

Cathy: I don’t know Brookie, I like this tea! It tastes just as good as it cools. 3.5/5

Brooke: This as an odd fruity hint from the hibiscus that I really enjoy, though I do think for a ‘flashy’ DAVIDsTEA, it’s not my favourite. It certainly zen’d me out as I watched little birdies dancing on the snow covered trees outside (oh, so poetic). It was nice, but since white teas are expensive and it didn’t thrill me, I wouldn’t need to buy it. Loved sharing it my ma, though! : ) 3.5/5

No Stace in this one, but she’ll be back tomorrow for a google chat. For now, we will continue to zen out (but might switch to rum and eggnog…)

Until next tea,

Brooke (and Cathy)

“He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.”

Day 8: Mango Madness

Hey tea lovers!

Hope you have been enjoying the December weather, wherever you are! Today we had some excellent yoga at Lululemon and popped open this delicious bouquet. A treat for the nose AND the taste buds. Enjoy!

Tea: Mango Madness

DAVIDsTEA Description: Go Crazy

One sip of this tea and you’ll do anything to get your hands on more. In fact, we’re a bit worried about letting people get a taste. There might be riots. Looting. Traffic jams. It’s a lot of responsibility! But who can blame you for going crazy over this delicious white tea? It’s fruity. It’s refreshing. It tastes just like a ripe piece of mango. In short, it’s total madness.

Ingredients: Apple pieces, white Bai Mu Dan tea, orange peel, pineapple, mango, orange slices, freeze dried tangerine pieces, safflower petals, freeze dried strawberry pieces, marigold blossoms, artificial flavouring

Tea Instructions: 2 tsp,  94°C, 5-7 min

—

Brooke: Oh, wait… this tea has apple pieces in it. As the main ingredient. WHY DO THEY DO THIS?

Stacey: Well, this will make for a fun blog post.

Brooke: I can comment about the smell!

Stacey: *sigh*

Brooke: Ooh what a lovely aroma! Reminds me of the Caribbean.

Stacey: Have you ever been to the Caribbean?

Brooke: …No.

Stacey: It’s smells like fruit punch. Er, I don’t know. Yes, fruit punch!

Brooke: Stacey, I’m supposed to comment about the smell!

Stacey: Oh, sorry.

*sip*

Stacey: WAIT! It’s too hot.

Brooke: FINE!

Stacey: Mmmm Mango!

Brooke: Is that seriously the best you can do?

Stacey: Oh I’m sorry, why don’t you take a sip?

Brooke: …

Stacey: Mm, yep, it’s a great mixture of a bunch of flavours. Definitely a lot of mango but you can taste all of the other fruits in there. Pineapple, more tropical fruits, I feel like I am so not the person to be doing this. I need your input!

Brooke: Let’s go to the Carribean.

Stacey: Sounds good. Wait, didn’t we already have that option and we picked Timmins?

Brooke: …Yes.

Stacey: Jam packed full of flavour, but not too sweet! It’s nice and subtle, perfect blend!

Brooke: What if I just have ONE sip and don’t drink the whole cup?

Stacey: Well if you do I don’t want to hear a word about it. “Oh, my throat is closing in!”

Brooke: …Okay. : (

—

Tea Vibes:

Stacey: I really like this one! The fruity flavours are so delicate and the aromas are fantastic. 4/5

Brooke: Bah humbug.

Until next tea,

Brooke and Stacey

I love google images. 

Buddha’s Blend

Hello tea people!

Brooke and I may have finished our 24 Days of Tea but we can’t stay away from DAVIDsTEA for too long. As a special “Easter egg”, we bring you a special guest appearance by my extended family as we consider “Buddha’s Blend” . Enjoy!

Tea: Buddha’s Blend

Ingredients: White tea, green tea, jasmine pearls, white hibiscus blossoms.

DAVIDsTEA Description: Heaven can’t wait.

We don’t like to brag, but we’re pretty sure we just found the key to achieving nirvana. It’s easier than you might think – you’re actually just a cup away. You start with a fresh, delicate mix of white and green tea. Then you sprinkle in a few jasmine pearls for their sweet, floral perfume. Next, you add the unexpected fruity aroma of some beautiful white hibiscus blossoms. Finally? You sit back, relax and take a sip. Heavenly…

Tea Prep: We let 1.25 tsp of tea leaves steep in 84°C water for 3-4 minutes.

In Bolton over Easter weekend my family contemplates their tea experience…

Dad: Oh yeah, this is the tea I like.
Stacey: Why do you like it, Dad?
Dad: I’m not doing your blog, Stace.
Kyle: …It honestly just tastes like hot water.
Poppa: It tastes like dish soap!
Peter: Two thumbs up for the cheesecake, Lorie!

Stacey: No, no, guys. What do you think of the tea? What do you feel?

Pete: I would describe it as a white wall with no pictures.
Lorie: When I drink this tea, it reminds me of sitting under a tree on a nice summer day. I always relax when I drink Buddha’s Blend. I’d give it 9.5/10
Iris: I normally don’t like really fruity teas but this one is similar to my favourite lemon honey tea. I think it would be good cold as flavoured water. 8/10
Grandma: There is a flavour… I don’t know what it is…but I like it! I’d say it tastes like water and smells like peach. You don’t need sugar with it that’s for sure. 8/10
Holly: It’s a very subtle taste. It’s a bit too mild and not strong enough for me. 5/10
Kaelyn: I think that it tastes citrusy. 8.5/10
Mikela: When I sipped it, I pictured cherry blossoms. It was soft but there was a hint of fruitiness. I can’t tell what it was but it wasn’t peaches. This was the perfect tea to pair with dessert; the tea balanced out the sweetness from the dessert. It is a nice tea to have right before bed. 7/10

Back in Ottawa on a cold spring morning…

Brooke: It definitely smells like peach just like your Grandma said. Kind of like one of those Tim Hortons drinks that you get.

*sip*

Brooke: Oh but it delightfully does not taste that way! Mikela was spot on with the cherry blossoms! I’m with her with the tea being more floral than citrus.
Stacey: This has been a staple at my house and I have always enjoyed it! The name definitely fits here.
Brooke: Yes, I think it would make a good iced tea. I can understand what Holly was getting at; it is definitely not a strong tea. It doesn’t hit you like, say Alpine Punch would. Not sure what your Poppa meant with the dish soap.
Stacey: Just imagine a non-tea drinker tasting this for the first time, you can kind of see how they might think it tastes like dish soap.
Brooke: What do you think of the tea Stace?
Stacey: It has a stronger aroma than taste for sure. But that isn’t a bad thing; I think the flavor could have been way more powerful and sweet, so I’m glad it’s toned down.
Brooke: It’s an herbal?
Stacey: No, it’s a white tea.
Brooke: Well then, I don’t want it.
Stacey: Yeah it’s more on the expensive side. But I think it would be worth getting a little bit though.

Tea Vibes:

Stacey: I really like this tea. It has everything I want in a fruity tea: smooth, mellow, and not too sweet. You can taste a lovely flowery concoction that brings about a calm and soothing feeling. I would definitely recommend! 8/10

Brooke: Each of your family members got something right. They all touched on an aspect that I agreed with. Overall this tea is rather fluffy; I’m actually kind of full after a few sips, it was very filling. Its tones are surprisingly deep for such light flavours. As much as it would be nice to have, I don’t like the price of white tea. 7/10.

Final Thoughts:

Lorie: Buddha’s Blend is an Easter treat!
Dad: You have it every day, how is it a treat?
Grandma: It’s a treat for me; I’ve never had it before!

I love my family. 🙂

Until next tea,
Stacey and Brooke

Checkmate

Hello again readers,

Well, after a delicious meal of maple salmon and roasted potatoes (we promise we’re not a couple… even though technically we *are* common-law), Stacey and I were feeling like a tasty tea to finish off our day. We popped open tea #16 and after retrieving it from the floor (they’re slippery!), we were both thrilled with what we picked up. Checkmate! Stacey had been eyeing this once since we bought the set over two months ago, so she was pretty excited. Oh boy.

Tea: Checkmate

DAVIDsTEA Tea Description: Game on!

This tea isn’t like a chess game of black versus white, it’s black and white working together. When you mix white Bai Mu Dan with black tea, coconut and chamomile flowers, it creates a rich, satisfying, chocolate flavour. You’ll swear you’re drinking a cup of hot cocoa, even though there’s no chocolate in the blend. It’s so delicious it’ll hold any king or queen in check – now that’s a winning move any way you look at it.

Ingredients: White tea, black tea, coconut, Roman chamomile flowers.

—

This tea… smelled delicious. We steeped 1.25tsp for 4 minutes in 98°C water and then let our teas cool. By the time they were drinkable, though, I realized I was going to be late for my improvised comedy practice so we improvised (HAH!) and poured our brews into our trusty thermoses for later.

When I got back, it was after 10PM and Stacey was a little hesitant to do the review.

Stacey: No we can’t, the caffeine!

Brooke: *Sip*. Oooh. Oh but it’s SOO good, Stacey.

Stacey: I.. I just.. *sip*

She seemed confused.

Brooke: No? You disagree? You don’t like it?

Stacey: I don’t know, I’ve just never had a tea like this before. I’m trying to figure out what it is.

Brooke: Ah but it’s got such a light nice coconut vibe. I’m digging it.

Stacey: Are there figgs in this? It just reminds me of DAVIDsTEA Apres Ski.

Brooke: I always wondered why white teas were way more expensive than blacks and greens…

Stacey: They do something different with the leaf!

Educational break! White teas are actually made with the bud of Camellia sinensis along with the leaves. The plant withers in natural light, then gets plucked and lightly processed. This stops any further oxidation of the plants tissues. Since there’s such a small amount of processing, white tea contains many more nutrients than its black or green counterparts. It’s all very special. Hence the price.

Stacey: You know, I wouldn’t say there is a hot chocolate taste, nor even a cocoa taste, but there’s a hint of SOMETHING chocolatey. Hmm.. I like it!

Brooke: I just get the balmy feeling of coconut and I love it.

Stacey: I just don’t GET it!

At this point it was late and Stacey was nervous to continue for fear of sleeplessness in the night [Stacey: Hey, it’s a thing, Brooke!]. Unfortunately, our busy lives prevented us from enjoying our brews together the following day  so instead, following a trip to Toronto for me and a weekend of skating on the canal for Stacey, we sat down to have one last cup each to finish it all up. We always make time for tea. And each other. Aw.

Tea Vibes:

Stacey: You know, I would describe this tea as yin yang:  two completely opposite flavours that work well together. On Friday, I brought my thermos to work and was very sad when it was empty. I’m happy we got to have another. : ) I totally get the image of a chess board too. That’s what they were going for with the black and white tea, I bet. I really like it- what a neat mix! I want to buy this one next. 9/10

Brooke: You seem to have really taken liken for it, haven’t you? The coconut flavour is delicious but it’s the only aspect that I really do taste. It’s not too wild- I get how you could fall in love with it. The flavour of chocolate is very faint but the chamomile flowers are an excellent touch. This is most definitely a nice dessert tea to have after a big meal. Yum! 7.5/10

We’ll have to see if this winds up in our cabinet, especially with all our new Nourish Tea loot we recently aquired. In any case, it was well received all around. Maybe you should try it?

[Stacey: my vote is yes! MmmMmm]

Until next tea,

Brooke and Stacey

Knight to E5, baby Ron.