When I was just a teeny tea drinker (i.e. younger), my favorite thing to do around the holidays was to help my mom bake cookies. She is the absolute master of cookie baking, and now that I’m a grown adult with an understanding of the craziness of Christmas and the expectation of holiday baking, I truly have no idea how she does it.
When it comes to my own cookie baking around Christmastime, I like to keep it simple. My mom makes this insanely delicious white chocolate/dark chocolate candy cane bark that, as a child, I never really gravitated towards. As an adult, though? GIMME. It is creamy and sweet without being overdone, pepperminty and fresh without that toothpaste-esque quality. And when I sniffed David’s Tea’s new Candy Cane Crush in store this past weekend, I was immediately reminded of my mom’s low-key delicious holiday treat.
This tea is like tastier, more intensely delicious upgrade to David’s previous peppermint-vanilla holiday tea, Santa’s Secret. Candy Cane Crush has white chocolate chips, snowflake sprinkles, and visible chunks of candy cane. It’s not just a beautiful tea to look at, it delivers on the dry leaf scent 100% to boot. Steeped, it’s sweet enough to taste like a treat without being overdone, and with a touch of milk added, it’s the perfect festive indulgence. I get that creamy vanilla flavor from the melted white chocolate, and it delivers wholeheatedly on the true candy-cane flavor from the peppermint.
Is this an everyday tea for me? Probably not. But is it perfect in the chilly days leading up to Christmas, an delicious, festive substitute at 8 AM before it’s socially acceptable to start eating Christmas candy? Yes and yes.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Flavored Black Tea
Where to Buy: Davids Tea
Description
This creamy, mint black tea is strewn with candy cane bits and snowflake sprinkles.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Blueberry Muffin from Davids Tea
On a whim, I picked this herbal blend up from DT during our annual pre-Christmas pilgrimage to Chicago this past weekend. I’ve been craving more interesting herbals lately to sip in the afternoon and evenings (because mama loves her black tea, but caffeine does not reciprocate the love past 3 PM, friends), and this one fit the bill.
On first sniff, it smells… like a blueberry muffin? I get the cakey crumb of a warm muffin here, with whiffs of vanilla and berry. YUM. Let’s get this one a-brewin’, shall we? This tea is practically all chunk and no leaf (which is no surprise, as a tisane), but I can see how it will go by quickly with this much heft to it. That said, it’s a beautiful mix with visible fruit and even veg pieces– looks like some carrot and even beetroot for that beautiful bright pink we’ve all come to know and love!
Upon sipping, I’m torn. I definitely get the blueberry muffin notes that I sniffed pre-brew, but it’s almost overwhelmingly overpowered by (you guessed it) hibiscus tartness. I’m not a hibiscus hater across the board, but this one took a lovely, creamy cup and turned it on its head. I’m not going to lie, I’m a bit disappointed. A second steep and the tartness has gone, but as is fairly typical with most herbals, the creaminess and nuance of flavor from the first steep is gone with it. It’s a decent re-steep, but not perfect. I’m not giving up on this one yet, because while the flavor didn’t perfectly match the scent, it was an enjoyable cuppa. Perhaps as a coconut milk latte, or with a shorter steep time I’d find the cup I know is in there somewhere. In the meantime, David– maybe call this one a blueberry tart instead of a muffin next go-around, mmmk?
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Davids Tea
Description
With apple, raisins, carrot and blueberries, this tea is the breakfast of champions.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Holiday Tea Alert!! David’s Tea Advent Calendar 2016 Days 1-6. . . . Spoilers!
Last year, I splurged on a David’s Tea advent calendar to sip all December leading up to Christmas, and it was the BEST decision ever. So when I got the notice for this year’s calendar up for preorder, you’d better believe it was in my cart before I could say jingle bells. I’ll be tackling these teas a week at a time– let’s get started with days 1-7!
Day 1: Snow Day, a delightful chocolate mint honeybush herbal. This one was all me, as my fiancé can’t stand mint-flavored things (he thinks they taste like toothpaste. I think they taste like more-for-me! ;)). This one came across as more of a carob-mint, without the overt sweetness of chocolate that I was expecting. But it was still tasty, needing no milk or sweet while still acting as a yummy after-dinner treat. I did find there to be an interesting mint after-tingle that lingered post-sip– some might find this off-putting, but I liked it!
Day 2: Jumpy Monkey, a coffee bean yerba mate. I’ll be honest, I haven’t had coffee in over 18 months. I’ve never been a huge fan (preferring tea genuinely instead), but when I realized that drinking it didn’t even make my body feel very good, I gave it up entirely. I made an exception for this cup, and it was worth the risk– notes of coffee and vanilla with some of that energy-boosting mate side effect we all know and love. I don’t know that it was worth it to me to pick this one up again, but my coffee-loving dude couldn’t get enough of it!
Day 3: Genmaicha. This one seemed to be fairly straightforward and traditional to me, green with TONS of rice, both toasted and popped. I’m not the biggest fan of straight green tea, but something about the vegetal and malty mix of rice in this one gave me some popcorn undertones that were straight-up delicious. I’d reach for this one again when I want something less frilly and fancy.
Day 4: Serenity Now, a fruit-forward hibiscus and lavender herbal. I could see how some would hate this blend– the hibiscus is ever-present, and you can’t hide from the floral lavender at all. But I loved it, you guys. In fact, so much so that I may end up grabbing a whole bag for myself! I love lavender in my teas, and think this would one make an excellent iced tea or lemonade infusion. Mmm. I kinda want another cup right now, actually.
Day 5: (full disclosure: I went to brew a cup of Serenity Now before sitting back down to write this next one. If that doesn’t convince you of my newfound love for it…) Coffee Cake, a black tea with large, visible chunks of fruit (pineapple?) and a heavy cinnamon scent. Surprisingly (and gladly), I can’t taste much of the fruit in my cup. To me, coffee cake is all cinnamon and crumb, it’s fruitcake (gross) that has weird chunks of candied fruit hangin’ out in it. This one has predominantly cakey cinnamon notes with hints of vanilla and that elusive pastry-quality. I’d sip this one again, but probably wouldn’t purchase because the fruit was weeeeird, you guys.
Day 6: Apple Cider, a fruit-and-cream herbal with big chunks of apples in the mix. Calling this one a cider is strange to me, as I usually associate cider with spices, and there are none to be tasted in this cup. Instead, I get bright and crisp apple balanced with creamy vanilla. A great cup that needs no extras to really make it pop. I may be ordering some more of this one!
Day 7: Nutty and Spice, oolong. This delicious cup is exactly as described, nutty and spicy and full-flavored. This is a rare oolong that takes milk and sweet well. Honestly, it reminds me so much of another David’s classic, Forever Nuts, except with some caffeine and the oolong base rather than herbal. If you’re a fan of Forever Nuts, I think you’d like this one. Overall, a great first week! Lots of hits and only a few ehs– nothing I’d even go so far to count as a miss. Looking forward to trying a whole new batch next week!
Here’s the scoop!
Where to Buy: Davids Tea
Description: No longer available on website, but individual teas can be purchased at link above
Ready for the most anticipated gift of the year? This magical tea-filled advent calendar delivers a delicious new surprise every day. Behind each door hides a single serving of tea. No peeking! The surprise is worth it.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Holiday Tea Alert! Candy Cane Crush from David’s Tea
So it’s December and that means holiday drinks….and holiday drinks are sort of, kind of, really, really awesome. I mean, people line up out the door for Starbucks holiday blends (even tea people…don’t lie…you know you like them!). Well, one of my all-time favorite holiday drinks is a DAVIDsTEA eggnog latte. I love them. I really do. So much so that after first trying them a couple years ago, I would pretend I was getting one for a friend and then walk around with two of them for myself. Yeah, I am a little obsessed. It got to the point that I decided it would be more cost effective to make them at home (also I could drink as many as I liked and not have to pretend they were for my friends in order to hide the shame :P). So, I watched closely as the tea guides brewed me up an eggnog latte and have been recreating the recipe at home ever since. Thank goodness too since my beloved eggnog lattes have yet to make an appearance in stores and my holidays would be severely lacking if I didn’t know how to make them at home.
One thing that is back in DAVIDsTEA stores is their special holiday blend, Santa’s Secret. If you have not had it yet, you should check it out because it is a great peppermint vanilla tea and makes an amazing eggnog latte. However, this is not a review about that tea, this is a review about the new tea of the month, Candy Cane Crush, a blend very similar to Santa’s Secret except with snowflake sprinkles and actual candy cane pieces instead of just candy cane sprinkles PLUS white chocolate. And since Santa’s Secret made for one of the better eggnog lattes I have tried, I just had to test out this new blend to see how it compares.
Given the bits of actual candy cane, in addition to the peppermint leaf, the first thing I noticed was this was a much stronger mint flavor than Santa’s Secret. I personally am enjoying that because it provides an excellent contrast to the sweeter/creamier elements in the mix. The white chocolate is also very present and blends seamlessly with the eggnog, making for an almost silk-like smoothness. It’s like sipping on a rich peppermint white hot chocolate. Decadent and desserty and oh-so-delicious. I think this might be edging out Santa’s Secret for favorite eggnog latte blend and that is certainly saying something
So all in all, I am certainly a fan and since DAVIDs does not usually have a December tea of the month, this one might not be around forever. I will definitely be stocking up and recommend that you guys try it before it is gone. In fact, I have already blown through 50 grams in just a few days, something I almost ever do but after trying this in a smoothie and now in an eggnog latte, I can honestly say this is an easy blend to drink and a fun tea to have around for the holidays!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Flavored Black Tea
Where to Buy: Davids Tea
Description
This creamy, mint black tea is strewn with candy cane bits and snowflake sprinkles.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Product Review: White Chocolate with Jumpy Monkey Yerba Mate from DAVIDsTEA
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Yerba Mate/Chocolate
Where to Buy: DAVIDsTEA
Tea Description:
Looking for a rich and decadent pick-me-up? Check out this deliciously creamy chocolate bar, a combination of the finest imported white chocolate and our java-spiked Jumpy Monkey tea. With yerba mate, cocoa nibs and coffee beans, it makes for an exotic taste of the rainforest at its finest. Made in partnership with a Montreal chocolatier.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve had this tea before as a latte, and as far as I can remember it wasn’t too impressive. Kind of run of the mill, actually? However I was still pretty pumped to see it in chocolate bar format at the store yesterday because, first off, I love white chocolate though also because even though I’m not a huge fan of coffee I have a special place in my heart for white chocolate coated coffee beans. My Dad used to buy them in bulk, and late at night I’d sneak into the kitchen (when I was around eleven) and eat small handfuls out of the bag in the pantry. And of course, I’d have problems falling asleep after that…
However, this is a slight let down if I’m being honest. I mean, the white chocolate is really good! I love the white chocolate that DAVIDsTEA uses for these chocolate bars. The problem, for me, is that it really over powers the flavour of the tea/coffee. It doesn’t help part of the profile of this tea is white chocolate in the first place. I’m conflicted by this. One thing I dislike about DAVIDsTEA’s chocolate bars is that the infused chunks are often too large but in this rare occasion I really wanted more large pieces because without them the tea is lost. I wish there was a better way to ensure a more consistent size for the pieces used in these chocolate bars, but I don’t know what the best way to go about finding it would be. However, it does at least seems like DAVIDsTEA is trying to do that because these newer bars do at least seem to consistently use smaller pieces and I know that was something that was really being criticized prior to the change. So I commend them for that.
But without the flavour of the tea, this is just a super expensive white chocolate bar.
