The Harvest Collection, DAVIDsTEA’s Fall lineup of teas focuses fresh farm-to-table inspired blends. These teas have some new and exciting flavors that certainly had me intrigued. I brewed them all up hot, as per the company’s recommended steeping parameters.
First up is Just Beet It, a mate blend that intends to highlight the beetroot, apple, goji, and blackberries. Personally of the five teas, this is one of two I was most worried about due to the mate base. Luckily for me, it doesn’t seem as though there is much of it among the dry leaf. Anyways, I brewed this up and it came out a beautiful clear reddish-pink color. I am pleased to report, the earthy rainforest note often associated with mate is not found here. Instead, this tea is light and fruity with clear berry notes (leaning more towards blackberry actually, though the raspberry is still very much present) and an apple sweetness. Tartness from the gojis pop up here and there which is a welcome distraction from the other, sweeter ingredients. I don’t get much in the way of beets, though other than that, it seems like DAVIDs aptly described this tea
Next is Pear Blossom, the other blend I was most worried about trying, this time due to the addition of stevia. This is a herbal infusion that hopes to bring out the flavors of pear, papaya, pineapple, and sunflower. It steeps up a clear yellowish tone and has a great pear scent. Unfortunately for me, as expected, the stevia is just too much for my tastes to handle. I get a touch of pear flavor and some distinctive peach flavoring and even a slight nod towards florals but that all devolves into the cloying sweetness of stevia.
Honeycrisp Apple, the one I am most indifferent about trying, is one I have tried before. Of the group, I believe this is the only returning tea. It is a green tea which is concentrated around apples, of course. Steeped, it is incredibly clear, with slight blush undertones. The flavor is also very light. Too light in fact that I find myself searching for anything at all more than just sweet. In the past when I had this iced, I remember it being more flavorful and representative of its namesake but as a hot tea it is just too muted and thus rather forgettable.
This next tea, Wild Strawberry, I found particularly compelling due to the rosemary. A herbal blend of strawberry, hibiscus, and vanilla, spiked with a sprig of the herb to keep things interesting. It brews up the color of all other strawberry/hibscus blends and also has a familiar taste. This reminds me slightly of DAVIDsTEA’s Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait, with a clear and juicy strawberry flavor that is a little tart, but with the vanilla giving it that creaminess as opposed to yogurt chips. Unfortunately, like with so many other DAVIDsTEA blends that boast a cream element, as this one does, there is also an artificial note that is offputting. On the other hand, the rosemary, though less prominent than I expected, does add a unique quality to this blend that I enjoyed.
Finally we have Orange Glow. Now I am not usually one for orange teas but this herbal blend of carrots, orange, and ginger smelled so good that I got a whole 50 grams of it, as opposed to my usual sample size (granted I got the 50 grams for free with the purchase of a Tea Press but still). So, with that much in my stash, I have my fingers crossed that this will be good. First thing I noticed, is it steeps up the usual deep purplish-red of a hibiscus-rich herbal. Here’s hoping that doesn’t transfer over to the taste… thankfully it does not. This is an interesting tea actually, one unlike other DAVIDsTEA blends I have had before. The orange is there in flavor but subtle and lacking its typical brightness while there is a lot of carrot sweetness but no actual carrot flavor. There is also a touch of ginger flavor but no spicy kick. If I am being honest, the combination of the components, while not bad per-se, falls a bit flat.
All in all, for me, this collection misses the mark. Each tea has its potential but none quite reach it. Perhaps more experimenting can help make these better but brewed hot, per recommended steeping parameters, none of these made a great first impression. The teas are worth a try given they are different than DAVIDsTEA’s usual Fall lines and I will say, of the lot I was surprised to enjoy Just Beet It as much as I did, but even that isn’t making it onto any favorites lists anytime soon.
Here’s the scoop!
Where to Buy: DAVIDs Tea
Description
Savour the sunshine with this collection of five fruity fall teas. With sweet apple and lively green tea, Honeycrisp Apple captures that orchard freshness we love so much. Orange Glow is a vibrant blend of carrot, ginger and orange. Pear Blossom tastes just like biting in to a juicy Anjou pear. Wild Strawberry combines ripe berries with a lively twist of rosemary. And with beetroot, goji berries and blackberries, Just Beet It is the perfect way to put some pep in your step
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Yunnan Black from The Little Red Cup Tea Co. . . . .
It’s been a while since I have tried a tea from The Little Red Cup Tea Co. and today I thought I would share their Yunnan Black with you!
Their Yunnan Black comes from Lincang which is just a stone’s throw from Burma and home to some of the oldest cultivated tea in the world – according to The Little Red Cup Tea Co. website and product description. The Yunnan Black Tea we are reviewing today is hand picked and tightly rolled but not rolled into balls or pearls but more of a rolled pressed leaf of sorts. The golden tipped leaves produce a deep amber hue in the cup and give off light scented notes of raisins, cocoa, and honey.
As for the taste…it’s delightful! Not only in the aroma but in the taste I could pick up on the natural raisin flavors and cocoa powder – especially if brewed dark – double the loose leaf at half the time. When double brewed I found this to be pretty hefty. It was a stronger Yunnan Black and I really liked it. I also brewed as suggested and found it just as tasty but not as brassy or brashy as the double brewed. Both attempted were successful and made me an instant fan!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: The Little Red Cup Tea Co.
Description
Our Yunnan Black (滇紅茶) hails from Lincang, a stone’s throw from Burma and home to some of the oldest cultivated tea in the world. Hand picked and tightly rolled, the golden tipped leaves produce a deep amber brew — with light notes of grapes and honey. An instant classic.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Catarina from Sicilian Tea Company . . . .
If there’s anything that has surprised me most from my years as a tea drinker is how I’m constantly learning to like new flavors. In this case? Licorice. (I KNOW. Stick with me, I promise.)
I, like many in the general population, have despised the anise-y, sugary taste of black licorice for years. So whenever I saw it as an ingredient in anything– but mainly tea– you’d usually see my turn my nose up and run for the other direction. But a few years back, I was getting my hair done at a salon that served Aveda tea (you know the type) and without thinking, accepted the cup that was handed to me. As I sipped, I was pleasantly surprised by the earthy sweetness that lingered. “What IS this magic,” I thought. Shocked as I was to find that this delightful flavor was coming from licorice itself, a whole new category of teas has just opened itself up to me.
And now, I find myself reaching *for* licorice teas whenever I’m given the chance. Usually they’re herbal, though, so you can bet I was surprised to see this black blend boast flavors of– you guessed it– licorice, along with spicy orange and cardamom. It’s robust as I’d hope a black tea to be, but needs no honey whatsoever with the delightful natural sweetness from the licorice. The orange and cardamom are almost reminiscent of a twist on a chai, and bring some lovely complexity to the brew. A bonus: these leaves resteep beautifully, and I got consistently great flavor after two, even three cups.
Don’t get me wrong: I still won’t be going anywhere near black licorice jellybeans anytime soon. But if you’re like me and think that licorice can never be for you, give it a sip and see if that changes your tune!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Sicilian Tea Company
Description
Bored by bland brews? Catarina is your fix. Cardamom and orange peel make this Indian black tea blend pop. Bye-bye, bland.
Remember to re-brew your tea.
When brewed as suggested the large tin yields approximately 80+ servings, and the small tin yields approximately 16+ servings.
Ingredients: organic and fairly traded black teas, organic orange peel, organic cardamom, organic licorice root (to sweeten).
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Battle of the Peppermint NecessiTeas
Apparently I have a type. No, I am not talking about men, I am talking about teas. While looking through my box of NecessiTeas, I noticed that out of the 11 teas I purchased, 3 were peppermint black teas. Well, how many peppermint black teas does one tea stash really need? I figured it was best to compare and contrast in what I lovingly named “Battle of the Peppermint NecessiTeas” to see which blend reigns supreme.
For each tea, I used two perfect teaspoons of tea in a 16 oz mug and steeped the leaves in 200 degree water for 4.5 minutes. Then, I had an unexpected computer update so now I am trying the teas lukewarm. Anyways, let’s get to it!
Candy Cane Lane: Of the three, this is the only one that does not contain chocolate. As a result, this is also the clearest brew though it is still rather dark. It is also the one without peppermint leaves but instead a generous helping of candy cane pieces. It probably has the strongest peppermint scent which translates into the strongest peppermint taste. This blend is also unique in that it combines peppermint with marshmallow. I find the marshmallow keeps the peppermint from becoming medicinal and keeps this tea sweet. Plus, it provides the tea a soft, fluffy texture reminiscent of the squishy delight itself.
Dirty Girl Scout: An irish cream and white chocolate flavored black tea that has Andes pieces?! Count me in. Sure this blend is murkier than Candy Cane Lane and yes it may leave a scum ring if it sits for a bit, yet it is not oily/greasy in texture. Instead, this tea is really quite creamy. The flavors are subtle but silky. I am definitely picking up on the smooth chocolate first while the mint gently lingers in the aftertaste. Also, it smells like a cookie.
White Chocolate Peppermint: This blend incorporates honeybush and carob with the black tea and 
white chocolate shavings. This is the murkiest of the three blends and the tea does coat the tongue slightly as you sip, just as it leaves its mark on the mug in the form of a scum ring. Nonetheless, the texture is not offensive like some murky teas can tend to be. Moreover, there are no peppermint leaves to be found though the peppermint flavoring comes through loud and clear (in both scent and taste). This blend certainly has the strongest note of cooling peppermint. It is also the least candy-like of the mix. This is not to say that it is not sweet, because it is, but the carob contributes a more earthy/rich flavor.
So overall, I would say the White Chocolate Peppermint, though very good, is my least favorite of the three. Personally, I am a sucker for the marshmallow of Candy Cane Lane but I think the flavor of the Dirty Girl Scout would be magical as a latte. Honestly, the two are delightful but better suited for different situations. Candy Cane Lane is definitely a holiday blend with it’s soft texture and smooth candy cane flavor (sweeter and a bit less medicinal than regular peppermint flavor) while Dirty Girl Scout is more of a decadent dessert between the delectable Andes mints and the velvety smooth irish cream.
Here’s the scoop!
Where to Buy: The NecessiTeas
Click on the links in the descriptions of each tea to get more info!
Energy Blend from Dave & Solomons Tea
Today I tried Dave&Solomon Energy Blend tea. I had been running around and needed a pick me up. When I first opened the package, it smelled earthy, a little floral-y, and very welcoming.
I believe this will be great as an iced tea. It has an earthy taste, it reminds me a little of chamomile, but different. The best way I can describe it is if chamomile and Rooibos had a little tea baby. The taste is nice and light, no sweetener needed.
The best part about this tea is how I feel. I wouldn’t say I feel energized as much as I feel calm and alert. And tranquil, but not sleepy. I will be making more of this, and trying it over ice for sure. It feels perfect for these last warm days of summer.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black/Herbal Tea
Where to Buy: Dave & Solomons Tea
Description
Get up and go with an invigorating cup of Energy . Energy, is a great tea to start your day, after meals, or to fight off that sluggish afternoon. Energy, has a robust earthy tone, followed by floral notes from the rose petals & lavender flower combined with a delicate citrus note from the lemongrass.
Ingredients: black tea, rose petals, lemongrass, lavender.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
