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!
Oh Canada! Rooibos Blend from David’s Tea
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos & Honeybush
Where to Buy: David’s Tea
Tisane Description:
Looking for a taste of Canada? Try this red rooibos tea. It’s sweetened with (what else?) maple syrup and sprinkled with delicious maple leaf candies. Plus it’s 100% diplomatic (well, caffeine-free) and tastes great in both our official languages. With green rooibos, honeybush, caramel and toffee bits to shake things up. A truly authentic Canadian experience.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The brewed tisane smells scrumptious! It smells like a pancake breakfast and it’s making my mouth water!
To steep: I used my Kati Tumbler and added 1 1/2 bamboo scoops to the basket of the tumbler. Then I added 195°F water to the tumbler and allowed the tisane to steep for 10 minutes.
And it tastes a little bit like a pancake breakfast too. The nutty notes from the rooibos and honeybush add a “pancakey” like flavor to the rich maple-y notes of the flavoring. The toffee and caramel notes enhance the sweetness (this is a very sweet pancake breakfast, mmm-kay?)
But really, even though I’m getting notes of rooibos, honeybush, toffee and caramel, this tisane is really about the maple! Sweet, delicious maple. Not like the weird corn syrup with maple flavoring. This has a real maple-y flavor to it. It’s sweet and luscious!
If you’re a fan of maple, this is a tisane you should try. It has a very dessert-y quality (obviously) so it would make a tasty low-cal/non-fat substitute for dessert or a great treat for the sweet tooth late night craving! And it’s naturally caffeine free!
Citron Oolong Tea from David’s Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: David’s Tea
Tea Description:
This blend of high-grown oolong is truly rejuvenating. It’s scented with lemon myrtle, jasmine and natural citrus essences, and the result is light, fresh and uplifting. Hot, it’s soothing and citrusy. Iced, it’s an unbelievable thirst quencher. And infused into vodka, it makes the world’s best martinis.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Citron Oolong Tea from David’s Tea has a really nice medley of flavors. The citrus notes are soft (and I find that they intensify as the tea cools!) and the jasmine adds a lovely floral note to the cup.
In the first infusion, I find that the flavors are all pretty evenly balanced. I taste notes of jasmine, notes of lemon-y citrus, and the lush, vegetative notes of the Oolong tea. The taste is very refreshing, and I think I like this better iced than hot … although it’s quite good hot too.
The second infusion, I began to notice more of the Oolong notes. There is a light buttery note to the Oolong, soft and creamy, and this mingles with the lemon-y notes quite nicely, giving it a sweet note with just a hint of tart. The jasmine is softer than it was in the first cup, but it is still present.
Overall, a very pleasant Oolong blend. I served some to my daughter, and she also found it to be very enjoyable. It’s very smooth and relaxing to sip.
Rose Congou Green Tea from David’s Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: David’s Tea
Tea Description:
Is there anything prettier than a rose-scented tea? This classic blend is just as romantic as a bouquet of flowers – and a whole lot tastier, too. Rose Congou teas are traditionally made with black tea, but we love mixing rose petals and rosehips with the subtle grassiness of Chinese green tea. The result is deliciously floral and delicately fruity, like walking through an English garden after a spring rain. No umbrella required.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve tasted quite a few black Rose Congou teas. And I’ve even tasted a few green teas that have been scented with rose. But I don’t think I’ve ever actually tasted a green tea that calls itself Rose Congou before … until tasting this one from David’s Tea, that is!
Maybe because it is my understanding that “Congou” is actually a grade of Chinese black tea, and I really didn’t know that there was such a thing as a green Congou tea. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t … it just means that even after studying, learning about, and working with tea for more than ten years, I still have much to learn about the subject.
Anyway … let’s talk more about this tea. This is really quite delightful. The green tea is sweet and smooth and very refreshing to sip. The vegetative tones of this tea are somewhere between “grassy” and vegetable, leaning more toward the grassy than the vegetable. There is a slightly dry astringency to this cup.
The rose is flavorful! Sweet and floral – let me just say this, if you’re not a fan of the flavor of rose … this is NOT the tea for you. I happen to enjoy rose scented teas so this one is right up my alley. But even though it does have a strong rose essence, it isn’t overbearing or perfume-y. There is a careful balance between the lush notes of the green tea and the notes of flower.
This one tastes great hot or iced! And it looks like this is the right time to order this one online – there’s a web special going on right now!