571 Tasting Notes
So, this one has been in my cupboard for a bit now, and I think I should start focusing my tea drinking on those older teas.
When I worked at DT, my one coworker said this one was the closest to the tradition India chai that her and her family drank as she was growing up.
I really do love this tea. It’s strong and bold and has lots of flavour. But the one thing I could do without is the star anise. I’m not a huge fan of that licorice background taste. But I will drink this one up as I do enjoy it otherwise. I think when this one is done, I’m going to revisit the Saigon Chai though, as I use to be in love with that tea and I’m curious if I still am.
I’m the only one that’s reviewed this, and it was seven years ago already!! Wow.
So, last time I had this one, I drank it up really quickly and I’ve been dreaming about it ever since.
About a month ago, I decided to order more of this one and I’m so glad that I did. It’s so good! Unlike Davidstea’s Blueberry Jam, this one DOESN’T have stevia. It does however have blackberry leaves. That being said, the blackberry leaves take a real backseat in this tea and let the blueberries and their sweetness shine first and forefront.
Doing a five minute steep did make the black tea base come out stronger, which I think I would try my 3 min steep from last time again and see if I can get more blueberries through it.
Anyways, So happy I got this one again and I definitely recommend for the blueberry fans out there.
I know that stevia is a natural sweetner. I get that. But to me, it tastes so artificial. It leaves that same taste and feeling that those water sweetners (like Mio) leave in my mouth and throat. It leaves that weird aftertaste and I can’t handle it.
I got this one because I LOVE black tea and I love vanilla. But honestly, the stevia in this one sucks. Sometimes you taste it, sometimes you don’t. Today I absolutely noticed it. I actually want to try this one as a latte. I might throw a bit of sweetner in it when I do and see if that covers the stevia taste.
Anyways, I like this one, but don’t. And honestly, unless they take the stevia out, I won’t be rebuying it once it’s gone. I’m sure I can find a vanilla black tea that doesn’t have stevia in it.
I understand! Monkfruit is supposed to be natural but it leaves a terrible, cloying aftertaste to me.
I agree. With very few exceptions, I strongly prefer that the tea purveyor lets me make my own sweetening choices.
Yes, I’d much prefer sweetening tea to my preference too.
Davidstea recommends 5-7 matcha spoons of this one when you make it as it has a bunch of cane sugar in it too, so the matcha isn’t as strong. I did 6 spoons PLUS a spoon of matcha matsu. Yep. I went with ALL the caffeine. I have been staying up way too late, and I’ve been getting up way too early, so today was the day for caffeine. I will mention too, this is my second tea of the day, the first being a Davids Breakfast blend that was steeped for 5 mins. (Give me all the strong teas!! haha)
Anyways, this tea is STRONG, but I prefer it that way. I’m having it iced, so what I do is I whisk it up with only a small amount of hot water, then pour it over ice, add a bit more tap water (that way it doesn’t melt the ice as much as the kettle water would so it doesn’t get as watery), then add some milk. I had this one once at our local store and the manager made it so weak it almost tasted like water. Bleck. So since then, I make it probably way stronger than any one person needs to drink, but I like it like that, so whatever. haha
I finished up one of my matcha tins of the matcha matsu with this one too so I’m happy about that!
Anyways, the blueberry is strong with this one. It’s a favourite of mine and until I find one that I like better, I will keep buying it.
For 5 years, I worked for Davidstea (July 2015-Aug 2020). I got this one during that time, so it’s starting to get a bit on the old side. Now that I’m no longer there, I’m going to focus on drinking up most of my collection of tea before I buy more. My collection got a bit out of hand because of the discount we had and I need to drink what I have.
So, that being said, I still have enough for another cup or two of this one, which is fine. it’s actually a really nice tea. It’s got a bit of creaminess to it and a really nice nutty flavour. I have gotten into the bad habit since the fall of drinking SUPER strong straight black tea loaded up with milk and sugar, so for me this is weird to do something different again.
But I really like it and I need to get drinking more teas like this. I added a splash of milk, even though it didn’t really need it as I wanted to boost up that creaminess. Anyways, I will enjoy what I have of this one. I’m not sure I would restock as I really don’t go to this one, but it’s really good and those that are fans of nutty teas, this is the one to get.
I’m glad I started my day off with this one. It was a day.
My kids (4 and almost 6 years old) are doing JK and SK online. It’s crazy… so many video chats…
Anyways, the internet refused to work and so I spent the day trying to fix it but my husband came home from work and had it working within 5 mins of getting home. Apparently in my attempt to fix it, I actually messed it up a bit more… OH WELL!!
So the day started with this one as a hot latte with 1% milk. It was so good. Like so good. It ended up being my only tea today, so at least it was a good one! haha
It’s a sweeter tea, so if that’s your thing, then go for it. If you don’t like sweetness, then this would not be the one for you.
Long story short… I just finished five years with Davidstea. During that time, I had two kids and drank so much davidstea, that my cupboard is about 99% them now. COVID meant that my store was one of the ones that got shutdown so now I’m mostly at home, which is ok… but if COVID continues the way that it looks like it’s going to, then I guess it’s a good thing I am. I might have to homeschool my 4 and 5 yr olds.
Fun positive that happened during COVID… I finished writing a novel!!! 73,000 (ish) words. (About 280 pages). I’m so happy!! I’m trying to write a second novel but it’s been tough going. Maybe in the new year.
I definitely wasn’t expecting the tea to taste like that… lol I got this one probably 3 years ago at the Toronto Tea Festival, and I’m FINALLY trying it.
It reminds me of Nepal Black from Davidstea, but is definitely stronger. It has a strong tobacco taste to it and I’m getting some straw like the other reviewer here. I feel like I’m getting a hint of floral too.
This tea is pretty smooth, which I like. Really no bitterness or astringency either, which again I like. I don’t like when teas leave my mouth dry. This one definitely doesn’t do that.
My sample of this one was a teabag, so really only one cup of this to try. I think I would get this one again, but only when my tea collection goes way down.
Flavors: Floral, Hay, Tobacco
Preparation
Welcome back! Good to see you!
congrats in the book!
Wrote a book while taking care of two small children? WOW! Welcome back! Tell us more about the book!
Welcome back and a novel to boot. Bravo!
Thanks everyone! It’s good to be back.
The novel is a young adult fantasy fiction which is totally outside my comfort level, but the story came to me and I just had to try. It’s out with friends/family for feedback and editing at the moment. I’m hoping I can find an editor and maybe a publisher this year. I really want to see it in print. :)
Please keep us updated on your book! That sounds like just my kind of story. Congrats on such an achievement.
I had this one this morning and I quite enjoy it. I find I love a very simple black tea first thing in the morning. Usually a straight black tea or something with a hint of fruit or even mint. This one definitely works that way.
So the cherry flavour is actually quite strong in this one but it’s not so much that I’m turned off of it. It’s a nice simple black tea with enough flavour that it doesn’t get lost even with some milk or sugar.
I really love this one and I know what is left of it won’t last much longer! Yum Yum!
