DAVIDsTEA

The other new tea from DT this week!

If I’m going to be really, really candid I was hesitant to work on a pear matcha for DT. I actually thought it would be a flavour we could do really well, but I’ve had so many pear matchas from other tea companies and it’s always a sort of uncomfortable place working on teas that I know exist elsewhere. Usually you can do a different interpretation of the profile to give it your own stamp/spin, but that’s much harder to do with matchas…

But honestly, in the end, it just made sense to give it a try. We’ve never really launched a fruity matcha flavour in Fall/Winter – the focus is always on spiced or decadent profiles. However, I think there is an interest in having some other seasonal offerings and not just bunching all our fruity matcha releases in the summer – and pear is a GREAT flavour for Fall transitioning into winter.

Though this is not a semi-sweet formulation like Banana or Pina Colada, I do think this matcha does naturally come off as less sweet than a lot of our fruity matchas usually are. It’s more of a dewy Bartlett pear flavour with some floral undertones. Not a candy-like flavour like, say, the Jelly Belly Juicy Pear flavoured jelly beans, but still juicy and fresh in its own way. The notes of the matcha definitely don’t get lost in this one.

Definitely this time of year a lot of people are drinking their teas hot, but mostly I’ve been drinking this matcha iced or as a tea pop. I’m particularly a fan of it as a tea pop because I feel like it gives off this refreshing, sophisticated “tea spritz” kind of vibe. I also think it would be great with some champagne or prosecco for a tea infused cocktail vibe – especially at holiday parties or even once we’re closer to New Years. Latte? Yeah, you can do it but I think it’s a litttttllleee strange with this flavour. But you do you!

Friendly reminder that I do not numerically rate DAVIDsTEA blends as I’m currently employed there and it would be an obvious conflict of interest. Any blends you see with numerical ratings were rated prior to my employment there. These reviews are a reflection of my personal thoughts and feelings regarding the teas, and not the company’s.

The first of DT’s holiday drops has officially landed and, with that, come A LOT of returning/voted back holiday blends including (but not limited to): Orange Spice, Alpine Punch, Cardamom French Toast, Hazelnut Chocolate, White Cranberry Bark, and Brown Sugar Bourbon. Of course it’s not a holiday drop without some newness, right??

This playfully sweet and nutty blend is one of two new teas, but if I’m being honest it’s the one that I’m more excited about. I spent a really long time tweaking the ingredients and ratios of this blend to get it just right. For a long, looooonnnggggg time I’ve wanted to have a more holiday-style nutty blend with “Nutcracker” in the name. We’ve definitely had nutty teas during Winter/Holiday before (Nutty & Spice being maybe the most iconic) but it’s a little crazy to me that we’ve never explored something Nutcracker inspired in loose leaf tea when we have had some pretty cool Nutcracker teaware in the past…

So, what does Nutcracker Brittle taste like? I feel like it wouldn’t be out of pocket to assume peanuts, but you definitely won’t find any in this tea. Instead this is a rich maple walnut flavoured blend! Basically, the idea is if you made an indulgent and nutty brittle with the peanuts swapped for maple glazed walnuts. It’s just a little toasty with a distinct walnut flavour and a sweet maple syrup note.

…and here’s a secret for just y’all on Steepster: one of the alternative names we considered was Nutcracker Pancakes! There were actually a few different routes we thought the blend might end up, and one was a little more overtly maple flavoured with salt. Sort of like a more Canadian twist on a “Salted Caramel” profile. Salted maple. We dialed back the maple to make room for that cozy brittle element, but I still really liked how that salt amplified both the maple and nut notes so we did keep a bit in the blend. I wouldn’t describe it as a salty tea though. It just gives those flavours a bit of a boost! We love a good flavour carrier.

Honestly, I think this blend is gonna appeal to a lot of people. Someone described it as the love child of Maple Syrup Oolong and Caramel Shortbread, which I think is actually pretty dang spot on. But also if you like teas like Forever Nuts, Gingerbread Blondie, Cardamom French Toast, Toasted Walnut, Simply Maple Breakfast… then I wouldn’t at all be surprised if you enjoy this one too!

Hot is really my favourite way to make it, though a bit of milk is nice as well. Just be careful because, like Caramel Shortbread, sometimes there is enough acid in this blend to curdle milk (especially cow’s milk – alt milks are a bit better). Especially if you give it a long steep time.

Friendly reminder that I do not numerically rate DAVIDsTEA blends as I’m currently employed there and it would be an obvious conflict of interest. Any blends you see with numerical ratings were rated prior to my employment there. These reviews are a reflection of my personal thoughts and feelings regarding the teas, and not the company’s.

This tastes quite similar to Teeccino blends, but with more bitterness. It definitely does better with a shorter steep. You really get the coffee vibe. It’s best with almond milk, lots of sugar, and even some whipped cream on top. I prefer the fun herbal coffee flavors Teeccino carries though. This one is a little straightforward for me, but it certainly is what it says!

Sipdown! I fully ordered the whole sampler last year just to get this blend and another store exclusive blend. I thought I had previously written a tasting note about this but apparently not. It’s been long enough that I forgot what it was actually supposed to taste like. For some reason, I decided that the red and white sprinkles meant that I should expect the tea to be minty. It is not! I totally made that up! The dry leaf doesn’t smell minty, the brewed tea doesn’t smell or taste minty, it’s not designed to be minty, I fully made it up because of the sprinkle color and then wondered why it didn’t taste like the flavor profile I wrongly imagined for it! Here’s what it actually tastes like: creamy chocolate, a hint of vanilla, on a mildly roasty hojicha base. Which is really tasty! I wish they would sell it online individually.

When I took my first sip of this one, I had to interrupt my conversation with my coworker just to mention how good this tea is. The world had to know! I drank it cold, and it tastes like honeydew candy! It’s so smooth and delicious. I only have a small bag, but I need more. There’s way more fruit than tea in the leaf, which is a fine ratio for me. The resteep is floral, but otherwise similar. So good.

Yet another from Cameron B!  Thanks so much!  I had always been intrigued by this one, so I am glad I am able to try it.  I have had it QUITE a few times now and haven’t written a note yet.  I mean, if it says anything, this is the tea I have been drinking more often than any other tea, so I think I’m REALLY trying to figure this tea out.  On all of my steepings, I think two teaspoons for a mug really works the best, as less than two teaspoons, it’s just too light in flavor for me. Despite the fierce looking leaves, so tangled together they cling to the teaspoon, it’s another lighter black tea.  It’s in the name: honey.   Sweet, but also slightly squashy, and a bit starchy.  On the first steep, it looks like the leaves are different colors in the basket, which I don’t normally see.  However, this one is slightly more nuanced than other teas that I have had similar to it lately, but is also still a bit of a flavor puzzle, which is why I keep steeping it up but not writing a note.  It’s tasty, but a mystery!  Reading Cameron’s note… I REALLY wish I had gotten more of Cameron’s flavor notes out of this one!
Steep #1 // 2 teaspoons for a full mug // 22 minutes after boiling // 1-2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 3 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep

Trying to get back into writing tasting notes because otherwise it’s impossible to remember what I already tried and how I felt about it.

I like the idea of this tea, but I’m finding this cup rather odd. The chocolate is hiding while the bergamot/stevia combo is more forward and leaves an aftertaste I’m not enjoying. I believe I have another sampler hiding somewhere, so I’ll be giving it another go, but it’s a no for now.

Like Candy Cane Matcha… Gingerbread Matcha is back for the winter, and now newly organic!

This is super similar to the non-organic gingerbread matcha with that darker and more molasses-y spice note. I’ve always found it to be almost more clove heavy, and that holds true now. I will say, if anything, it’s maybe a smidge less sweet? Without having the two side by side I think it’s a darn good match. As super delicious as a latte, of course.

I’m excited to have it back, but to be totally honest my current obsession is definitely Candy Cane. Still plenty of time for me to flip back and forth between the two, though!

Friendly reminder that I do not numerically rate DAVIDsTEA blends as I’m currently employed there and it would be an obvious conflict of interest. Any blends you see with numerical ratings were rated prior to my employment there. These reviews are a reflection of my personal thoughts and feelings regarding the teas, and not the company’s.

Candy Cane Matcha is back for the year… but organic!

Generally speaking the organic reformulations of DT’s different matchas are pretty identical, but this one actually is just a smidge more different. To start, it’s vegan now! The previous version had milk powder in it which helped with creaminess, but that was a struggle for us to do in the same way as an organic blend so to still get that rich creamy flavour we dropped the milk powder and added in a white chocolate flavouring.

Honestly, I love the new organic version. More than the non-organic. In fact I have been on a serious Candy Cane Matcha kick the last week or so. Seriously. I think I’ve had a bowl of it in the morning or at work pretty much every day for the last week, usually as an iced latte. I almost never repeat the teas I’m drinking in the same week; sometimes not even in the same month or months. Plural! But I’m finding this year’s release, especially creamy and cooling, and it’s I guess tickling this deep, dark subconscious part of my brain that is ready for the holidays…

Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBg4P59JRQt/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Uj6QahC-8

Friendly reminder that I do not numerically rate DAVIDsTEA blends as I’m currently employed there and it would be an obvious conflict of interest. Any blends you see with numerical ratings were rated prior to my employment there. These reviews are a reflection of my personal thoughts and feelings regarding the teas, and not the company’s.

Sip Down

This is one of the better apple teas out there. It reminds me of those caramel apple lollipops that are perfect, but will stick to your teeth, forcing one to feel as if they have lockjaw, but are worth the struggle. sigh Anyway, I enjoyed this one!

Sip Down

Opening the bag, I immediately thought of Captain Crunch’s Crunch Berry cereal! Thankfully, there isn’t the same type of waxy coating on the roof of one’s mouth, as with the cereal. I marked a few food items that this tea reminded me of, aside from the strawberry jelly donut, which include, Fruity Pebbles, Crunch Berry cereal, strawberry milk, strawberry milkshake, and strawberry ice cream. It’s safe to say this is a far better option over the actual jelly donut.

Sip Down & Backlog

This reminded me of Girl Scout’s Thin Mint Cookies, with an odd aftertaste. Not such terrible flavor but may have been due to the age of the tea. Considering it sat unopened in my storage for such a long while, and quickly sipped down after discovered, I’d say it was a solid cup!

Sip Down and Backlog

Despite having sat in the bag for two-ish years, the candy cane notes were still there. The snowflake pieces added more texture to the cup, but the black tea base seemed muted, which isn’t an issue considering the final dregs worth of tea were sitting for a long time.

Sip Down and Backlog – Sept. 8

Floral, clean taste, honey flavors and light texture! It was a lovely tea.

Sip Down/Backlog

Another tea that was nearly to the bottom of the bag and a friend helped sip it down! I found an unopened bag of this about two weeks ago (August 19ish). With the weather changing and Fall slowly making its entrance, I decided it was best to make this my daily drink. I knew that this was sitting in the cupboard with enough for two iced matcha’s, so I topped it off during Labor Day!

I got this at the DavidsTEA in Toronto. It was really exciting to go into the shop after buying online for years. I taste the bergamot and some coconut as well. There’s something a little herbaceous in the aftertaste that I wouldn’t have minded being left out, but it’s really not bad. Mixed up in some milk, it’s a nice way to have a matcha feeling in the evening. I bought this in April, and the coconut is starting to go off, so I’m hurrying to finish it up now. My last cup tasted like a mix of floral flavors and old coconut.

Sipdown.

I had this a few times and like other peanut butter teas, I just couldn’t perceive the peanut butter flavour at all. It could be that after having peanut butter powder in a smoothie, I’m expecting that level of flavour. Either way, disappointing. I drank this a while ago and oddly can’t remember my thoughts on the hojicha powder, just the lack of peanut butter flavour.

Sipdown!

I prefer my matcha in latte form, and while this was ok, watermelon milk is not my top choice of flavour. Decent enough flavour, though.

Not bad for a pear tea! I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. None of the flavors are overpowering but it’s not a weak tea either. Just right for the taste

Cold Brew!

I’m still not really sure how to log/talk about this tea without giving away the flavour, but I don’t want that to stop me from enjoying it when I want to. It is damn delicious, and this cold brew was such a refreshing joy. I guess a hint, maybe? Yeah. A hint.

It’s fruity. And maybe a bit nostalgic.

Friendly reminder that I do not numerically rate DAVIDsTEA blends as I’m currently employed there and it would be an obvious conflict of interest. Any blends you see with numerical ratings were rated prior to my employment there. These reviews are a reflection of my personal thoughts and feelings regarding the teas, and not the company’s.

DAVIDsTEA’s newest tea is here, and the flavour… a total mystery!

I usually tea to do a bit of a deep dive into the background and flavour of each new teas and all the different ingredients and why they’ve been added but, well, doing that with this tea would almost defeat the point. Maybe I’ll do it eventually, but for now I think this one needs to stay a mystery to keep things fun.

I think I first had the idea for this ta in late 2021?? I was seeing this resurgance of “mystery flavoured” food and beverage products from companies like Oreo, Milk2Go, Sour Patch Kids, Fanta, and Mountain Dew (among a whole bunch of others) that made me really nostalgic for those types of campaigns in the late 90s/early 2000s. I know mystery flavoured things are definitely not for everyone, but I’ve always LOVED them. I think there’s something so fun and challenging and, ultimately, communal as well about guessing the flavours. I love a good taste test, and it’s just really fun to do it with a group of friends and see if you agree or disagree.

I’ve never seen it down with tea before – I’m almost positive we’re the first. The secret to pulling it off is the flavouring in the blend. Instead of listing out all the flavourings like we usually do (ex. blueberry flavouring, chocolate flavouring, etc) we’ve grouped the two flavours of this tea under “natural flavouring” so it’s a secret. The rest of the blend is really simple – full bodied black tea, some apple for natural sweetness and as a flavour carrier, and then the purple sweet potato as a fun visual cue and nod to the cryptic colours often associated with this food/bev trend. I really, really wanted the visual of the loose leaf tea to be colourful but simple – nothing that would give away the flavour of the tea.

And, without giving away the flavour, I will say that I think this tea is REALLY good steeped a whole bunch of different ways. I’ve personally been mostly drinking it hot or cold brewed, but it’s nice iced too and as a latte (hot or iced). It’s kind of fun experimenting with the steeping and seeing the different ways that effects the flavour. Some of the methods bring out some of the tasting notes more than others.

I will say that the only downside of working on this tea has been that, from day one, I’m the only person who hasn’t gotten to play along with the guessing element of the blend. I’ve always known what it is. I need someone to make me my own personal mystery tea at this point so that I can have my own turn!!

PS. As part of the campaign for this tea, if you live in the US or CA you can try to guess the flavours of the tea at the link below to enter to win a $1000 tea shopping spree. No purchase of the tea necessary, but obviously it’s much easier to guess the flavours if you’ve had a taste ;)

https://davids-tea.wishpond.com/mysterytea/

Friendly reminder that I do not numerically rate DAVIDsTEA blends as I’m currently employed there and it would be an obvious conflict of interest. Any blends you see with numerical ratings were rated prior to my employment there. These reviews are a reflection of my personal thoughts and feelings regarding the teas, and not the company’s.

Found a tiny bit of this one in my work bag. I honestly don’t remember trying it but it looks like the old subscription packaging (I really miss it). I really liked this blend, the fennel is really nice. It’s best with a splash of milk in my humble opinion but I also liked it plain. Wish I had more than just one cups worth… will be looking for more.

This is such a good matcha with the most perfect sweetness to give it the sugar cookie flavor

I haven’t been drinking caffeine, especially coffee (too acidic) but I wavered today and had a mug of this.
Wasn’t a huge fan. It’s really artificial tasting and too sweet with a musty undertone (coconut?) Other than that, it’s just fruity, not much of the green tea flavour is seeping through. Was left feeling unfulfilled and disappointed. Definitely not worth breaking my no caffeine rule.
Going to pass the rest of this on to my Mom who will drink any green tea, even if it’s not her favourite.