82 Tasting Notes

88
drank Golden Monkey by DAVIDsTEA
82 tasting notes

I am by no means a straight tea connoisseur, and that may be the reason why my experience with this tea was seemingly very different from the other reviews I’ve read. I find many straight black teas to be quite harsh, but this one was something very new to me. The tea was full-bodied and malty, with grain, cocoa, and honey notes. There was very little astringency to this tea, which as you all know, I appreciate! I tend to reach for this tea when I want a full-bodied, rich, comforting cup of tea, especially on cooler mornings (much like today). Overall, this is a straight black tea I’d feel comfortable recommending to straight tea newbies and lovers alike!

Flavors: Cocoa, Grain, Honey, Malt, Smooth

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 4 min, 30 sec

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75

This is the sweetest tea I own due to the immense amount of cane sugar and white chocolate chips in the blend. A true dessert tea.

I only tend to reach for this one when I’m in the mood for something sweet, fruity, and smooth. This is a very one-dimensional tea, I find that I mostly just taste cream, raspberry, and a slight rooibos aftertaste. However, there is nothing to complain about there, because it does creamy raspberry incredibly well. This tea plays well with milk and also works well both hot and iced.

Flavors: Cream, Raspberry, Sweet, White Chocolate

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 6 min, 15 sec

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85

The jasmine green tea base was such a smart move on DAVIDsTEA’s part. I think if a traditional Japanese or Chinese green tea was used, much like many of their other green tea blends, the creamy and buttery flavours would be competing with the grassy and vegetal notes of the tea. However, the jasmine and creaminess complement each other perfectly. The tea is not overly sweet, it combines beautifully with soy milk, it does not require sugar or sweetener, it does not oversteep easily… it’s everything I could ask for in a blend. This is one I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone; it’s absolutely wonderful in every way. Even the name is beautifully fitting.

Flavors: Burnt Sugar, Butter, Butterscotch, Caramel, Cream

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 4 min, 30 sec

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90
drank Just Peachy by DAVIDsTEA
82 tasting notes

This is a go-to tea for me when I’m in the mood for a sweet, drinkable iced tea. However, this one does perform well hot, which isn’t something I can say for all of my favourite iced tea blends. I really only get one flavour out of this tea; a very sweet peach flavour that has a slight sourness to it (reminiscent of a Maynard’s Fuzzy Peach). Sweet blackberry leaf really does something for me in fruity herbal blends, and Just Peachy is no exception. While I wouldn’t recommend this to everyone, especially seasoned straight tea lovers, this is a tea that is a fantastic stepping stone between pop or juice and straight blends.

Flavors: Candy, Peach, Sour

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 6 min, 0 sec

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94
drank Sweet Lime by DAVIDsTEA
82 tasting notes

To me the dry leaf smells somewhat off, but it tastes absolutely out of this world. It’s a go-to tea for me when I’m craving something sweet and citrusy (which happens frequently, 150g of this one usually only lasts about two months and I own probably 20kg of loose tea). When brewed the flavour is very light, with only a slight white tea aftertaste. The tea isn’t astringent whatsoever, with the dominant flavour being that of sweet lime candy and a slight mango flavour. This isn’t a tea I would ever call complex; it’s actually very one-dimensional, but that’s not always a bad thing. It performs equally well hot, iced, and cold-steeped. If you get the chance, definitely try it out!

Flavors: Candy, Lime, Sour

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 45 sec

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95
drank Monk's Blend by DAVIDsTEA
82 tasting notes

Very light and creamy in taste. The jasmine green tea pearls are not a predominant flavour, I might add some Butterfly Jasmine to this one next time (also to preserve my dwindling stash). I find the milk oolong is the predominant flavour and smell, with the white tea sort of mellowing the entire experience.

I typically do not love oolong tea, so the first time I drank this I was pleasantly surprised at how the tea seemed to maintain its delicacy even with such a large amount of oolong in it. This is the perfect morning cup of tea for me in the warmer months, as I often can not stomach a bold black tea on hot mornings. I prefer this tea with a short steep time and low temperature water to maintain its delicacy, when it’s steeped over three minutes I’ve found the oolong flavour can become much too strong.

Flavors: Cream, Grain, Jasmine, Smooth

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 2 min, 30 sec

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72
drank Cinnamint Maté by DAVIDsTEA
82 tasting notes

This tea is very simple which I think was necessary in DAVIDsTEA’s range. The main notes are that of cinnamon and mint, but neither are overpowering and complement each other very nicely. The cinnamon does not linger, which I appreciate. The yerba maté base of this tea is completely overshadowed by the cinnamon and mint. I’ve found this blend to be quite soothing when I’m sick or when I have a stomachache.

Flavors: Cinnamon, Peppermint

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 5 min, 15 sec

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90

I was not expecting to enjoy this one as much as I do. Due to the peppermint and lime, it’s an extraordinarily refreshing blend. In other reviews, a common complaint was that there wasn’t enough peppermint, but I think if they added any more it would become overpowering (e.g. Snow Day). Instead, the peppermint provides a light cooling sensation on the tongue that is extremely pleasant. The raspberry flavour is foremost in this blend, with the hibiscus taking a backseat (thank goodness). A light citrus flavour, likely the lime, is present, complementing the peppermint nicely. Overall, it’s a lovely herbal fruity blend that is best iced and very different to anything in DAVIDsTEA’s core collection.

Flavors: Lime, Peppermint, Raspberry

Preparation
Iced 5 min, 0 sec

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67
drank Lady Marmalade by DAVIDsTEA
82 tasting notes

A smooth, fruity, sweet black tea with apricot and cream notes. I don’t taste ginger, cinnamon, or nutmeg, which is relieving, because I dislike all of those ingredients. It’s completely unlike anything DAVIDsTEA currently has in their collection, which I appreciate. I really enjoyed sipping on this one, but I’m not sure if this one will become an everyday sip for me.

Flavors: Apricot, Cream

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 4 min, 30 sec

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90

When I first began drinking DAVIDsTEA I was a very casual tea drinker, but this tea was a go-to then and it continues to be to this day. It was the first tea I ever tried from the company, and I find it to be quite a nostalgic sip. DAVIDsTEA carries other fruity green tea blends that are in my opinion superior to this one, but I still find myself refilling my little tin of it time and time again. The green tea flavour is light and not at all astringent or grassy. The fruitiness of the pineapple and passionfruit complements the green tea base in the most pleasant of ways. I find that this tea is delicate while being full-bodied, and light in flavour while still robust. I truly have nothing negative to say about this tea!

Flavors: Fruity, Passion Fruit, Pineapple, Smooth

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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Profile

Bio

I’ve been drinking tea for as long as I can remember — my mom used to have “tea time” with me every afternoon, drinking some Twinings Earl Grey with milk and sugar in my grandmother’s antique tea cups. Before I went to university, I worked at a DAVIDsTEA in my hometown, which solidified the obsession.

I’m in my first year of law school, after completing an undergraduate degree in political science and anthropology. I use she/her pronouns, and I’m vegetarian (not quite vegan — I still drink blends that contain milk-based ingredients). My other hobbies include fragrance, crocheting, journalling, skiing, hiking, and reading sci-fi and fantasy novels.

LIKES
Apple, peppermint, caramel, vanilla, coconut, jasmine tea, malty black teas, sweet blackberry leaves, guayusa, white tea, peach, strawberry, raspberry leaves, Chinese teas, anything smooth and creamy!!! Highly caffeinated blends have my heart.

DISLIKES
Ginger, cinnamon, peppercorns, hibiscus, alcoholic notes, stevia. I prefer teas that don’t contain dairy or artificial flavouring.

RATING SYSTEM
85-100: A-range. Excellent and exceptional.
70-84: B-range. Very good.
55-69: C-range. Average.
40-54: D-range. Not good.
0-39: F-range. Strongly dislike.

Location

Alberta, Canada

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