17072 Tasting Notes
Iced!
It always makes me sad how under the radar this tea was when it launched. I had this iced a few days ago while at work and it was just so, sooo good. Fresh strawberries, creamy banana, and silky coconut that combine to really sell this rich and bright but also sweet and mellow smoothie sort of flavour. Plus, you still taste the undertones of oolong. A little more mineral and nutty. A delicious way to cool down.
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.
Usually I have this tea iced or cold brewed, but I made a hot cup a couple nights ago and it was pretty good. The tartness of the hibiscus and a little more of their “elderberry funk” gets brought out when steeped hot, but it’s still a lovely balance of deep, purple jammy berries with a floral backbone and I thought it made a pleasant late night cuppa.
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.
An evening cuppa from earlier in the week. It’s nothing incredibly special, but it’s solid and predictable which is maybe more important to me when it comes to a genmaicha. I just want something warm and toasy with that smooth brown rice flavour that feels like a comforting hug. This was that.
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.
Made a hot cup of this for myself last night and it was just so wicked smooth but also crisp and juicy. Just a truly full f life and effervescent sweet apple flavour with a round mouthfeel and slightly creamy finish.
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.
One of several teas that I made pitchers of iced tea of for our coworker’s maternity leave party. This was the one that I poured a cup of for myself though. Punchy, sweet and juicy cherry notes with just a hint of fig. Like an adult cherry ice pop. Very delicious for a big pizza lunch.
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.
A very close friend and coworker had her last work day yesterday before going on maternity leave, so we did a bit of a party in the office for her. In addition to pitchers of iced tea that I’d steeped we also had cans of RTD available to drink with the pizza lunch. I, of course, had both iced tea and RTD. Actually, if I’m being honest, a few cans of the RTD. I was thirsty. I was very pleasantly surprised by just how incredibly this paired with the sundried tomato and goat cheese pizza I was munching on. Very delish!
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.
A late night cuppa that I pulled out because I wanted something relaxing, a little bit sweet, and kind of minty. Well, this incredibly lush and round feeling spearmint flavour of this blend checks off the last two criteria on that list while also masking the chamomile in the tea that takes care of the relaxing part. Very nice cuppa.
Gongfu Sipdown (2781)!
Though everything is still kind of brown and dead outside, this is the first weekend this year that’s been warm enough for a real, proper outdoor tea session – and I’m definitely not letting that go to waste! The tea is smooth, crisp and mellow with notes of sugar snap peas, cucumber skins, and fresh flowers like lilacs. Kind of perfect for this first Spring session in the park, and for the little burst of umami that these cherry tomatoes contribute in between the steeps. It’s like a liquid garden party, if you will. Definitely getting me really stoked for being able to enjoy my daily tea outdoors a little more consistently in the coming weeks!!
Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHjgnfeyEth/?img_index=1
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edF7kuM57uI&ab_channel=Jaeger-Topic
Gongfu!
This was a gift shortly after I moved out to Montreal, and one of the older sheng pu’erh that I have in my stash. Twenty five years, in fact!! It’s highly aromatic with such an intensely deep, nuanced profile that I just fully melted right into from the first sips of the session. I get all sorts of earthy notes like petrichor, oak, decaying wood, rain-soaked soil, and earth caked garden beets as well as an almost numbing mix of spices like clove, allspice, vanilla with a punchy finish of camphor and sandalwood. However, absolute favourite notes of the session is this really fleshed out, anchoring flavour of antique, leather-bound books balanced out by whispy, fleeting tastes of smoke and incense. It makes me feel like I’ve retreated deep into some old parlor room or study on a dark, stormy day just lost in a good book!
Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHmKuzcy-9X/?img_index=1
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1u_hL11auM&ab_channel=HozierVEVO
I find your notes on this sheng to be quite bewitching! You’ve transported me somewhere I can’t quite identify, but I sure like it! I feel like I could give a few turns to the bedknob and be taken from Miss Price’s stone abode off to an adventure on Portobello Road! Thanks for evoking childhood memories of Bedknobs and Broomsticks!
