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I totally forgot that this was a tea I could have while staying at my Dad’s! He just happens to have a full tin of it – in fact, it’s the only DAVIDsTEA that he and my Stepmom have ever actually purchased (though now I’ve left a fair bit here for him to have).

So, I made this last night in a timolino and then promptly forgot about it – so I’m drinking it in the morning stone cold now. But that’s ok, I actually prefer this cold and as a morning tea anyway, so I suppose that all works out pretty well. I always consider this my “peaches and cream oatmeal” tea because that’s what it tastes like to me, though I’m finding this timolino full is pretty vegetal in taste and that’s turning me off a fair bit.

Sadly this timolino full used up the last of the leaf I brought with me for this blend – though thankfully I still have lots at home to enjoy.

And also sadly, my sore tooth is acting up again…

Anyway, steeping parameters were 2 tsp. of leaf in the 12 oz. timolino in boiling water for four minutes. I also added in a splash of milk.

This smells lovely, and tastes lovelier! Gentle chai spices, creamy pumpkin flavour, and sweet notes of honey, caramel, and brown sugar. I only wish it would cool down just a little faster.

I’m also a little frustrated, albeit with myself. I’ve had some serious cravings for Genmaicha the last day or so, and despite having five variations at home, I decided not to bring any of them. Shame on me.

Finally trying one of my CaesarsTea samples from VariaTEA! I brought this one with on my vacation knowing I’d likely got short on some teas, and that’d force me to try the samples I’d brought which I’ve been sort of putting off trying at home. That’s been pretty true so far (and I still have five days left here).

I don’t remember why I asked for a sample of this one: maybe because it’s a flavoured black, and I don’t particularly have an orange flavoured black I keep in regular stock. Anyway, the sample I received from VariaTEA certainly doesn’t have as many non-tea bits as the display picture shows, so I don’t know if that’s gonna affect what I taste at all.

Parameters for the mug I’m drinking were: 1 1/2 tsp. of leaf in an 8 oz. mug steeped with boiling water for four minutes – which was the low end of the suggested steep time spectrum. I went with the low end partially because I was worried about this being bitter, and partially because the other teas I was simultaneously steeping had steep times right around that point as well.

Dry this has a very faint orange smell; like orange rinds with an equally faint black tea smell. Steeped, the liquor is a sort of watery brown with some muddled red hues in there and smells like faint, creamy orange. I drank the first half of the mug while catching up on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, and honestly wasn’t paying attention to taste – but I happily sipped at it so I suppose that says it wasn’t gag inducing awful.

Eventually I did start paying attention to the taste, and really this isn’t bad though it doesn’t scream “Blood Orange” to me – more so just sweet, regular run of the mill orange. It’s not really that bold in the flavouring, and surprisingly more delicate than I would have imagined, but that could be a result of the low steep time. The orange is light, sweet, and surprisingly creamy and I also get notes of lemon and super faint notes of maybe grapefruit? But a sweeter grapefruit – not a bitter taste. There’s also a sort of floral quality to this, but I’m having a hard time placing what. A few sips reminded me of sweet orange juice, as well. It almost feels like maybe this should have orange pulp in it?

Honestly, it’s a pretty good cup – though nothing exceptional, and not really Blood Orange like titled. I’m surprised at how good and creamy it is, especially after reading Sil’s tasting review in which she characterised this as very tart. I get no tartness at all, nor any astringency/bitterness. Maybe I just hit the sweet spot with the steep time? I have enough for one more cup, so maybe I’ll push for a longer steep time with that one.

Anyway – I’d happily drink this again. But would I want anywhere near 50g more of it? Probably not – it’s not that exceptional.

Thanks VariaTEA! I think this was a good introduction to CaesarsTea.

PS. Poor Coulson :(

Made in my timolino and left to sit for probably six or so hours while I was out today. Parameters were 2 tsp. of leaf, 12 oz. timolino with boiling water steeped for four minutes. This time I didn’t add anything to it at all.

I was actually out today doing some shopping; and one of the places I went to was Cuppa’T Specialty Teas. They have a cool store with lots of neat teaware – my Dad even purchased a Gaiwan for himself, but decided against it ultimately because he didn’t like the handle. They also had a really large range of tea tins with all different designs. The customer service was great too.

I ended up getting a cumulative 200g of tea; 50g of four different blends. My Dad purchased 50g of straight ginger as well (yuck). Sadly, the one blend I was more interested in wasn’t in stock, but I’m feeling really good about the four I did settle on. And, with the exception of the RiverTea order I’ve mapped out, I’m now on tea buying hiatus (tea tins don’t count) until probably March (my birthday)…

Anyway, back to THIS tea! It’s not as good as last night’s cup – the grenadine taste is still there but milder (reminds me a little more of cherry tonight), though I think I’m getting the vanilla a little more this time around. However, ultimately the black tea base is quite strong and quite astringent; way more than it was last night and quite close to crossing the line into unpleasantness. I’m thinking this was just oversteeped or this is a result from sitting for around six(ish) hours today: it’s possible some finer bits made it through the mesh strainer and have just been sitting all day getting bitter.

It did get a bit better as it got colder, though. And it’s not like it was undrinkable.

Made hot in my timolino this morning to accompany my morning Brasiliano. 2 tsp. of leaf, steeped in boiling water for four minutes – taken with two cream. A little bit astringent (I’m finding this isn’t the best travel tea), but overall very nice.

I woke up this morning with completely dried out lips due to straight clove oil coming in contact with them; trust me, it’s not pleasant and I do not recommend it. Basically, I was having such intense tooth pain that the diluted clove oil my step mom was giving me to dab on the sore area wasn’t doing anything – so I applied straight clove oil which totally numbed the pain, but also resulted in my puffy/cracked nightmareish looking mouth. Ew.

Combine that with the fact I had an allergy attack (albeit a mild one), and I’m a bit of a sight for sore eyes right now.

Anyway, I made this to drink cold this morning, to kind of “jump start” my day and get me more energized/feeling a little better. I used 1 1/2 tsp. of leaf for an 8 oz. mug, and steeped it for four minutes in boiling water. It was pretty rich and hazelnut/toffee smelling, with a nice roasty, almost coffee like quality in the background.

Taste wise, it was definitely a sweet toffee and hazelnut flavour with the same deep, roasted earthy mate flavour that vaguely reminded me of toffee – though stronger than was in the smell. Didn’t get much of the sunflower today – but it was still really good.

I’ve had this tea a few times before during prior trips to The Vintage Tea Room back when I still lived in Regina. I enjoyed it then, but I don’t think I appreciated it nearly as much – probably because I was relatively new to tea and didn’t have anywhere near as varied a pallet as I do now.

I purchased 50g today, and today is my first time making it at home under my own parameters. So, I steeped up 1 1/2 tsp. of leaf in boiling water for four minutes. I then added in some milk, because that’s how I’ve taken this every time I’ve had it at the tea room. I do plan on enjoying it straight soon, though – to see what the difference in taste is.

Dry, this has an almost overwhelming smell of grenadine with wisps of black tea and fragrant floral and vanilla notes. It’s very sweet smelling. Steeped, this is much the same; strong notes of sweet grenadine, and floral notes that are stronger steeped than dry. The vanilla is still there, but not as much so.

Taste wise; this is very rich and full bodied with a nice Ceylon base. The grenadine in this is the most prominent flavor and definitely takes center stage; it’s very sweet and kind of fruity, reminding me of a mix of maybe pomegranate and raspberry. The vanilla is very mild and definitely sits comfortably in the background. The floral notes I pick up in the dry and steeped smell don’t come off as strongly in the taste – a little less present than the vanilla, but still just noticeable.

This is very good hot or cold, and I find it very smooth and clean with no bitterness or astringency. Drinking it now, I definitely have more of an appreciation for it than I did previous times when I wasn’t as knowledgeable of “experienced” of a tea drinker. I will happily finish off the rest of this – but maybe not too quickly; I don’t know when I’ll next be in Regina to pick up more of this, if necessary.

Made this in the morning in one of my two timolinos to enjoy later today. My preparation was 2 tsp. of leaf, steeped with boiling water for five minutes.

Dry, this smells super fragrant and lemony with a light honeycomb like sweetness to it. My Step Mom commented that it smelled like “natural perfume”, and while I agree it’s very strong and natural smelling, it doesn’t remind me of perfume – but maybe that’s because I associate most perfumes with a chemical smell.

Taste wise – I swear I’ve had this before. It’s incredibly familiar, but I know this is my first time trying this. Why is this so familiar…

I KNOW! Taste wise, this tastes almost exactly like Della Terra’s Lemon Chiffon! Yes – it’s basically the same sweet lemon flavour, and creaminess but without the pepperiness, which I suppose makes sense; these are both teas with lemon flavour and rooibos – and both are very good.

I think I’ll stick with Lemon Chiffon since I have 2 oz. of it to drink, and Good Morning Sunshine as a high energy lemon tea to drink as well – which basically covers both ends up the spectrum; high energy and no energy. This is great and I’ll enjoy the 20g or so I have left, but since I already have similar there’s no need to get any more of this.

Sipdown (162)!

Thank you VariaTEA for this sample! I was very excited to try it seeing as I am a huge lover of both pineapple (favourite fruit) and coconut. Sadly, this is my first and last time trying it because I used up all the leaf in the sample for a timolino full of this.

So, just a little over 2 tsp. of leaf, boiling water in my 12 oz. timolino for five minutes. I actually made this in the morning in case I wanted something to drink on the long bus ride back from The Vintage Tea Room, but I’ve held off on trying it until now with supper (vegetable stir fry, noodles, and kiwi – it’s super nice not having to cook for myself while on my ‘vacation’).

Dry, this smelled very intensely of sweet, rummy pina colada; very heavy on the coconut. Steeped, this was much the same way; very sweet with an especially strong coconut smell, and a very rummy quality. There was also something that made me think of floral perfume which seemed like a rather odd smell to pick up from this blend.

Taste wise, this has is more coconut than pineapple like I expected after the smell – however, the pineapple is a little stronger in the tail of the sip and lingering into the aftertaste. The rum taste is also pretty strong, and it adds greatly to the tea. There’s also a woody, and distinct honeybush taste which is nice because I thought the base would be totally masked based on how powerful the smell is. Nothing floral or perfumey in taste, but I do still get that from the smell.

I’m sad this is gone; I would definitely buy it again. DAVIDsTEA’s Tropicalia is another favourite of mine which is also a Pina Colada tea – though these two blends are distinct enough I would want both around.

Also – my new white timolino is definitely not retaining heat as well as my black one. I made two teas steeped the same way this morning; one in each, at the same time and this has cooled much more than the black one has. Huh – I wonder why that is…

I met up with a friend today for tea at The Vintage Tea Room! We split a pot of this tea upon my insistence; I never have bloom teas because I don’t have a teapot that allows me to appreciate their beauty at home. Though – the older sales lady gave my friend and I a “knowing” look after ordering a love themed tea, prompting both he and I to insist we were just friends.

I didn’t realize upon ordering that this was green tea (for whatever reason I was thinking it was white), but it was pretty apparent after my first sip because this had a strong grassy taste to it. Despite that, which is typically a turn off, this was very enjoyable. The jasmine was the most prominent taste in a very real and natural way – not at all perfumey. I actually struggled a bit to taste the the lavender, which is one of the advertised flavours, but the lily was very noticable to me.

This was a very enjoyable sweet, floral tea and I was quite happy to enjoy several cups of it while catching up with my friend. I had somehow blocked out the fact he’s so much of a conspiracy theorist – but hey, at least the conversation was always interesting.

And the tea was just beautiful after it had fully flowered!

I also ended up purchasing 50g of Monk’s Blend and 50g of Prince of Wales after inquiring as to where they get their tea from (mostly so I could accurately log things – turns out it’s from The Metropolitan Tea Company). Both smell incredible, and I can’t wait to try them!

PS. If you’re ever in Regina and go here for tea I highly recommend the cucumber cranberry cream cheese sandwich as the perfect food to enjoy with your tea!