Sweet Strawberry

I had a lot of iced tea this weekend. You see, it was Pride Weekend in Toronto so we spent the entire weekend downtown. I’ll tell you that no matter how much prepared tea you carry on your back, you will run out eventually and will be at the mercy of someone else, in my case the staff of the Church Street location of DT in Toronto.

I really wanted coconut grove. Sorry, we’re out. Ok, I’ll take mango madness. Out. Fine, how about tropicalia. Sorry, we’re out of that one too. Dude, really?!? So we ended up with Bear Trap and Sweet Strawberry. The sweet strawberry was yucky. Couldn’t even drink it. Tasted like someone was trying to save strawberries that have gone off by drying them and shoving them in tea. it didnt have that juicy berry freshness. Not to mention that it was mostly water by the time I was halfway through. sigh

Glad I tried it there before buying my own.

Dry Leaf Nose: Sweet strawberry.

Liquor: Pink

Flavour: Strong strawberry flavour with a naturally sweet finish. The white teas give the cup an excellent mouthfeel and a lively, fruit-like quality.

Birthday TOTD!

I had this yesterday in my promo mug. I was really excited for this one — I looove strawberries and it was promising a strawberry punch. How perfect that it was one of the TOTDs on my birthday :D

I had never tried the Strawberry White, so I can’t compare the two. Thinking back, I’m not sure why I never got around to it, considering the aforementioned strawberry love. I guess it just sounded a little boring? Looks like I’m a sucker for a good name.

I found this a little bitter (as I often do with white teas) and it didn’t have the burst of strawberry flavour I was expecting. I enjoyed my cup, it wasn’t horrible, it was just overwhelmingly ‘meh’. White tea flavour in the background, a hint of berry sweetness, and some tart/sour notes from the rosehips and hibiscus. I’d probably have it again as a TOTD but I won’t be buying any for my stash.

This is one of four tea’s that I have sipped down! I wonder if I should reward myself by buying more??!! Thank you JustJames for a sample of this one.

The dry leaf definitely smells of sweet strawberry. The tea brews to a lovely rose colour. I thought this was a good sign.

The first couple of sips I didn’t get very much strawberry flavour. As the tea cooled, it imparted a light tartness that I guess was supposed to be strawberry. I always found strawberries to be a little sour, so I don’t why I would think strawberry flavoured tea would be any different.

The tea was ok. I don’t think it’s one that I would purchase, but am glad that I got to try.

I received this in a swamp from tigress_al & finally got around to trying it this morning.
The dry notes smell lightly of strawberry. It steeps to a nice red/orange colour. And tastes yummy, like a very ripe strawberry, with a touch of white tea base. I love strawberry & love this tea. I had it iced of course.

Why, DT, why?

You want to make a white, sweet strawberry tea?

THEN DON’T PUT HIBISCUS IN IT FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

WHY DO YOU PUT HIBISCUS IN EVERYTHING?!?!?!?!

gasp

This blend is an insult to the former Strawberry White. And the quality of silver needles isn’t that bad. What’s bad is picking out little bits of hibiscus in the dry leaf and having it still be super sour and NOT TASTY.

Sipped down. Forever.

End rant.

This one smelled pretty good dry, but steeped it smells more like fake strawberry. I despise fake fruit tastes.

Hmm it’s not too bad for the first sip. The smell is certainly worse than the taste – thank goodness.

Eh. I could take it or leave it. Not bad, not all that great. The white tea is lovely but the strawberries not so much. At least the hibiscus doesn’t attack you.

Update: Certainly getting better as it cools, though still not good enough to keep it around.

Sample sipdown! Thanks to whatshesaid for the sample.

The dry leaves smell just like dried strawberries. They make up a pretty strawberry-colored brew with a lovely natural strawberry smell. It tastes just like a strawberry too! Looks like I’ve found a DavidsTea I like! I’m especially surprised because I usually don’t like stevia in a tea blend. The aftertaste is all hibiscus, but I don’t mind that.

Chilled, it’s still sweet and juicy, but the stevia flavor really comes out and I really don’t like stevia. So the iced strawberry tea idea was a bust.

To-go cup today from the Ottawa Richmond store! I love seeing different Davidstea stores! If I had all the money in the world, I’d travel to each one. haha

Anyways, I decided to try something different and I got this one as I have yet to try it. I’m starting to get on the white tea bandwagon finally! White teas are SO nice! (As long as you prepare it properly!)

So this one was my choice for the day. It’s nice white tea, so a bit lighter in flavour with some amazing strawberry flavour! I absolutely loved it. I had it straight up; this one doesn’t need anything added to it. I inhaled it. Even having it after it cooled, the strawberry flavour was light and sweet and awesome. I probably let it steep a bit too long, but it didn’t harm the flavours at all. I’d get this one again in a heartbeat.

I had this tea on my list to try, so when we went into David’s today I decided to get a cup to go. It smells amazing – lots of strawberries! However, it’s not as full as strawberry flavour as I had hoped. The white tea base went a little bitter, which is something I can’t stand. After sitting in my (new!) mug for a few more minutes, I think the stevia helped the strawberry flavour come out more, but it just isn’t what I had hoped for.

I did add a little honey to the tea to see if it helped, but it didn’t really. The result is that this is a tea that I’ve taken off my shopping list, but if I received some as a gift I would probably drink it.