Electric Lemonade

2021 Sipdown 37/365!
(DavidsTea 95)

Hmm. A rating of 40? What did this tea do to me? I’m having a small package of it iced right now, and although I don’t think I’m a fan (and, hello sweet blackberry leaves, which I’m mistaking for stevia they are so strong), I also don’t think it’s quite as bad as a 40. Bumping rating to… 55.

However, this is not a tea for me. I don’t know where “electric lemonade” comes from, but this is basically a vaguely fruity-lemony (lemongrass? lemon verbena?), kind of sickly sweet tea. Not working for me. (Also, it contains mate, so somewhat less appealing as an iced tea for the whole family, anyhow.)

Another sipdown from David’s.

If they had just left out the blackberry leaf, I think this would’ve been quite enjoyable. I like the combination of lemon and raspberry, and it pairs well with the green maté base.

But that blackberry leaf… It gives the tea an overwhelming powdery and artificial sweet flavor. Honestly, it tastes like someone added a packet of Sweet ‘n’ Low to my cup…

Nope, not for me.

As a highly caffeinated beverage to enjoy iced in the summer, perhaps with gin or tequila, or as part of a white sangria? Delicious. Brew for as long as possible to bring out the natural sweetness.

As a tea, brewed for a few minutes and drank hot? Underwhelming. The Yerba really really doesn’t go harmoniously with the rest of the fruit flavors until the tea has had a very long time to steep in the fruit and take away the natural sugars from it. The lemon zest is overwhelming and contrasts the smoky flavor of the yerba in the worst way possible.

Not great iced or hot. The almost tobacco-like mate flavor just gets overwhelmed by the artificial fruit flavor.

I iced this. Too bitter. Maybe steep it for a shorter period of time next time?

I was really looking forward to trying this tea. I made a large pitcher to enjoy with my family. Sadly I am disappointed with this tea.

Dried the sour, tangy, strawberry aroma was mouth watering wonderful. It brewed a cloudy yellowish and then went to a pale redish brown colour. The aroma brewed was strawberry, fruity, and sweet and I could not wait to drink it. This is where it all fell apart. The taste was a weird artificial floral taste, nothing like I expected from the aroma and the description.

After several attempts to try this, I just could not finish a single cup. On the upside, my oldest likes this and will take it away with her to College.

Here’s Hoping Teabox – Round Six – Tea #7
Here is an odd one I get to try from Davids. It’s also a teabox sipdown. I thought it was an interesting mix of ingredients but I swear I could only taste splenda. Yuck. Maybe hints of odd fruit here and there. I think the yerba mate at least helped my brain though… I was able to get some focused power reading done yesterday.

I really don’t like this one. It has an odd taste. Maybe it will be better cold brewed.

BACKLOG – This tea I first tried iced and it was pretty good, so I bought 50g of it when it was the tea of the month last year. But soon I found that it bothered my tongue after a while of drinking it… I’m pretty sure its the citric acid in the ingredients that does this. I have a very sensitive tongue when it comes to things like acidic foods or in this case, drinks. It’s just sad because I really do like this tea. I’m just taking a long time to finish what I have of it.
I found a loophole though, I mixed it with Pink Lemonade and it wasn’t so bad on my tongue. So that’s good. Overall though, this is a refreshing summer iced tea. (If you like lemonade)

hah! how long has it been since i was here? too long…

apologies for my lapse, friends. this reviews signals a change. :-) since mid november last year i’ve been at tent city in victoria bc as a support worker. i have been wrangling police, fire, mcfd, provincial reps, parole boards, POs, street nurses, harm reduction teams, MPs, MLAs and news crews. (did i miss anybody? lol) in short it’s been a brilliant zoo filled with incredible characters both tragic and hilarious. that said i am reviewing a DAVID’S tea because i am so broke (did i mention i was unpaid?) that even a DT encroaches on my budget uncomfortably.

i enjoy mates. i like the hum version of caffeine it parcels out and the lack of a crash afterwards- a nice steady caffeine climb. is this the highest quality mate… no. BUT it’s summertime. this time of year i make iced tea… and i never use my highest quality teas to make iced tea, so this tea is more than adequate. it’s light, fresh, tangy and fruity.

back to school and i started paid work this past tuesday. yay affordable mate! also yay 82 million dollars towards affordable, accessible, low barrier housing on vancouver island… it’s a good start.