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This just really isn’t spectacular. At least, not for me. I actually have even more of it now because the DT near me was celebrating it’s first birthday over the weekend and giving out goody bags with a sample of this and Green Seduction. We ended up with three of them (I wanted the tins!) but that also means three more cups of Creme Brulee to drink.

I find the smell really unappetizing, though luckily the flavour is a little better than the aroma. At first I get a slight hint of caramel but mostly end up with a sugary icing-esque flavour. It’s definitely not memorable and for me, sadly, not all that enjoyable either. I think I might mix a bit of it with something more interesting so I can power through however many grams I have left. I believe MaddHatter recommended a mix with Oh Canada, which I might try, except I like Oh Canada! : )

EDIT: I think part of my problem with this one is that it somehow gives me a coconut sort of a vibe. Oy.

THanks again to Fusion Tea Room for yet another glorious sample. I never used to be a fan of chocolate in tea, but have gone on a kick lately so this seems suitable. The smell in the bag is chocolate chocolate chocolate…with a hint of mint and sweetness from the apple. With the inclusion of yogurt, this almost has the aroma (and taste) of chocolate covered raisins.

The apple lends a sweetness to the tea, mixing with the chocolate to make a surprisingly sweet and rich flavour – Honestly, I didn’t expect it to work so well. I find Fusion Tea Room puts apple in unusual combinations, and so far it has worked out every time. I know that I wouldn’t think of apple and chocolate, though it does lend a flavour similar to chocolate covered raisins. The star of the show for me in this one is totally the chocolate though. I wish the mint were stronger in this blend, but that is something that I could easily remedy by adding some extra mint of my own.

I’ve got to say, I’m impressed. This is one I would definitely consider getting more of if I place an order with Fusion. It shares qualities with the Read My Lips that I (now) love from David’s Tea, but the yogurt and apple really push it over the top. Even cold (as the bottom of this cup was by the time I got to it) this is a rich tasting tea with a thick mouthfeel. Mmm!

Edit to add: I know that I have used the word sweet a lot in my Fusion Tea reviews, but honestly, they are. I was given a sampler of various dessert style teas and they are all just so…sweet! : )

Thanks again to Fusion Tea Room for this sample. This is the first Tulsi I have tried, so I am not sure what to look for there, but I ended up with a sweet liquor, fairly applish with a hint of cinnamon which actually worked nicely to give the impression of baked apples and/or pears. As with the Mango Mate from Fusion Tea Room, this brewed a very sweet pot of tea and would make a wonerful dessert treat. I believe it will make a very strong second steep which I might try later on, unless I want to move on to something else. I picked up quite a bit on the pineapple pieces in the tea, and I believe they are what leant the brew such a sweet fruit taste.

I got more apple in this tea than pear, but it was almost like a candied or sugared apple. If anyone else would take apples, cut them up and mix them in cinnamon sugar as a child, it’s almost like that. I don’t know who created that snack, by the way. Here, take this sweet fruit then add sugar! Brilliant! : )

When I first read about this tea, it sounded like a Zing Me substitute. When I smelled it, I was convinced. The staffer at my local DT also agrees. This is Zing Me, minus ginger and with the addition of yogurt, which I love. It lends a creaminess that put me in mind of a peach Campino hard candy, if anyone remembers those. I really enjoy it, and think that it is an acceptable Zing Me substitute. Also, it seems to be really hard to over-steep as this one was in the cup for at least 7 minutes and didn’t get bitter at all. After one sip, I bought 50 grams to take home. Yup.

Continuing on the mate learning curve, I’ve opted to try this sample from Fusion tea room. They sent me four of their flavoured mates, and I am excited to try them all. In the bag, this has a strong (though slightly artificial) mango aroma. Very ripe and sweet smelling. While steeping, the liquor is a vibrant yellow and the smell is still enticingly mango wafting through the apartment. The beau comments that it “looks like pear” and I think I also get a smell that is a bit like extremely ripe pears. Well done, beau!

For my Canadian friends, the mango smell is reminiscent of David’s Tea’s Mango Madness, which I quite enjoyed. When I get very close to the cup, I get a buttery almost coconut sort of smell. That worries me a bit, but it still smells more like mango than anything else. I’m not all that clear on what mate smells/tastes like yet as I’ve only had it flavoured, but nothing stands out that might be mate.

First sips are sweet mango. Not just ripe mango, but it tastes as if sugar has been added. There is no bitterness and nothing I can define as mate, this just really tastes like mango tea. As the cup cooled I found it seemed more and more sweet until it was a bit sweeter than I’d like, but I don’t know what contributed that. This was more mango flavoured than anything I’ve had before. Nice to have tried, but I don’t think I’ll buy more. Continued to learn that mate doesn’t give me an energy boost as I am strongly considering a nap right now. But at least I had yummy tea!

I’m amazed. It was David’s first birthday at the location near me today so I stopped in to celebrate, re-fill our Jungle JuJu and Honeybee. I decided to grab a cup of this to go, as I am trying a number of mate teas lately and find I am really enjoying them. Caffeine has no noticable effect on me, so they are really just another yummy field of tea for me.

As many know, I don’t really like chocolate in tea but have had such positive experiences today that I figured I’d try for it. And man, am I glad that I did!! This was delicious. At first, it was totally just chocolate and raspberry which isn’t a taste I liked but it totally worked. As it cooled, the chickory, chocolate and mate dominated with the raspberry fading out. I think I am going to go by 100 grams of this tomorrow, as it’s nice to have another delicious substitute for hot chocolate. Honestly, I’m so wowed. Well done David’s! Also, I think I might really like mate…woo!

I did something radical this morning. I steeped a tea – this tea – to package specifications. It’s been so long since I had this that my taste memory is mostly gone but I do perceive some differences. Firstly, I actually got some vanilla flavour. Still no apple, but what the hey. Secondly, it’s actually a delightfully mild but spicy chai.

I used 2 tsp. (I can see why – white tea being so fluffy and all that in terms of volume it looks about the same as 1 tsp. of other teas) and steeped for 2 minutes. My water might have been too hot as I am at work, but it still worked out. I still had that weird smell I get from 52Teas Bai Mu Dan (I don’t notice it with other companies, I don’t know what’s up with that!) but it isn’t translating into the taste. I do get a white tea taste in the middle of the sip, which is also new for me and this tea. Either that or I have finally learned what white tea tastes like. Either way, yay!

Tea #1 of 12 from the exceptionally generous sampler package from Fusion Tea Room. Thanks, Fusion! I have been big into herbals and tisanes for years, and even when I go on a different kick (such as my recent fondness for unflavoured blacks) I always still enjoy them. This one smells very berry in the bag, with no discernible note over-ruling though I do think strongly of strawberries and raspberries. Steeped, it turns a deep red fairly quickly but the smell is muted quite a bit and I couldn’t pick out one particular scent.

First sips are berry, but gentle. The hibiscus does NOT come up as tart as I expected based on the colour but does add a little balanced tartness at the end of the sip. The lingering taste is of strawberry and raspberry (I would say more raspberry than anything) which is very exciting. I have very few teas that capture raspberry and this one does it. Of course, it is still a ‘berry melange’ and not just a cuppa raspberry tea, but it’s really enjoyable and surprisingly sweet. I’ve got to say, this raspberry note sort of blows me away. I think this could have done with a bit more steeping for full strength (I was worried about the hibiscus) but this first cup is excellent. The beau comments that it “tastes like a watered down juice. I like that.” : )

Enjoyed a decadent cup of this at work this morning, thanks to Taryn who keeps posting about it! My cup was very minty, but the chocolate was surpringly rich, almost as good as drinking hot chocolate with mint tea in it, which I love to do. Only better for me! : ) At the very end of the cup the peppercorns really came out to play which I enjoyed. I don’t remember them being very flavourful in previous infusions so it was a real treat to have that peppery edge. It takes this tea from plain but yummy chocolate mint to awesome.

Also, I think I might like chocolate tea in general now, huzzah! I think I finally feel ready to try Joy’s Teaspoon’s sample of Chocolat Pot de Tea.

Okay, it finally happened. I finally, after more than a year of loose leaf love, have fallen out of love with my bagged Twinings Black Currant. It makes me sad, but also excited becuase now I can officially begin the hunt for an amazing loose black currant. Unfortunately, I rarely see ‘plain’ black currant black teas. What’s up with that? : )