DAVIDsTEA

I do not like coffee but this chai was not bad. I might pick out the coffee beans and add some more cardamom (I am really starting to like cardamom pods).

Thanks jessiwrites for sending me this to cross off my list :)

My first sips are quite enjoyable. Mostly nutty with a hint of banana. There is a bit of a strange aftertaste. Not aversive, but strange.

I could see this being quite delicious with some sweetening, but I’ll pass on that since it’s good as it too.

I’ll be at my halfway point for exams today! Once the afternoon rolls around I’ll have 3 down, 3 to go. Yes!

Update April 18/13: I just wrote my 4th exam, just two to go now.

I cold brewed this overnight last night to see what would happen. I’d say I like it about equal to the hot version. It doesn’t necessarily taste the same, I’d just drink it either way happily. It has a much more banana scent and taste here, and that bizarre sweet-like aftertaste is slightly stronger in the cold version. It’s as though the cold just made the tastes pop out.

This is a really interesting one. It’s mouth-watering. Quite literally. I guess that’s what they mean by “juicy?” It’s good though; tastes like peach and it has a slightly woody taste to it — reminds me of honeybush, in a way.

Very tart and apple cidery, as most people have noted.

Not sure if I like it, but I don’t hate it. But it’s a nice tisane, or ‘herbal’ tea.

Edit: For the 12g sample I had, I got 2 cups out of this. Reminds me of the Apple Cinnamon oatmeal I usually give my kids. No… I don’t like the tart, bitter flavour of the apples in this. Not going to get this again, but glad I tried it to see what the fuss was about. My cousin had also gotten a sample of this and rather enjoys it.

Strong chai flavor with slightly artificial pumpkin undertones. Very drinkable with cream and brown sugar. Serves its purpose very well but not something I personally will want to keep around all the time!

Thanks for the sample Teamore I was really glad to try this one :)

Finally tasting the sample of this I got from Marcel Duchamp! Mmm chai latte for breakfast :) this tastes exactly as I think it should. I can see why it is so popular!

Teapop time! So I decided to try out DAVIDsTEA “soda tea” recipe that basically makes fizzy iced tea. I think my ratios were a bit off because I’m using a 20oz container instead of a 16oz one like the recipe. It’s definitely not bad though, and I’m not a huge fan of this tea anyway. My version is lacking in flavor a little bit which may be part tea and may be part recipe failure. I’ll definitely try this again with some other teas.

Oh man, I would really like this one if it didn’t taste artificial somehow! It’s not terrible, and I like iron theory but there’s just something weird about it…thanks for the swap anyways Jessiwrites :)

Sound a bit of this one hidden in the cupboard. I knew at one time I had it, but didn’t realize I still had some.
Either way, I’m enjoying it as a latte. I probably shouldn’t have done it this way because A) I’m almost too full to enjoy this one; and B) I don’t like mint teas in latte form for some unknown reason. I really don’t know what that is, but I really don’t like them. They are fine and taste just fine and all that, but as a personal preference, minty lattes are just strange to me.
Anyways, will finish this one soon. Maybe I’ll try it iced? Maybe I should practice my cold latte making. That might make me enjoy it a bit more?

Wow, this tea is… thick? That’s what I was thinking anyway.

I steeped it up and it was quite dark. I was surprised by it honestly. I didn’t expect it to look so dark and basically thick. So, I added a bunch of skim milk… yep a bunch. It needed more than I usually use. Normally I just add a little bit to change the colour mostly. But today, I needed more.

I got the chocolate/mint part no problem. I didn’t notice the vanilla too much tho, unless that just was to add the smoothness to the tea…?

Anyway, it’s a good tea. I think I would maybe get this one again? Actually… I dunno. I really like the Read My Lips. I would probably stick with that one as I like the black tea base a bit more. This is a great option for those looking to stay away from the caffeine but still have a chocolate/mint tea.

Sample sip down!

ARGGGHHHGG! I got the hiccups and they are bothering me! GO away! /hiccuphiccup! I got a sample this with my last DavidsTea online order. I cold steeped this tea for like 7 hours.

Ehhh, it’s okay. The pomegranate is really light as an aftertaste with a snippet of tart. The main flavor is the strong green mixed with a bit of black tea richness in it. I’m oddly picking up some floral, like jasmine. My roommate thought this was a jasmine tea as well.

Drinking this makes me miss Pom Power – now that’s a pomegranate tea!

Backlog 3/25/14: This morning, courtesy of Natalie & DAVIDsTEA, I brewed Nepal Black Western style: 8 oz / 1.25 tsp (2.3g) / 205*F / 4-6 min. without sweeteners, milk, or cream.

I was truly looking forward to reviewing this year’s Nepal Black as I was very impressed with last year’s crop.

Note: The brewing instructions have changed since 4/10/13 when I last reviewed this tea: 1.5 tsp. / 208*F / 4-5 min.

Leaf: Both fine & thick, twisted, dark chocolate brown with some amber, mostly short, with several as long as 3.5 mm
Fragrance: Mild notes of pipe tobacco
Liquor: Clear medium copper
Aroma: Mild earthy
Flavor: Malty

4-min.: Moderately full-bodied, I then let it steep an additional min.
5-min.: A rich, smooth, full-bodied malty tea with a hint of cocoa and a mild sweetness. Unfortunately, the obvious honey aroma & flavor of last year’s crop is not apparent this year. There was no hint of bitterness or astringency.

Re-Steeping:
6-min: Not yet full-bodied.
7-min: Same
8-min: Same
9-min: Same
10-min: Same – Did not re-steep well – light to medium bodied at best.

Compared to last year’s crop:
“*Re-steep*: 5-min: Truly as good as the first cup – Excellent!
2nd Re-steep – 6-min: Nearly as good & still enjoyable! After three cups, there is a wonderful delicate natural sweetness that lingers long on the tongue. Well done!”

Today, 4/1/14, I brewed another cup – 8 oz / 1.5 tsp (3g) / 205*F / 5 min.:
The increased leaf (same as recommended last year) produced a more rounded full-bodied enjoyable cup. However, the honey flavor is still not present and the increased leaf did not significantly improve the re-steep flavor/body.

Impression: This year’s Nepal Black is not the equal of last year’s crop.

Thanks to Natalie & DAVIDsTEA for their gracious sample of this very fine Nepal Black.
Method:
RO water re-mineralized with an Aptera filter http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/39532-puregen-aptera-alkamag-water-filter
http://steepster.com/teaware/teavana/39311-perfect-tea-spoon
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/37731-my-weigh-durascale-d2-660-digital-scale
Brewed western-style conveniently in a tea mug with a brew basket http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/29177-finum-brewing-basket.
http://steepster.com/teas/davidstea/36677-thermometer-and-timer

Sample package label:
“BLACK TEA
There are good things brewing in the Highlands of Nepal. Like this hand-made black tea, from a family-owned tea garden named Jun Chiyabari.

Ingredients: Black tea from Nepal.
1.5 tsp. / 98*C 2084*F / 4-5 min.
PAREVE”

Technique:
6-oz water with total dissolved solids (TDS) of 20 ppm, heated to 212*F and allowed to cool to 208*F – verified with DAVIDsTEA digital thermometer
1.5 Tevanna teaspoons, without sweeteners, milk or cream.

Introduction: This is my first tasting of a black tea from Nepal. I requested this tea because I like to try different teas to challenge my palate and since it was one of the highest-rated unflavored black DAVIDsTEAs per Steepster. I did not know what to expect. But, due to the 86 point rating, I was expecting an enjoyable tea.

Clear amber hue.

4-min Infusion: This tea had a black tea / honey aroma. The initial taste was rich and smooth with the flavor of honey. However, it may not be quite as full-bodied as an excellent Assam and does not provide an initial full mouth feel as some exceptional unflavored black teas.

Re-steep:
5-min: Truly as good as the first cup – Excellent!

2nd Re-steep – 6-min: Nearly as good & still enjoyable! After three cups, there is a wonderful delicate natural sweetness that lingers long on the tongue. Well done!

Impression: A rich and smooth unflavored black tea with the flavor of honey that will go the distance. No additives needed. DAVIDsTEA and the Jun Chiyabari Tea Garden should be proud! – Very Enjoyable!

Many thanks to DAVIDsTEA and Natalie for providing this very generous size free sample. It was very helpful when tasting a truly different unflavored black tea for the first time, especially if more than a tsp/6 oz. is needed.

The taste of the green tea is strong and there is a slight aftertaste of a fruity mango flavour.

Sample package label:
“BLACK TEA
Unlike most black teas, these leaves are lightly steamed during processing – a step usually reserved for Japanese green teas. It’s aromatic and rich, with hints of ripe fruit and dark honey.

Organic black tea, slightly steamed from Fujian Province in China.

1.5 tsp. / 94*C 201*F / 5-7 min.
USDA Organic / Canada Organic Biologique / PAREVE”

Technique:
12-oz water with total dissolved solids (TDS) of 19 ppm, heated to 212*F and allowed to cool to 201*F – verified with DAVIDsTEA digital thermometer
3 Tevanna teaspoons, without sweeteners, milk or cream.

Introduction: This is my first tasting experience with a steamed tea. I requested this tea because I like to try different teas to challenge my palate and since it was one of the highest-rated unflavored black DAVIDsTEAs per Steepster. I did not know what to expect. But, due to the 83 point rating, I was expecting an enjoyable tea.
Note: I wrote this review a few days later from hand written notes I made during the tea tasting.

This tea has a fragrance that reminds me of fine pipe tobacco.

Clear amber brown hue.

5-min Infusion: This tea had a bakery / toasted-nut aroma. The initial taste was not quite full-bodied.
6-min: OK
7-min: A little too long. Strong, brisk, astringent.

Restep:
6-min: Too light
7-min: More enjoyable – woodsy character

2nd Cup:
5-min Infusion: Astringent, somewhat bitter, with the flavor of dark honey.

Restep:
This cup was more enjoyable without bitterness or astringency. The dominant flavor was dark honey.

Impression: My initial experience with this steamed black tea seems to be more similar to indigobloom’s experience: http://steepster.com/indigobloom/posts/135009#likes. After reading some of the more positive tasting notes by more experienced reviewers, I would be interested in tasting this tea again using their notes as a guide.

Many thanks to DAVIDsTEA and Natalie for providing this very generous size free sample, which was very helpful when tasting a truly different unflavored black tea for the first time.