71
drank Secret Weapon by DAVIDsTEA
15695 tasting notes

Thank you VariaTEA for the sample! I’m not quite sure why you passed this one my way; maybe ‘cause of the goji berries since that’s something I’ve been exploring recently? Either way I’m happy you did because when I made it today I definitely had a different experience than when I got it iced at DT a while back…

When I got this last time it was very, very mild in flavour but this is a lot more rich and distinct! I definitely would not have called it a chocolate tea the first time around but now I’m really picking up on that flavour note. Licorice root, almond, and hay are also all especially present with just a touch of fruityness from the orange/goji. I suspect it’s a bit more from the orange though since it has a faint citrusy edge. After a little while it started to taste a tiny bit musty though.

Still, it’s an improvement!

I’ve been looking a lot at job listings recently; it’s not that I dislike my current job because I definitely don’t but I don’t feel super satisfied or challenged being there either. I went from having a lot of responsibility to having essentially none, and while I make decent money (more than I made as a supervisor) and have much better management I feel like I’m more invisible and not doing something as worthwhile. I feel like to reach that level of satisfaction I’m craving I’d have to either actually be “advancing” throughout the company/have some level of authority or be doing something that’s going to create amazing experiences/stories or just be a really unique job to begin with. And, I’ll be honest I miss working so close to home as well…

I just applied to work at an Offsale/liquor store – I feel like that’d be the kind of unpredictable work environment I’m craving. It’s also a lot closer to home, and the hours would be 6PM to 3AM which is a lot more my style too. The other job I’m looking at is working for an inventory company. I know I’d probably hate the job itself, but it’d mean travelling and never working in the same place and that sounds appealing right now too…

But damn; I feel so dissatisfied right now. I have for a long time – the same way I did before I moved here, but I feel like I kind of have the chance to do something about it now? It’s the money aspect that scares me though: I’m in a pretty secure spot right now and doing something else… Well, there’s a risk to that.

PS. I bumped my rating up a bit.

VariaTEA

I sent the sample because I remembered reading a note where you mentioned wanting to pick up more to try it in a different way. So I figured I would help you out with that :P

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VariaTEA

I sent the sample because I remembered reading a note where you mentioned wanting to pick up more to try it in a different way. So I figured I would help you out with that :P

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Bio

Hello! My name is Kelly, though many people in the tea community call me Ros or Roswell.

I am a mid-twenties tea addict, blogger, and all around nerd. I grew up in the Prairies, but a few years ago I relocated to Quebec to pursue a career with DAVIDsTEA in the tea industry! I’m still working on getting my French language skills down…

My first introduction to tea, in any form outside of instant and bottled iced tea, was about seven years ago when I happened to stumble upon DAVIDsTEA while looking for a birthday present for a friend! I tried their Birthday Cake rooibos blend, and I’ve been hooked on tea ever since! In those seven years; I was introduced to the online tea community, expanded my interest in flavoured teas to include a deep love and appreciation for straight teas and traditional brewing methods, got a tea themed tattoo, started reviewing teas, amassed a sizable tea and teaware collection, became a TAC certified Tea Sommelier, & even came full circle by beginning a career in the tea industry with DAVIDsTEA!

I consider myself a Jack of all Teas, and strive to have a knowledge and appreciation of all tea types, formats, and styles of drinking. I don’t like to feel boxed in to just being a “flavoured tea” or “straight tea” drinker – my expectations may vary depending on the type of tea or how it’s been processed/prepared but if it’s good tea, it’s good tea no matter how it’s been made!

You name it, I probably drink it- and I’ll absolutely try anything at least once.

My default method of preparation is hot, Western style, and straight – but I’m not opposed to additions if I’m in the right mood. If I ever add something to a tea or use a different method of preparation I will ALWAYS call it out in the tasting note though.

I like to listen to music when drinking tea, especially when I’m brewing a large pot at a time or steeping Gongfu. Often I curate very intentional tea and music pairings, and sometimes I share them here in my tasting reviews. Music is something that I find can deeply affect the experience of having tea.

I’m also one half of the “tea and fandom” podcast GeekSteep where, weekly, we discuss newly explored fandoms over tea as well as try to figure out the perfect tea to pair with each fandom. You can find us on Spotify and Apple & Google podcasts.

Favourite flavour notes/ingredients: Pear, lychee, cranberry, cream, melon, pineapple, malt, roasty, petrichor, sweet potato, heady florals like rose, hazelnut or walnut, sesame, honey (in moderation), and very woody shou.

Least favourite flavour notes/ingredients:
Lemongrass, ginger, strongly spiced profiles (and most Chai in general), mushrooms, seaweed, chamomile, stevia, saltiness or anything that reminds me too much of meat that isn’t supposed to taste like meat…

Currently exploring/obsessed with: Sheng from Yiwu, Yancha (Qilan in particular), anything with a strong sweet potato note. Also, I need to try ALL the root beer teas! Searching for a really good caramel flavoured blend, ideally with a black tea base.

Please contact me at the instagram account listed below if you would like me to review your teas.

Currently I’m employed in the tea department of the DAVIDsTEA head office. While I’m still sharing my own personal thoughts on new & existing DAVIDsTEA blends, I am no longer numerically rating them due to the obvious conflict of interest. Any comments expressed are a reflection of my own thoughts and opinions, and do not reflect the thoughts and opinions of the company. Any DAVIDsTEA blends you currently see with a numeric score were reviewed prior to my being hired there and have not been adjusted since becoming a DAVIDsTEA employee.

Location

Montreal, QC, CA

Website

https://www.instagram.com/ros...

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