DAVIDsTEA

Happy Matcha Monday!

This tea actually came out last week, but I’ve been waiting to write my tasting note for it because it was part of this past week’s morning matcha round-up.

It’s certainly not the first time that DT has tackled a coconut matcha before. We’ve previously had both a Coconut Water Matcha that was a little more light and mellow tasting as well as an unsweetened coconut matcha. However, with both of these matchas there was basically one common piece of feedback we kept hearing over and over: an interest in a sweeter, more creamy and decadent coconut flavour. And so, that is what we’ve delivered!

You totally can make this a bit more refreshing and mellow by having it over ice and dialing back the amount of matcha used just a little bit, but really this is for all the people who wanted really creamy, rich coconut that would SHINE when made into a hot or iced latte. Very, very coconut cream pie vibes. I will say, I count myself among the crew that love this as an iced latte. So good!

This time around however I just had it hot and plain because I wanted to take this new chawan I picked up from Secret Tea Time (at Toronto Tea Festival) for its first spin.

Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUjgG4FEixQ/?img_index=1 (First Pic)

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgZ5Bcvnb6Y

Friendly reminder that I do not numerically rate DAVIDsTEA blends as I’m currently employed there and it would be an obvious conflict of interest. Any blends you see with numerical ratings were rated prior to my employment there. These reviews are a reflection of my personal thoughts and feelings regarding the teas, and not the company’s.

This Japan-inspired twist on an Earl Grey is brand new!

We actually debuted this EG at the Toronto Tea Festival this past weekend, but it’s now live in store and online as well. It was absolutely incredible to get such a positive reception to it at the festival and to see so much live feedback and first impressions. I live for that kind of thing!

I’ve talked about it before, but getting to work on reinvented classics of the tea world, like Earl Grey or chai blends, at some of my all time favourite development projects. Putting your own stamp on something so iconic is really rewarding, and I also really like the creative challenge of having a baseline profile that needs to be honored while also made to be unique…

In this case, we wanted to play with the flavours and ingredients of Japan in a way that captured the bright, lively nature of Tokyo. Think the nightlight of shinjuki with neon lights dancing on the skyline. Fresh, full of life, and just a bit ethereal. To do that we took the standard style of black tea that would normally be used in an Earl Grey and combined that with Japanese Sencha to give this full-bodied base a bit of a fresher, ever-so-slightly green edge to mellow it out.

Then, we took the classic bergamot and doubled down on the zesty aromatics of the citrus by adding yuzu and lime. Really, though, the yuzu is the star here. It’s very citrusy and bright in a way that twinkles across the palate. I was talking a lot to people about this tea over the tea festival, and I think the thing that really resonated with people on a flavour level was how the yuzu added complexity to the cup while also really emphasizing the bergamot as well. It’s the type of EG I would maybe recommend to someone who likes a stronger amount of bergamot oil in their EG or who is more inclined to chose a classic EG blend over something like a Cream of Earl Grey. Also, very people familiar specifically with DT’s Earl Grey blends, I think this one would resonate particularly well with fans of Countess of Seville or older, retired blends like Blood Orange Earl Grey.

Also, I am not typically the kind of person who cold brews or ices their Earl Grey, but this one is actually quite refreshing that way. You could even make it as an iced latte (it doesn’t actually curdle) for a sort of “Tokyo Fog” vibe, similar to a London Fog. Though, my favourite way to elevate it is actually wish a generous splash of lemonade.

Friendly reminder that I do not numerically rate DAVIDsTEA blends as I’m currently employed there and it would be an obvious conflict of interest. Any blends you see with numerical ratings were rated prior to my employment there. These reviews are a reflection of my personal thoughts and feelings regarding the teas, and not the company’s.

Backlog

Date: 4 February 2026
It took me a long while to get through the tea wheel I purchased in October because my job decided to cancel a few office days (not a bad thing) which was my primary reason for purchasing the set. Rather than waiting to go back next week, I decided to make my way through the few bags left, and this was on top of the sip down pile. I think I steeped it too long (3 minutes?) because it’s very bitter, albeit, with a nice texture. It’s a lot bitter and I don’t taste as much jasmine as I wanted to.

Flavor (100): 65
Texture (100): 75
Aroma (100): 65
Rating: 68/100

Sip Down

Date: 24 January 2026

Another tea gone from our trip to Canada last October…I made the last of this for a trip to the grocery stores on Saturday. We needed to get supplies to bunker down for the long cold weekend. I didn’t make any notes on this tea, so based on memory, it was sweet and had a nice punchy cherry tartness. Unfortunately, I got 20g of the tea, which was a bummer to have grabbed so little…At least I know how DT works for the next time I’m in Canada. I’ll grab 50g minimum of everything to get a better idea of the teas I take home. ;)

Flavor (100): 70
Texture (100): 60
Aroma (100): 85
Rating: 72/100

Sip Down

Date: 22 January 2026

This was one of the few teas I acquired during my trip to Toronto in October. I decided to try to make my way through them, so I can make room for more later…Just in case I get up there again (only time will tell).

This is a good chai; however, it’s not the type of chai I’d prefer on a regular basis. I enjoy a strongly spiced blend, and this one has a very subtle note of spices, which linger on the back of the lips & gums. I will note that rooibos is subtle, yet it’s teetering on the edge of being noticeable, which is favorable to my tastebuds! All in all, it’s good, but I prefer something a bit stronger.

Sip Down
Date: 19 January 2026

I honestly cannot tell you how old this bag was, but it was likely one that sat unopened after purchasing it around 2022-2023ish…Once upon a time, I made a massive purchase with DavidsTea and bought too many discounted items…because why not? * Lol. I had a few bags of the Magic Potion, and I have finally (hopefully) finished my last bag earlier this week! I had shared this with a friend who absolutely loved it, yet I wasn’t digging the last cup. I thought I liked this tea, but it was the hot sweetened cup that wasn’t sitting with me. I tossed the tea over ice – BINGO – that resolved my dilemma. I enjoy it as iced tea, which is fine, however, it was cold outside and iced tea isn’t my jam during the winter months. Ha-ha. Thankfully, I resolved the issue…

*Too many isn’t a thing for tea folks, right? Like, a slight overstock is good to give us more of a variety…Lol

Oh, why hello there new tea!

This one launched quite recently as a new seasonal addition to our Earl Grey collection. We do have Lavender Earl Grey, which is a fan favourite black tea. However, ever since we released that tea one of the most common pieces of feedback we’ve heard is something along the lines of “Oh, I wish it was caffeine free”. So, we’re try a lavender EG on a rooibos!

I will say, I personally do think there is an argument to be made for having “relaxing teas” that are still caffeinated. I know that I frequently feel stressed throughout the day and want something soothing but that won’t make me necessarily feel sleepy. But, I see the reverse argument too and I know so many people love lavender or other floral teas before bed, so I was happy to explore both options.

Compared to Lavender Earl Grey (the similarities int he names really trip me up) I think this blend is ever so slightly sweeter, and that’s largely because it’s also much creamier. We took inspiration from our Cream of Earl Grey black tea and the idea of a cafe style London Fog and combined those with the lavender and bergamot to make this really dreamy, smooth and silky vanilla lavender EG profile. If you’re drinking it hot and plain the lavender is still going to be the more forward flavour, but a splash of milk/cream or even whipping this up into a latte does give more indulgence. I like to think of it as a “Paris Fog”. Same vibes as a London Fog, but with floral notes. As for the bergamot, I’d say it’s about the same flavour intensity as something like Earl Grey Rooibos or Cream of Earl Grey. Distinct, but not super heavy handed.

Though I find twisting these familiar profiles really satisfying, I’m actually pretty picky when it comes to the Earl Grey I drink once I’ve left the lab since I’ve never personally been all that fond of bergamot. However, I find this one really well balanced and relaxing, and I’ve been drinking it more than I expected to.

I hope others enjoy it too!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DT6QQR9klvz/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ8jjaFEr0w

Friendly reminder that I do not numerically rate DAVIDsTEA blends as I’m currently employed there and it would be an obvious conflict of interest. Any blends you see with numerical ratings were rated prior to my employment there. These reviews are a reflection of my personal thoughts and feelings regarding the teas, and not the company’s.

There’s a weird flavor in here that I noticed from some other long ago DavidsTEA blend, but I can’t remember specifically. I want to like this one, but it just tastes kind of thin and fake to me.

Another steepdown for January!

I can’t believe how few people have reviewed this tea! It’s a nice fruity blend for making iced tea and I love to indulge on a sunny winter day when it looks like spring might be coming. (lol fat chance there’s no early spring in Canada)

Cold brewed 2 tsp in 350 mL (steep 1) and then 600 mL cold water (steep 2). First steep was very tasty ~10 minutes and flavourful. Second steep was pretty weak but still nice ~60 minutes for steep 2. I think some of the added flavour comes out quickly all at once and the actual tea flavour only comes out over time.

Lightly vegetal but the peach and lychee flavours are bright and fruity. Not overly bitter at all and it’s very nice to see decaf options.

We recently release this brand new scented black tea, and I’m HYPED about it. It’s scented over a two to three week period in whisky barrels sourced from a local distillery in Cape Town. This contributes rich notes of oak, stewed and ripe red fruits, caramelized sugar, and just a bit of aromatic vanilla to the otherwise brisk, full-bodied black tea base. It gongfu brews shockingly well, but also makes for a complex Western-style brew as well!

Even though my world is very centered around the creation of blends and flavoured teas, it’s no secret that I have a deep love of straight and scented teas too. I’m honestly so excited and proud to be carrying such a unique and delicious tea; I’m always impressed with how Satemwa continues to push for innovation within the industry while continuing their commitment to quality and tradition.

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTv8Ok-kkRv/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JklA8K9VdUk

Friendly reminder that I do not numerically rate DAVIDsTEA blends as I’m currently employed there and it would be an obvious conflict of interest. Any blends you see with numerical ratings were rated prior to my employment there. These reviews are a reflection of my personal thoughts and feelings regarding the teas, and not the company’s.

Date: 16 January 2026

There is surprisingly a lot of jasmine profile in the flavor! Sure, it’s old and not as potent as it was when it was fresh, it still has flavor. I know the ‘rule’ for green teas is to drink them quickly, but I crave them rarely and take ages to get through them. However, I don’t think it’s necessary to throw them away either, so I get to them when I get to them. Ha-ha. In the case of this being old, I will not be giving this tea a rating. It was a lovely cup, albeit a lightly flavorful one, so there’s that.

TTB 2.0
This one sounds good because I drank a small glass of wine at the soup swap but my brain did not like it. I haz a headache. The reviews for this don’t bode well but here goes. Finishing this one off for the TTB.

Dry aroma: Dry desert wood, herbal, old sheets, lemongrass
Liquor color: It almost looks like a black tea! But lots of sediment.
Flavor: It’s a lot more tame than I thought it would be. The juniper is a nice touch. Helps calm. At the same time, the lemongrass is already lifting the headache. Or maybe it’s just because I realized I was frowning. I will drink it all, but I am a bit surprised at the lack of flavor. It’s there, just very subtle.

knittingopera Swap Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 24
Theme: Silent Night
Song: Oíche Chiúin by Enya

I’m always nervous when I see DT, but thankfully this one is stevia-less. It’s quite lovely actually, soft and sweet with a rich and slightly candylike pear flavor that makes me think of pâte de fruit. I don’t think I notice any spice, but maybe it’s just adding a hint of warmth here. Mostly it’s pear and apple, and definitely reminiscent of poached pears. Lovely!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=31c2LE67bOY&si=WI7sbypfUWbXepKF

TTB Round 2. I passed this up the first time after reading about the stevia… But I decided to give it a go this time. The smell is nice and reminds me of a tea I used to get at a breakfast place when I used to visit my grandma. And not many places I know of use fig as an ingredient. But these two do.

I think I steeped it too long. It’s blanketing like cough syrup and too sweet. Overall, it’s nice but too sweet for me. But my daughter likes it. Just kidding… She did the same thing I did. The first sip was like oh this is nice… but then it quickly changed to Nope, that’s too sweet.

15 years later, this perennial blend is still on the DavidsTea menu. I really enjoyed the sample included in this year’s 24 Days calendar. I’ve ordered it before, but it had been a long time. The potent Saigon cinnamon makes it extra spicy! Cardamom is also dominant, and the overall mouthfeel has a kind of sharpness compared to traditional chais. So, I like it to mellow it with creamer. Very good “wakeup” chai first thing in the morning.

This is a light and refreshing take on cider, missing the heavy spices and added sugar. It’s mostly sweet, but a little bit sour too… as if the apple variety in the ingredients was a tangy Pink Lady or Granny Smith (rather than a super sweet Fuji or Honeycrisp). I might buy this one because of its unique flavor profile. It’s quite different from all the other herbal blends in my cupboard.

This is kind of sour and not my favorite. I’m not sure what it’s going for. Sometimes the flavor is okay, but sometimes it’s too weird.

When I first opened up this tea, despite vigorous shaking of the packet, it was pretty much all chunky fruit bits with hardly any oolong on the top, making my first few cups a bit flat (and not as caffeinated as I was wanting). So I started steeping the chunky leaf with a Yorkshire Gold teabag just to up the tea/caffeine content (which actually worked quite well, producing a nice citrusy orange and cream note over the top). By the time I made it to the bottom of the bag, I finally got to where all the oolong tea leaves were hiding and could steep the tea as intended.

The oolong is roasty with an underlying minerality. The orange flavor is very vibrant… it has a very juicy, tangy quality to it, lacking any of the weird orange flavorings that evoke vitamins or Tang. The cream note is a bit more subtle… for my cups where I got almost entirely chunky herbal pieces it was far more prominent, but drinking it on an actual tea base, it presents more as a sweetness at the end of the sip and lightens the cup a bit.

The citrus is really spot-on, I can definitely see this being akin to nomming on a clementine. But I do wish it were easier to get a more consistent cup without having to up-end the entire package into a ramikin first and then subsequently have to try to get all the contents back into the package without making a mess.

Homemade Advent Calendar from AJRimmer – Day 24

Ooh, I’d wanted to try this one. Clementine – check. Creamy vanilla note – check. It’s good hot, but even better as a tea soda. And now I want some fresh clementines…

hate the salt

i don’t know what i expected! it’s nutty and tastes almost exactly as it smells. i don’t know if i’ve ever actually had oolong before.

cinnamon sugar, yes. churro? no. it just tastes like cinnamon and sugar. i will say that at least it doesn’t have the fake stevia taste that a lot of the sweeter davidstea blends have, os that works in its flavour. i like it, i don’t mind it at all. it’s just objectively got nothing to do with churros LOL