DAVIDsTEA

Iced.

A VariaTEA share, and one that I actually requested to try since it’s been so long since I last had this one and I wanted to see if my opinion on it had changed at all over time. Unfortunately, I really don’t think it had because this tasted dreadfully of soapy pineapple and strawberries and was pretty artificial. It’s a shame because I’ve always REALLY wanted to love this one – however I never seem to like it, let alone love It.

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 regarding the teas, and not the company’s.

Sipdown (204)!

Got a sample of this from Janelle awhile back and have been waiting to drink it up. Mostly my dilemma was that there was just one jellybean in the same but enough rooibos/other stuff there for two or maybe even three cups. The solution, of course, was the beautiful Mason Jar mug from Keychange which was large enough to let me steep up the whole sample and make sure that the jellybean was included in everything.

That said, while the mason jar is amazing and has practically not left my hands since getting it, the tea fell flat. Really flat.

The taste I got was this super artificial and soapy muddled orange/strawberry flavour with wood chippy and borderline medicinal rooibos. I really don’t often get that medicinal quality from rooibos – but when I do it’s quite unpleasant and very unwelcome. I did finish the full mug in the hopes that the flavour would shift for the better as the temperature changed, but no such luck.

Yucky.

This tea taught me something: Don’t judge a tea based on the first cup if you are unsure about it. Originally, I rated this tea a 65, but since finishing up 25 grams of it, I became accustomed to the seaweed taste and find that it works well with the green tea. Better yet, it’s healthy! I would actually buy this tea again, and will try and avoid rating teas after only 1 cup.

My fiancé, who is Dutch, just loves black licorice and anise. I, on the other hand, hate black licorice but love anise. However, we both enjoy this tea! I prefer Bravissimo over this tea but this is nice when I want a licorice-y tasting tea that won’t make me sleepy.

This tea has the Dutch seal of approval!

Yummy mix of mint and chocolate. Not too weak, not too strong. Not too sweet. Just right.

I’m excited to say that this was the 130th tea I’ve tried from David’s Tea! I’m also excited to say that it was a really enjoyable cup of tea! Like other reviews have mentioned, the peppermint is definitely more overpowering than the coconut. The coconut makes the blend more creamy than a simple peppermint blend (it really makes it taste like the centre of a peppermint patty). This was a smooth blend and was really easy to drink (even later in the day). The dry leaves smell almost entirely of peppermint- which would be expected after seeing the ratio of peppermint to black tea and coconut in the blend. The taste is really true to the smell so if you like the way it smells you would probably also enjoy the taste. I will have no problem finishing the 20g sample I bought yesterday and will pick up a bit more to have on hand once that’s done. Overall really enjoyable.

Sipdown!! (214)

As a cold brew, this is definitely fruitier than the hot cup. However, there is also an artificial candy quality to the fruit flavor that I am just not loving. This won’t be a restock but I have been curious about it for a while so I am glad I can finally check it off my list.

I prepped this to cold brew for tomorrow and that left me with one serving left. Made hot it is not bad. I think papaya is the most prominent element. There is also a hint of rooibos but I think it works as it is neither woodsy or medicinal, just a subtle base for the fruit to stand on. I wish there was a touch more fruit flavor but I can still enjoy the cup.

Sipdown!! (149)

When I first tried this tea, it tasted just like a snickerdoodle. It was amazing! In fact, it was so enjoyable, I bought 50g. However, each subsequent cup has been more and more disappointing so with this last cup, I happily say goodbye. We had a good run but our friendship has run its course.

I have quickly fallen out of love with this tea and the more I drink it, the less I enjoy it. Today it is alright. Not as floral is it typically is but I have yet to capture the elusive Snickerdoodle taste that I know this tea is capable of.

I made this to drink last night and then promptly fell asleep before getting to drink it. So, as I take a study break and watch an episode of Dawson’s Creek, I am sipping on the cold, cinnamon-floral cup. This really is much better hot.

I cold brewed this overnight and it has certainly led to an interesting cup. It is more floral than the hot cup and the cinnamon is less prominent. It is less oatmeal cookie and more lightly spiced flowers. In future, this will be made hot.

To balance the cup of Glitter & Gold, I felt this was the perfect caffeine-free counterpart for an Oscar night. So, I am sipping on this as I finish my supplemental application, watch the Oscar red carpets, and try ti resist the amazingly delicious piece of Cheesecake Factory Carrot Cake in my fridge.

Cinnamon and flowers, two things I don’t usually like but I don’t mind in this blend. Tbh, if this were caffeinated, I probably would not reach for it but given my lack of caffeine-free teas, I am happy to have it around.

I realized I probably should have shaken the bag prior to scooping out some leaf. I got a whole lot of flowers and not as much cinnamon so this is more like a floral cookie than the oatmeal cookie I had last time. Not unpleasant but not as enjoyable as my previous cup.

Sipdown!! (229)

So OMGsrsly sent this to me because she found it tasting medicinal and floral and just downright not great. Luckily my experience was significantly closer to Fjellrev’s. This is cinnamony and quite delicious. I am not sure if I quite get oatmeal cookie but it is definitely right in that field. I might get more of this one so thank you OMGsrsly for sharing.

Enjoying a cup of this while I review coursework. I’m on a big Davids Tea kick right now, thanks to a certain someone (thank you Ali) who showered me with samples.

The tiny sprinkles in this tea give it just enough sweetness (for those of us who like to add sugar). I also like that it smells and tastes like vanilla frosting.

Surprisingly, not bad, and I am not a chai fan! it is definitely a chai, but it is not super spicy. Instead, the coconut and the lemongrass go a long way to tone down the spice and add a fresh background note. I am super impressed, this is the chai for those of us who aren’t this biggest chai fans.

Sipdown!! (218)

I dumped the whole sample I bought yesterday in a water bottle and let it steep for 16 hours and is this ever sweet. I definitely get the guava and apple is also present. Mango adds yet another layer of sweetness. This is a tad too sweet for me. I even find myself looking for the hibiscus for a touch of much needed tart to dial this back a bit. Even after drinking this part way and diluting it with more water it is still just too sweet. I am glad I tried it because I was curious but this is not for me.

Sipdown!! (198)

I actually searched “sipdown” when I tried to find this tea. Luckily I realized what I was doing and was able to find the tea.

Though I enjoyed this, I am not particularly sad to see it go. I wanted banana but instead I got a sweet and nutty coffee tea. Every now and then I catch some of the creamy white chocolate but mostly the mate and coffee come together to produce a pretty roasty cup of tea. Not bad, just not something I would want all that often.

And of course, coffee is not a flavor option either.

I am not a lover of coffee but this has been calling to me for a while. Why? The idea of chocolate banana is why. Only there is no banana in this! How can you name a tea “Jumpy Monkey” and not put banana in it?! That meant from the start I was disappointed.

If I can get past the lack of banana and look at this tea for what it is, I have to admit it is not bad. It is not great but its not bad. I can pick up nutty notes and a chocolatey sweetness. The mate comes in at the end of the sip and the coffee is weak but mixed in throughout the other flavors. Mostly I think this tea is trying to be too much and all the flavors create an indescribable jumble of tastes.

Main notes for me are Sour Cherry Blasters and roses. There are some muscatel, vegetal, and citrus notes that pop up now and then but they are less defined. The coconut is barely apparent at all, but when it is it’s more akin to an oil or water than coconut shavings.

This isn’t a bad tea, artificial cherry and all, but it has to be steeped with some care. I think I burnt mine the first night and it had a bitter green veggie note midsip (between the rosy cherry and coconut-rose). Luckily the second steep that night came out smoother.

I may have my complaints and I would never add this to the “search and hoard” list, but I wouldn’t pass up a cup either. David’s has me excited about seasons months before their time, so there’s that too (my sense of time is a mess).

This is not a hit for me! I really wanted to like it.

Bought it on a whim after receiving the Vday email about it. Too bad it tastes like cough medicine for me. :(