17330 Tasting Notes

90
drank Honey Bee by DAVIDsTEA
17330 tasting notes

Made this in the morning in one of my two timolinos to enjoy later today. My preparation was 2 tsp. of leaf, steeped with boiling water for five minutes.

Dry, this smells super fragrant and lemony with a light honeycomb like sweetness to it. My Step Mom commented that it smelled like “natural perfume”, and while I agree it’s very strong and natural smelling, it doesn’t remind me of perfume – but maybe that’s because I associate most perfumes with a chemical smell.

Taste wise – I swear I’ve had this before. It’s incredibly familiar, but I know this is my first time trying this. Why is this so familiar…

I KNOW! Taste wise, this tastes almost exactly like Della Terra’s Lemon Chiffon! Yes – it’s basically the same sweet lemon flavour, and creaminess but without the pepperiness, which I suppose makes sense; these are both teas with lemon flavour and rooibos – and both are very good.

I think I’ll stick with Lemon Chiffon since I have 2 oz. of it to drink, and Good Morning Sunshine as a high energy lemon tea to drink as well – which basically covers both ends up the spectrum; high energy and no energy. This is great and I’ll enjoy the 20g or so I have left, but since I already have similar there’s no need to get any more of this.

VariaTEA

I did not get that comparison at all. I hated Honey Bee but really like Lemon Chiffon. Gotta love how different people experience different teas.

Roswell Strange

Absolutely love that! I think that’s part of why swaps work so well; you can pass on something you hated and find someone who’ll love it. Why didn’t you like Honey Bee?

VariaTEA

I found it incredibly cloying.

Roswell Strange

I’m not sure if I’ve ever found a tea to be cloying; I can appreciate subtle teas, but I have a killer sweet tooth and appreciate when a tea smacks me in the face with sweetness, lol.

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85

Sipdown (162)!

Thank you VariaTEA for this sample! I was very excited to try it seeing as I am a huge lover of both pineapple (favourite fruit) and coconut. Sadly, this is my first and last time trying it because I used up all the leaf in the sample for a timolino full of this.

So, just a little over 2 tsp. of leaf, boiling water in my 12 oz. timolino for five minutes. I actually made this in the morning in case I wanted something to drink on the long bus ride back from The Vintage Tea Room, but I’ve held off on trying it until now with supper (vegetable stir fry, noodles, and kiwi – it’s super nice not having to cook for myself while on my ‘vacation’).

Dry, this smelled very intensely of sweet, rummy pina colada; very heavy on the coconut. Steeped, this was much the same way; very sweet with an especially strong coconut smell, and a very rummy quality. There was also something that made me think of floral perfume which seemed like a rather odd smell to pick up from this blend.

Taste wise, this has is more coconut than pineapple like I expected after the smell – however, the pineapple is a little stronger in the tail of the sip and lingering into the aftertaste. The rum taste is also pretty strong, and it adds greatly to the tea. There’s also a woody, and distinct honeybush taste which is nice because I thought the base would be totally masked based on how powerful the smell is. Nothing floral or perfumey in taste, but I do still get that from the smell.

I’m sad this is gone; I would definitely buy it again. DAVIDsTEA’s Tropicalia is another favourite of mine which is also a Pina Colada tea – though these two blends are distinct enough I would want both around.

Also – my new white timolino is definitely not retaining heat as well as my black one. I made two teas steeped the same way this morning; one in each, at the same time and this has cooled much more than the black one has. Huh – I wonder why that is…

caile

hmm Maybe the rubber gasket thing isn’t sealing as well? Or maybe the space making up the double wall of the thermos portion (not sure how to describe that) is thinner and therefore not as insulating?

VariaTEA

I totally forgot I sent you this. I am glad you enjoyed it, especially given that I was not a fan so I am happy it went to someone who would appreciate it.

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85

I met up with a friend today for tea at The Vintage Tea Room! We split a pot of this tea upon my insistence; I never have bloom teas because I don’t have a teapot that allows me to appreciate their beauty at home. Though – the older sales lady gave my friend and I a “knowing” look after ordering a love themed tea, prompting both he and I to insist we were just friends.

I didn’t realize upon ordering that this was green tea (for whatever reason I was thinking it was white), but it was pretty apparent after my first sip because this had a strong grassy taste to it. Despite that, which is typically a turn off, this was very enjoyable. The jasmine was the most prominent taste in a very real and natural way – not at all perfumey. I actually struggled a bit to taste the the lavender, which is one of the advertised flavours, but the lily was very noticable to me.

This was a very enjoyable sweet, floral tea and I was quite happy to enjoy several cups of it while catching up with my friend. I had somehow blocked out the fact he’s so much of a conspiracy theorist – but hey, at least the conversation was always interesting.

And the tea was just beautiful after it had fully flowered!

I also ended up purchasing 50g of Monk’s Blend and 50g of Prince of Wales after inquiring as to where they get their tea from (mostly so I could accurately log things – turns out it’s from The Metropolitan Tea Company). Both smell incredible, and I can’t wait to try them!

PS. If you’re ever in Regina and go here for tea I highly recommend the cucumber cranberry cream cheese sandwich as the perfect food to enjoy with your tea!

tigress_al

I really have to go there sometime!!

Roswell Strange

Yes! You really should! The Monk’s Blend is also really good and I’m excited to try Prince of Wales (I’ve had Monk’s Blend prior to purchasing it, but haven’t had the Prince of Wales before). When I was newer to tea I got the peppermint a lot, which is super good but not anything out of the ordinary. As far as the food goes, their scones are amazing too and they serve great cream of broccoli soup. Also; PIE! Though, the desserts kind of rotate so there isnt always the same thing.

Roswell Strange

And also very pretty teaware! Plus they sell lots of other very British foods/snacks and stuff. It’s a cool place!

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79
drank Oh Canada! by DAVIDsTEA
17330 tasting notes

Had this on the bus ride to The Vintage Tea Room this morning. Preparation was 1 1/2 tsp. of leaf, steeped in 8 oz. of boiling water for five minutes. This was poured into my water bottle, so when I was drinking it it was cold.

It tasted like toned down maple syrup or the maple filling in those maple leaf shaped cookies. Anyway, it was really good.

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65

Ok, this is the cold brewed batch that I made for me and my brother to try! Formula was 2 tbsp. of leaf for about 6 cups of water, cold steeped for a good 18(ish) hours. The steeped colour is a dark red/purple that kind of reminds me of some darker red wines? It looks kinda scary and really concentrated, though.

I’ve actually had two cups today, which I suppose in itself says that this wasn’t so bad I wouldn’t drink it again. That’s a plus.

My second cup, I was suffering from some pretty horrible toothache so I wasn’t really so focused on the taste. But my overall impression on the taste from both cups is that this is a much nicer way to drink this tea. The tart and sour initial flavour is much more mellowed out but still retains the taste of hibiscus in a not completely overwhelming way. The rest of the taste is juicy strawberry and maybe raspberry, with a creaminess to it in the end sip accompanied by a sort of fermented fruit/borderline rum taste. Really, the “rum” flavour the name implies is just kind of barely present in the weirdest possible way.

So yeah – this is much more enjoyable cold brewed and I think that’s probably how I’ll end up finishing off what’s left of my 50g of it. I’ve definitely used at least 25g worth at this point, so that’s good.

VariaTEA

I will try the sample you have me cold brewed then as this sounds tasty.

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96

Sort of sipdown (161)?

Sort of in that I’ve already placed an order for 100g more (like, weeks ago) that’s on the way – so I’ll soon have more to enjoy! Also, sort of in that I still have enough leaf left for one more cup, but I promised my Dad I’d save it and make it for him tomorrow.

I was perhaps being overly cautious of my water temperature (here at my Dad’s I have no way of measuring the temperature without guesstimating), and as a result I believe I used water which was too cold – so I don’t think I got the full flavour potential this cup could have had. I suppose that’s better than using too hot of water, though.

Anyway, I’m getting lovely and delicate jasmine and silky notes of sweet white tea; like honeysuckle! It’s still amazing, even if it’s not at its best. I’m excited to be receiving lots more! So thank you Lala for sending this to me – I’ve really managed to make the sample last, and I have thoroughly enjoyed each cup!

Unrelated, I just got back from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and it was a truly astounding and breathtaking movie! 10/10 would recommend to just about anyone! Seriously – amazing acting, and plot, and a killer soundtrack. More people should see it (and keep in mind this praise is coming from someone who worked at a movie theatre for over a year, and who saw a lot of free movies). I’d gladly watch this again.

Plus, it was really nice to go to the theatre I used to work at and visit with all my old co-workers! I got pretty emotional, I’ll be honest. I knew I missed them, but I just didn’t realize how much. I’m still trying to not care about the fact that Kevin (my former “best friend” who helped bring me out of my depression and who basically acted as an older brother to me for months) has ignored me since moving, and then tonight refused to look me in face and acknowledge I was there, though…

That hurt, and was kind of cold…

Tabby

Wow, that’s sad… I wonder why he’s behaving that way…

keychange

I’m glad you had a chance to catch up with old friends. As for Kevin, that’s really unfortunate. But I’m so glad he was instrumental in helping you out when you needed it most, and perhaps he’ll be in touch when he’s ready, for whatever reason.

Lala

Glad you enjoyed the tea and the movie. With your friend, he might feel like you abandoned him when you left (that’s not the case, but that may be what he is feeling). Maybe try reaching out to him. He might just be waiting for you to make the first move. Even a text to say hi, wanna hang out, go for tea, I miss you, etc.

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90
drank Cider Guayusa by Butiki Teas
17330 tasting notes

Sipdown (162)!

I made up the last of my sample from BrewTEAlly Sweet today to take with to the mall. Since I had it cold last time, I went for a hot cup this time. I have to say, I don’t think my new white timolino is retaining heat nearly as well as my black one does; after only being in the timolino maybe two hours the temperature had severely dropped.

This was still very lovely though; a really great and well balanced apple tea with sweet and not overpowering cinnamon notes. I’m not in a rush to repurchase it, but I do plan to eventually obtain more.

keychange

You should see about exchanging your timolino, because my white one retains heat insanely well—I’d say equally as well as my darker ones, although I don’t have a black one.

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41
drank Buddha's Blend by DAVIDsTEA
17330 tasting notes

Full day of shopping!

I met my friend Renee downtown and did a whole bunch of shopping all morning and afternoon! We started at DAVIDsTEA and I’m proud to say that I managed to walk away with only 30g of Honey Bee and this as a to go, iced.

I asked the guy what he personally enjoyed most as an iced white tea, and this is what he suggested so I went for it since I’ve never had this blend before and to go teas are a great way to sample without committing to too many grams worth.

Dry, this smelled really lovely! It was super peachy, and had a strong floral smell to it; jasmine, and other floral smells too. My first few sips iced were really nice; lightly peachy and just a touch of jasmine – but the more I sipped at it the more this highly perfumey and chemical taste became apparent until, about halfway through, I was just overwhelmed by harsh, bitter, and chemical perfume taste.

I waited until the salesperson was in back grabbing something, and then tossed the rest. Yuck – no thanks.

The rest of my haul was non-tea related:

- 2 Primarily orange (though greatly different shades) long sleeve plaid shirts
- 6 Pairs of food related earrings (Avocados, swiss cheese, etc.)
- The new Cage The Elephant CD
- Some make up; just some blush and stuff

It was a good day! And it’s not over; I’m still going to see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty later tonight! :D

Tuscanteal

That’s how I felt about this blend. Had so much potential, but is VERY persnickety to brew… like VERY!! I would have been honest and asked them to brew me something else so you could continue to enjoy your beverage. They have such wonderful customer service I’m sure they wouldn’t have minded :)

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81

Had a cup of this after supper as a sort of gentle, sweet treat! I offered some to my step mom who said she wanted a green tea, but she opted for Hot Lips instead.

My preparation was a slightly overfilled tsp. in 8 oz. of 80 degree Celsius water, steeped for 2 min. 30 seconds. The liquor was a very lovely light green colour and had a nutty pistachio aroma with a strong green base. Taste wise, this was mostly nutty and sort of roasted pistachio with a dominant but mostly pleasant green tea taste, and a smoother, creamy taste towards the end of the sip which is slightly lingering in the aftertaste. It left a dry feeling in my mouth.

Ultimately, I think I enjoyed this better than my last cup of it – but I still rest easy with my decision to not restock it.

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60
drank Pumpkin Chai by DAVIDsTEA
17330 tasting notes

Made a small cup for me, and a small cup for my brother who said he was willing to try a flavoured black tea tonight. Both cups were made the same way; 1 1/2 tsp. of leaf steeped in boiling water for 3 min and 30 seconds.

My brother said that it tasted very weak and watery (he has issues tasting basically any tea), but that it didn’t taste bad. From him, that was practically glowing praise.

My cups was very well balanced with defined notes of cinnamon, cloves, sweet pumpkin, and caramel and fleeting notes of carrot. I swear I also got notes of honey, too. I don’t have this as much as I should…

Also, I’m very excited because I have plans tomorrow to hang out at the mall and go to DAVIDsTEA with a friend I haven’t seen in ages (last time I saw her was Halloween I suppose), then go to the movies in the evening and hopefully see some of my old coworkers! Plus, Cuppa’T Specialty Teas on Thursday!

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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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