Santa's Secret

Hmm… this is another one my husband brought back from Montreal. This is very similar to Read My Lips, except there’s a hint of creaminess that doesn’t really come out as much in RML, although I might try steeping that one at a lower temperature as well and see if that makes a difference. Not bad, but I have a hefty serving of RML to work through so not sure I’d stock this one in addition to that one, though the little candy canes are adorable.

3 tsp + sweetener in 16oz steeping mug

Decided to try this tea this morning, received it in my last order as a sample. This tea reminds me of read my lips a bit. But the peppermint is stronger and it is sweeter. At first it tastes like chocolate then sweet peppermint. It is smooth and creamy. I actually like how it is sweeter rather than a sharp cool peppermint. It actually caught me by surprise. I like read my lips a lot and I thought this one wouldn’t be as good. Its actually better!

We ordered a glittery teaspoon from David’s for Lex’s mom (sidenote: the size of the spoon is enormous compared to my beloved B&B one), and this sample came with it.

I haven’t had Santa’s Secret for many years but did enjoy it once upon a time. I picked out all the wee candy canes and divided the leaves evenly into a cup each for Lex and I. It was surprisingly tasty. I usually steer clear of mint teas, but it was a great tea to start the day. I enjoyed the creaminess blended in with the peppermint so it was just mellowed enough to notice.

So first I have to admit — I work at DAVIDsTEA so I am a little bit biased, but this is my ALL-TIME FAVORITE tea. I honestly can’t live without it. Last year I bought 500g because I was so scared it wasn’t going to come back this year. I haven’t had to replenish my stock, but I might have to before it goes away this year. I ALMOST have enough to make it through til’ next Christmas, too. They better warn me soon if they don’t plan to bring it back!!

Now, for those of you who have never tasted this tea:

First, imagine a full-bodied Chinese black tea, traditional in character.
Next, add the smoothness of vanilla.
After that, you need to stir it with a peppermint candy cane in your mind’s eye.
Now, add just a hint of spices like warm cinnamon and cloves.

My dream tea. <3

Mmmm…Santa’s Secret! I love this tea. You can’t go wrong with little candy canes in your tea :-)

After the fiasco yesterday with Caramel Spice, I wanted something more familiar, more comforting today. You would think that with the peppermint and spices this would be an uplifting kind of tea, but I find it really soothing. With just a touch of sugar (I definitely have a sweet tooth) and a splash of milk, this tea is yummy deliciousness!

On the 24th day of tea-mas, DAVIDsTEA gave to me….

Actually not drinking from my sampler, but a tin I got last year that was supposed to be a Christmas gift but never got delivered due to not seeing that person for a long time… (eep!). Two heaping [tableware] teaspoons in my two-cupper pot for this sample. Drank straight the first time, with milk the second after it had sat for a while longer.

This is a VERY enjoyable tea. The mint is refreshing but not at all overpowering, and the candy bits make it just sweet enough. Lovely!

Usually I drink blacks with milk, but this seems to mute the mintiness a bit too much for me.

It’s as low as it is merely because the minty flavour is not my favourite — I prefer fruity and spiced teas. But for what it is? Excellent.

Lives up to the expectations, absolutely delicious! It does taste of candy cane, but the black tea adds a nice richness. I also love the sweet taste it leaves in the mouth. But don’t steep it twice… I usually steep all my blacks twice, but this one failed the test, the second steep was just… very blah! But hey, fair enough, the first steep is lovely enough!

I can’t believe that DAVIDsTEA is getting me to try new things…and I am loving it! First it was chocolate, but now it’s peppermint!

Smelling this tea in the bag was heavenly. I really enjoyed the sweet smell against the fruity note of the black tea. It definitely did smell like candy canes. Upon first steep, I picked up on a lot of the strong black tea. I was just a tad disappointed because I was hoping for more of a pepperminty taste than robust. Regardless, I still got a faint taste of candy canes alongside the strong flavour of the tea. I found that the tea started to taste better as it cooled down significantly.

I tried it again for a second steep but with unlimited steeping time and I found that it tastes a lot better than the first one. It’s much lighter, the peppermint flavour is faint at this point, but it seems great for a light tea if you want something lighter.

I’ve had this tea a few times. I do like it in a latte, or tossed in a bag into a cup of hot chocolate because this minty black tea seems to want to be blended up with some chocolate. On it’s own, it’s a very nice flavoured black tea. The mint, as expected, is a bit overpowering as is the Chinese Black, but the other spices seem to balance out the the two tastes and blend them together nicely.

Still. I feel like this tea is missing something.

And that something is chocolate.

Or, perhaps I just associate the indulgence of chocolate with Christmas and thus want to add it to everything.

Similar to other DavidsTea blends like Opposites Attract and Read My Lips.

This tasted like mint chocolate when steeped with milk. Great for those who love mint chocolate. I hate mint. Why did I buy this? I try to stay open minded with teas, try a little if I don’t like it, there’s no harm. I may end up with an amazing find. For example, coco chai rooibos. Thought it was going to be a chocolate chai, yeaaaaa ended up being a coconut chai with peppercorns and cinnamon. Hate cinnamon, well LOVE THAT TEA. This tea was great. Not for me, but I enjoyed my 2 cups I had.