ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a White tea.
• It also includes: green tea, jasmine pearls, white hibiscus blossoms, artificial flavouring*. 
  
• This tea behaves more like a green tea. Do NOT oversteep (like I did) and use 82 degree water (boil water and let it rest for 5-6 minutes). Steeping should be no longer than 3-4 minutes.

• It has 0 calories per serving/cup
• It’s has a medium amount of caffeine.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Stevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

I still found the taste off, maybe it was the flavouring? I’d have preferred a straight green tea with jasmine over this any day.

Until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a green Yerba Mate.
• It also includes: candied papaya, pineapple, safflower, natural flavouring*.
  Contains sulfites 
  
• If you want a “tea” that will make you get up and go in the morning, THIS is the tea for you! Yerba Mate has a huge amount of stimulants in it to get you going!

• It has 0 calories per serving/cup
• It’s has a high amount caffeine.
• Steeping time is 4-7 minutes in near boiling water–boil it and let it rest for 1 minute to achieve 94 degrees
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Stevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

Belch! Not good! It was sweet and citrusy. Not at all for me!

Until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a black tea.
• It also includes: nothin’! Just pure Sri Lankan tea
  
• It’s a fairly inexpensive tea, and is VERY traditional. If someone you know isn’t very adventurous to get out of their tea bag  love affair, this would be a good step!

• It has 0 calories per serving/cup
• It’s has medium caffeine.
• Steeping time is 4- minutes in boiling water
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Stevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

I love having this tea when I want a traditional black tea. It’s great in the morning. I’d totally drink this one with milk though!

Leave me a comment on this post and tell me what was the first tea you ever tried?!

Until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a black tea.
• It also includes: gold sugar balls, sugar cystals, lemon peel, cloves, vanilla, natural and artificial cinnamon flavouring*.

• It has 0 calories per serving/cup, surprising given the sugar in it.
• It’s has medium caffeine.
• Steeping time is 4-7 minutes in boiling water
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Stevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

It’s super pretty, but it heavily tastes like cinnamon. I don’t mind it once a year  If you are a fan of Chai, you’ll like it.  Plus it shimmers

Until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a green tea.
• It also includes: Green tea, papaya, mango, pineapple, rose petals, marigold petals, cornflower petals, artificial mango, exotic and passion fruit flavouring.

• It has 10 calories per serving/cup.
• It’s has medium caffeine.
• Steeping time is 5-7 minutes in 93 degree water (let your water sit after boiling it, for about 2 minutes.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Stevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

I’m not a fan of all the artificial flavouring in this tea, but it’s delicious regardless. Very tropical.

Until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s an herbal tisane.
• It also includes: peppermint, lemongrass, rosehips, hibiscus**, chamomile flowers, valerian root, cornflowers. With natural peppermint flavouring*.
• It’s an organic and MK Kosher tisane.
• Valerian is mostly used to treat sleep disorders (namely insomnia). In this blend it is blended with chamomile, and lemon grass to inhance it’s sedative effect. It’s also been used to treat depression but caution should be exercised if you are on antidepressants, as it could cause extra drowsiness.
• This tea is not recommended to drink while pregnant as there are not enough studies conducted with Valerian and pregnant women.  There are some studies out there that suggest Chamomile is not suitable for pregnant women to drink.  However, keep in mind that the concentration of it has to be pretty high and you have to drink more than 3 cups a day for it to have any adverse effect.

• It has 0 calories per serving/cup.
• It’s has zero caffeine.
• Steeping time is 4-7 minutes in boiling water.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Stevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

I’m not a chamomile lover, and I don’t LOVE the taste of this tea but it does help me get sleepy so I’ll keep it

Until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s black tea.
• It also includes: Black tea, cherries, pineapple, natural and artificial cake flavoring*.
  Contains sulfites.
• It smells like cake, sugary, maple cake.
• Product of China.
• It has 5 calories per serving/cup.
• It’s has a medium amount of caffeine.
• Steeping time is 4-5 minutes in boiling water.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Stevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

It smells great, but tastes too much like table syrup or maple syrup for me. Would be a great pairing with pancakes in the morning!

Until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

We are back! Today marks the ninth day of 24 days of tea for 2013! We continue with one of DAVIDsTEA’s green teas, Organic Silk Dragon Jasmine. I’m glad you have tuned into episode 77 of Erin’s tea, please tell your friends about Erin’s Tea so I can work hard to bring you many more episodes!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s an Organic green tea-Limited Edition
• It’s scented by Jasmine flowers.
• It smells like beautiful jasmine flowers.
• Product of China.
• It has 0 calories per serving/cup.
• Green tea is great at detoxifying your body, it also aids weight loss (but you have to drink upto 3 cups a day to see these kinds of benefits from tea).
• It’s has a low amount of caffeine.
• Steeping time is 2-4 minutes in 82 degree water (just let it rest for 5-6 minutes after boiling) Whatever you do, do NOT use boiling water, and watch your steeping time. If you oversteep or use boiling water this tea will be bitter.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Stevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

I love it! It’s a wonderful green tea.  It smells very pretty and tastes amazing! It’s also not all that expensive. Think I might pick some of this up.

Until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

We are back! Today marks the eighth day of 24 days of tea for 2013! We continue with one of DAVIDsTEA’s white teas, mango madness. I’m glad you have tuned into episode 76 of Erin’s tea, please tell your friends about Erin’s Tea so I can work hard to bring you many more episodes!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a white tea.
• It also includes: Apple pieces, white Bai Mu Dan tea, orange peel, pineapple, mango,, orange slices, freeze dried tangerine pieces, safflower petals, freeze dried strawberry pieces, marigold blossoms, artificial flavouring
• It smells very tropical, very yummy.
• Product of China.
• It has 0 calories per serving/cup.
• It’s has a low amount of caffeine.
• Steeping time is 5-7 minutes in 94 degree water (just let it rest for 2-3 minutes after boiling) Keep in mind, you want to use 2 teaspoons of tea.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Stevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

The flavouring is a bit artificial. I always find mango teas hard to replicate without tasting fake. But it’s not horrible. The other thing about white tea is that it’s more expensive than other kinds, and  you have to use A LOT to get any kind of flavour. I find i’m almost always disappointed in the taste.

Until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s an herbal infusion.
• It also includes: Apple, hibiscus, raisins, carrot, yogurt bits, beetroot, strawberry, rhubarb, artificial flavouring*.
• It smells very sweet, you can for sure smell the strawberry and very faintly the rhubarb.
• Product of Germany.
• It has 10 calories per serving/cup.
• It’s has zero caffeine.
• Steeping time is 5-7 minutes in boiling water.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Stevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

• It’s OK, and I would probably like it more iced, I think it’s cause of the hibiscus that makes me not like it that much.

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a green tea.
• It also includes brown rice (roasted, some of it is popped)
• It smells like burnt popcorn.
• Product of Japan.
• It has 0 calories per serving/cup.
• It’s got a low amount of caffeine.
• Rumoured to have been called “the poor man’s tea” because people who didn’t have very much money for filters in Japan used to use rice to filter their tea.
• Steeping time is 2-3 minutes (74 degrees–or boil your water, and then let it rest for about 10 minutes). This is critical when you make your tea. It’s a very sensitive leaf, and if you use boiling water, you will burn your tea, and it will taste bitter.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

• To me, it tastes like popcorn, I’m not a fan.

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a black tea.
• It also includes: Chocolate, cinnamon, coconut, vanilla, with natural vanilla  flavouring.*
• It smells very heavily of cinnamon.
• Product of China.
• It has 10 calories per serving/cup.
• It’s got a medium amount of caffeine.
• It is no longer listed on their website for sale.
• Steeping time is 4-6 minutes (boiling water).
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

I had such high hopes for this tea… but i’m just not a fan. It kind of tastes like glitter and gold.  I think if there had been less cinnamon it would have been better for me.

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a fruit infusion.
• It also includes: Apple, almonds, cinnamon, beetroot and artificial flavouring*
• Product of Germany.
• It’s 10 calories per serving/cup.
• It’s caffeine free.
• This is one of their most popular teas.
• Steeping time is 4-7 minutes (boiling water).
• The beetroot in the tea is what gives it it’s pink colour
• I used to detest this tea, and it’s still not one of my favourites, but I find it has less tartness than other times I’ve tried before.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

It’s OK. I could see beginner tea drinkers getting a kick out of this. Still not a fav of mine.

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a black tea.
• It is Certified Organic and MK Kosher.
• It also includes blueberries, elderberries, pink cornflower petals, stevia. With organic and natural flavouring*.  Here is their little blurb about including natural flavouring and claiming it is organic:

Natural flavouring comes from all natural sources, such as essential oils, essences or extracts. And when it complies with certain regulatory standards, we get to use the word organic.

• Product of Sri Lanka.
• Steeping time is 4-7 minutes (boiling water).
• It smells blueberries (surprise, surprise).
• It is a very light tasting blueberry flavour. It doesn’t taste like purple if that makes any sense. It would be a nice tea to have iced, it’s slightly sweet, but not overtly sweet.
• Low amount of caffeine.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

I’m glad I tried it, and if it were summer time and someone served it to me, I’d drink it, but I don’t think I would add this one to my collection.

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a herbal tea that uses rooibos as a base.
• It also includes coconut chips and rasps, apple pieces, cinnamon pieces, ginger bits, cardamom, black pepper, rose blossoms, almond flakes, artificial flavouring (which is likely where I smell the vanilla from.)
• Product of Germany.
• It’s part of the Winter Collection: only available for a limited time in stores, but was available online last year so I’m hoping they keep it online this year.
• Steeping time is 4-7 minutes (boiling water).
• It smells like sugar cookies! I smell a bit of the cinnamon but it’s not very spicy, and i can barely taste the cardamom.
• It tastes like almonds and vanilla, and because it has ginger it’s really good for your stomach if you’re not feeling so hot after a night of indulging in beverages.
• It’s a wonderful winter tea, and one of my favourites.  I usually add a bit more of the tea than they recommend because I like the flavour to be stronger.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

One of my favourite teas for sure. I need to stock up on some!

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a herbal tea that is based on Peppermint.
• Product of the USA.
• It also has , white chocolate, pink peppercorn, stevia leaf, natural sugar flavoring, natural and artificial white chocolate mousse flavoring.
  ALSO Contains milk and soy
• It’s part of the Winter Collection: only available for a limited time.
• Steeping time is 3-5 minutes.
• It’s smells like mint chocolate Rooibos, very pepperminty.
• It tastes like White Chocolate, so if you’re not a fan of white chocolate, you won’t like this tea..
• It’s a nice festive tea but it’s not my favourite. It’s a bit too sweet for my tastes (due to the chocolate and steevia)
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

This one was good. Not sure I’d add more to my collection, but it’s a wonderful addition for the holidays! Worth a try for sure!

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

Amoda tea offers something called, monthly tasting boxes. They select three new blends each month and ship it out to you for $15/month. This differs from other tea of the month clubs because it’s not just their own blends they send out, they also include other company’s blends. Their packaging is 100% recyclable (but still cute) and they include a little pamphlet as to why they’ve selected each tea/company. January’s 3rd tea is Chiran Sencha by O5 teas. If you are worried about most traditional green teas being too bitter, you HAVE to try this one.

Chiran Sencha:  Japanese Green tea

• On the bag there are three types of brewing instructions (I haven’t tried the second way but it’s my favourite because it involves wine…)
• Use one teaspoon for 25o  ml of water, have your water at 70 degrees (158), and you can do this by boiling your water and letting it rest for 10 minutes with the top off the kettle if you do not have a thermometer.
• First steeping should be for one minute, second-third steeping, should be at the same temperature, but steep for 45 seconds.
• Do NOT use boiling water on green tea. It will burn the leaves. Do NOT oversteep.  This is what causes green tea to have that “bitter” taste to it.
• It smells like vegital green tea (my friend describes it as grass clippings) but it is not nearly as strong when you taste it.

Health Benefits: Green tea is known for it’s powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals in your body, it kills carcinogens in your body (you know the bad stuff that can cause cancer) but keep in mind to get the most out of your green tea, you should be drinking at least 5 cups minimum per day!

My Ruling? It’s awesome! It’s really light and refreshing.  I was really expecting a vegital taste to it, but it’s super light and almost has a sweet after taste. When the weather gets warm again, i’m going to try the second way of steeping (cold steeping) can’t wait!

Remember if you LOVE these blends, after you try them, you can always order more from Amodatea.com

Until next time, “That’s Tea To Me.”

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

Amoda tea offers something called, monthly tasting boxes.  They select three new blends each month and ship it out to you for $15/month. This differs from other tea of the month clubs because it’s not just their own blends they send out, they also include other company’s blends.  Their packaging is 100% recyclable (but still cute) and they include a little pamphlet as to why they’ve selected each tea/company. January’s 2nd tea is Pistachio Ice Cream by Butiki teas. Who doesn’t love tea that tastes like ice Cream?!

Pistachio Ice Cream: Organic Green Tea (Mao Jian), Pistachios (roasted, unsalted), Lotus Stamens (doesn’t that sound sexy?) and Natural Flavoring (vegan)

• Use one teaspoon for 6-8 oz of water
• Do NOT use boiling water on green tea. It will burn the leaves. Use 82 degree water–or boil your water and let it rest for 6 minutes to let it cool.
• Steep it no longer than 2 minutes and 30 seconds, if you steep it longer it will bitter (like any green tea)
• It smells nutty and creamy!

Health Benefits: Green tea is known for it’s powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals in your body, plus if you drink this instead of indulging in ice cream, you’ll definitely lose weight.

My Ruling?  It’s awesome! It’s really light and refreshing. It’s got a soft creamy taste to it with a hint of nuttiness, I mean who doesn’t love pistachios?!

There is still one more sample in this month’s tasting box to try! And if you LOVE these blends, after you try them, you can always order more from Amodatea.com

You have until January 20th to sign up for February’s taste box! Until next time, “That’s Tea To Me.”

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

Amoda tea offers something called, monthly tasting boxes.  They select three new blends each month and ship it out to you for $15/month. This differs from other tea of the month clubs because it’s not just their own blends they send out, they also include other company’s blends.  Their packaging is 100% recyclable (but still cute) and they include a little pamphlet as to why they’ve selected each tea/company. January’s 1st tea is Oolong Creme by Sloane Teas. I’m a huge fan of Sloane teas, so I was excited this was one of the samples.

Oolong Creme: Oolong, natural flavourings

• Use one teaspoon for 6-8 oz of water
• Use boiling water for this variety, and you can get multiple steepings each time out of this tea.
• It smells quite vegital and earth like, but in a soft way (not at all like pu-erh)

Health Benefits: Oolong is known as the diet tea, it has enzymes in it that help with digestion and the tea can act as a diuretic, ridding your body of excess water.

My Ruling? It smells like Gingerbread and actually tastes like gingerbread. I didn’t find it was overly cream like. If you like ginger, you will like this tea. I’m not a huge fan of ginger, but I would try this again iced and give it another shot.  I love Sloane teas, they are very artistic, but this one, is not my favourite.

There are still two more samples in this month’s tasting box to try! And if you LOVE these blends, after you try them, you can always order more from Amodatea.com

Stay tuned for some reviews on two of the other teas that came in this month’s tasting box!  You have until January 20th to sign up for February’s taste box! Until next time, “That’s Tea To Me.”

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• Decaf Earl Grey: Most caffeinated teas taste like water, this one does not! If you are looking for something soothing after dinner or are just looking at cutting back on the caffeine on one of my favourite blends this is the tea!
• Day One: White Peony
• Day Two: Tuo Cha Bon Bon
• Day Three: Second Flush Darjeeling
• Day Four: Tung Ting Vietnam
• Day Five: Organic Black Jasmine Pearls
• Day Six: Orgainc Gyokuro Black
• Day Seven: Sencha Ashikubo
• Day Eight: Decaf Earl Grey.

The bottom line?

I’ve had a great time reviewing all of these teas for you guys! Make sure you have commented, shared and liked this post on facebook or on this post below for a chance to win the gung fu steeping set and a sample of each of the 8 teas I reviewed.  The contest closes this Sunday, October 28th at 11 pm CST. Contest is open to both Canadian and American residents!

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a green tea that’s processed in the traditional way… Fire roasted!!
• It’s from a valley called Ashikubo.
• Who else thinks some teas should have phonetic spelling on the bag?!
• Remember, it’s a delicate tea, do NOT use boiling water on any green tea!  82 degree water for this one with a steep time of 3-4 minutes… if you boil your water and leave it sit for about 7 minutes before steeping your tea this should be fine.
• It’s has a nice straw colour and it’s very mild.  If you’ve never tried a sencha this may be a place to start as it’s very light tasting.
• It is VERY pricey but it’s a very rare tea, if you are fond of rare green teas, this one will not disappoint.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

It was much better the second time I tried it, as the first time, I didn’t have the right tools to steep it to the correct temperature–which can make or break a tea.  It’s pretty pricey, but again, it’s a very rare tea. It’s a must try!

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

Want to win the Gung Fu Steeping Set and a sample of the next 8 teas I review? Comment below and share this post on twitter and facebook.  Don’t forget to visit our friends on facebook too.  One lucky winner will receive the entire set!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a Chinese Black tea that’s lightly steamed during processing. Something that is usually reserved for Gyokuro or Sencha green teas.
• It’s special because of the way it’s processed. You know with the steam and all that jazz.
• This tea is a little more delicate than other black teas, so do not use boiling water, water should be 94 degrees (boil your water and let it sit for about 2-3 minutes).
• Steeping time is 5 minutes, like most traditional black teas.
• It’s smells like traditional black tea, but it’s very light in colour.
• It tastes like a very light black tea, with mild notes of honey–though not sweet.
• Probably a tea I would add milk to.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

This one was good. Not sure I’d add more to my collection, but it’s a wonderful addition for those who are not fan’s of black teas because it’s very mild. Worth a try for sure!

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

Want to win the Gung Fu Steeping Set and a sample of the next 8 teas I review? Comment below and share this post on twitter and facebook.  Don’t forget to visit our friends on facebook too.  One lucky winner will receive the entire set!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a Chinese Black tea with Jasmine blossoms in it… super rare to have this combination.
• It’s special because it’s hand rolled, and they use black tea from China.
• This tea is a little more delicate than other black teas, so do not use boiling water, water should be 94 degrees (boil your water and let it sit for about 3 minutes).
• Steeping time is 5 minutes, and keep in mind you only need 2-3 pearls.
• Jasmine tea offers many health benefits, including a reduced risk of cancer, lower heart rate, blood pressure, stroke and cholesterol levels.
• It has a medium amount of caffeine.
• It’s smells very clean and fresh, very floral.
• Probably a tea I would add milk to.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

I loved this one! It’s not overtly floral and it’s a very light black tea. A lot of black pearled teas are quite intense, this one is just in the middle.   If you’ve never tried a pearled tea, you should definitely give this one a go.

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

Want to win the Gung Fu Steeping Set and a sample of the next 8 teas I review? Comment below and share this post on twitter and facebook.  Don’t forget to visit our friends on facebook too.  One lucky winner will receive the entire set!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s an Oolong (AKA Woolong Tea) from Vietnam.
• It’s special because most Oolong teas come from Taiwan.
• This one comes from the Lam Dong Garden which was made to celebrate the Taiwan Oolongs.
• Oolongs used to be famous for being hand rolled but due to the demand most are subjected to new sophisticated processes that mimic the hand rolling. However, lucky you, this one is hand rolled.
• Boil your water for steeping but let it rest for 3 minutes  (to cool down) as it needs to be 94 degrees for a proper steep.
• Steep for 5 minutes.
• The special thing about Oolongs is that the flavour changes the more steeps you do (with the same leaves!)
• The first taste is fresh and has a hint of floral and it has a bit of a milk oolong taste (kind of buttery)
• It has a medium amount of caffeine.
• It’s smells very clean and fresh.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

I loved this one! It took me some time to find an Oolong that I didn’t hate. I find I prefer the more of the green oolongs than the darker ones. The ones that are more floral are kind of my thing. But because tea is so versatile you have to form your own opinion about Oolongs and which ones are for you!  If you are experimenting with Oolong’s or are new to them, put this one on your list!

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

Want to win the Gung Fu Steeping Set and a sample of the next 8 teas I review? Comment below and share this post on twitter and facebook.  Don’t forget to visit our friends on facebook too.  One lucky winner will receive the entire set!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• Second Flush Darjeeling.
• Hails from Darjeeling India.
• Darjeeling is often called the Champagne of tea, not because it tastes like it but because if the tea does not come from the Darjeeling region of India, you cannot call it Darjeeling tea.
• You’ll want to use boiling water and steep for 5 minutes.
• It has a medium amount of caffeine.
• Second Flush refers to the time of the year it’s plucked.
• Second flush generally has darker amber colour and a stronger flavour.
• The unique flavour comes from a variety of things like the unique weather each year, the topography and the plant type.
• Some also say that the taste of Darjeeling is so unique because of a reaction that happens when small insects suck fluid from the stems of the tea plant.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

It smells like a true traditional tea, it would be fabulous with milk in my opinion.  If you are looking for a traditional tea that isn’t overpowering definitely check this one out.

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

Want to win the Gung Fu Steeping Set and a sample of the next 8 teas I review? Comment below and share this post on twitter and facebook.  Don’t forget to visit our friends on facebook too.  One lucky winner will receive the entire set!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a Pu’erh tea from Yunnan, China.
• Boil your water for steeping, let it steep  for 4 minutes.
• It has a medium amount of caffeine.
• It’s aged for years in cellars and caves, that’s what gives it it’s rich dark colour.
• Use one nest, yup that’s what it’s called, and you get to unwrap it, how fun is that?!  Tuo Cha translate into bowl (which is what the nest looks like)
• You can resteep the nest 5 times! When I resteep I always use boiling water and let it sit for longer than the first time.
• It’s got a very rich dark brown colour, different than any teas you may have tried before. Pu’erh teas are in a class of their own.
• It’s smells very earthy and rich, which a hint of fish smell (and not in a nasty way) to it.
• The taste is very earth like,  with a hint of smoke and to me it kind of tastes like bark.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.

The bottom line?

I’m not a fan. I didn’t taste the dark licorice taste the package talks about (which is alright with me). To me it was a very robust earthy tea that tasted like bark.  It actually kind of reminded me of Pau D’arco tea.  I find there is no middle ground with Pu”erh Teas (straight ones) you either love them or you don’t.  Again, it’s not a bad tea, i’m just not a fan.  If you are a seasoned Pu’erh drinker I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one!

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

Want to win the Gung Fu Steeping Set and a sample of the next 8 teas I review? Comment below and share this post on twitter and facebook.  Don’t forget to visit our friends on facebook too.  One lucky winner will receive the entire set!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a white tea from the Fujian Province, China.
• Brew the tea at 84 Degrees
• It has a medium amount of caffeine.
• Use 1.5 tbs for one cup (mug) of tea. The leaves are big so don’t be shy to be generous with this tea.
• Steep the tea between 4-5 minutes.
• It’s a very pale yellow colour the less you steep it.  I like mine a bit stronger so it came out more of a yellow colour (and I steeped mine 6 minutes)
• It’s smells very earthy and it almost has a  fresh feeling to it.
• The first time I steeped it at work, I found it to be way too mellow. Most white teas are so I steeped it again and liked it much more.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.
• Resteeped the tea twice, the second time, I used boiling water and steeped for 6 minutes.

The bottom line?

It was really mild.  Everything about this tea told me it would be a “bold” white tea, and the only way that held true for me is when I steeped it longer than the recommended time. It has a very gentle taste to it, and it’s not bitter or vegital like green teas. If you are a beginner at tea drinking and are afraid of strong teas, this is a perfect way to start your tea journey into the more traditional teas.

So until next time,  That’s Tea To Me.

Want to win the Gung Fu Steeping Set and a sample of the next 8 teas I review? Comment below and share this post on twitter and facebook.  Don’t forget to visit our friends on facebook too.  One lucky winner will receive the entire set!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• We will be reviewing some of DAVIDsTEA‘s more traditional blend of teas, starting with…well you’ll just have to tune in tomorrow.
• Each day we’ll review a new blend from David’s most exclusive new collection.
• Wanna know the best part?! You can WIN a HUGE sample of each type of tea… not to mention a beautiful Gung Fu Steeping set with beautiful double walled glass tea cups.
• So stay tuned, and tweet and comment on the videos, check us out and like us on facebook, and don’t forget to like and visit DavidsTea on Facebook as well.

If you haven’t had a chance to follow me on twitter please add me!  If you’re not already a fan of Davids, I highly recommend you doing so!

So until next time, That’s Tea to Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

While on vacation in Vancouver, British Columbia I had the pleasure of visiting the Bellagio Cafe by chance!  While staying at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Vancouver, I was getting tired of “fancy, rich people food” and while we asked the hotel staff for various, comfort food establishments, and they finally suggested this one.

The establishment is a small to medium on Hornby Street, it has an eclectic atmosphere.  There are piles of REAL books on the tops of the booths that you could read if you wanted to.

They had an amazing selection of loose leaf teas–much to my surprise. I had the Earl Grey and my Mother In Law had an herbal tea that she also loved.  The breakfast was amazing, and at a great price.  The best part? They served my tea with warmed milk! I love when places do that! The server wasn’t too sure about the brand of tea they used, so I had hubby snap some pics of the tins and it’s a brand called Theodor from France.

The bottom line

It was amazingly fragrant tea, with a rich earl grey taste…and a hint of vanilla. However when I looked it up online, it’s beyond ridiculously expensive if you are not in France.  But if you are ever in Downtown Vancouver, definitely check out Bellagio Cafe!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• They have two flavours: Very Berry and Cool Lime.
• They are NOT tea. They are a juice blend that contains ten percent juice and green coffee bean extract.
• They have found a way to extract caffeine from a green coffee bean. Coffee gets it’s robust flavour from roasting the coffee bean. So these drinks contain caffeine without the flavour of coffee. But, it’s not tea. It doesn’t contain the other powerful antioxidants that tea does.
• They are sweetened with sugar.
• Basically it comes in juice box, at double strength and starbucks adds water to it, a lime or blackberries, and shakes it with ice.
• Are they for kids? Not really, due to the caffeine content.
• Looking for a Iced Tea? Try the Iced Green Tea Lemonade from Starbucks instead!

Cool Lime:
Size: Venti
Calories: 100
Caffeine: 60-85 mg’s
Sugar: 26 grams

Very Berry:
Size: Tall
Calories: 70
Caffeine: 30-45 mg’s
Sugar: 17 grams

So how’s green coffee extract made?

They take high quality, green coffee beans. They soak the beans in water and pull out the caffeine and other stuff. Then they dry the whole concoction down to create the concentrated essence  of green coffee. That’s Green Coffee Extract. No roasting. So the end result is a natural source of energy which has no traditional coffee flavor.

The bottom line?

If you are looking for a change in what you are drinking during the hot months it’s a nice treat but it’s not something I’d order regularly.  Why? Because unlike iced tea, these drinks don’t really have any health benefits from using green coffee bean extract, it just gives you a kick.  At least you get a lot of antioxidants from Iced Teas. They are tasty and a bit sweet/tart, so yay for starbucks for creating a new beverage–but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s tea. So until next time, that’s tea to me. (Or wait, I guess that’s coffee to me)

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

Kids teas are mostly classified that way because they have no caffiene and/or calories and are deliciously tasty.  Most often they are served best as iced teas, for me personally I use them as a juice replacement, especially in the summer.  But just because you are not a kid, doesn’t mean you can’t love them along with me. Plus, how cool are the names?!

Jumbo Grape Tea: Rooibos, Sweet blackberry leaves, flavouring, blue mallow blossoms, red currants, pomegranate seeds.

• Two teaspoons for 6-8 oz of water
• Use boiling water and steep for 5-7 minutes
• Smells like rooibos and subtly of grape.
• Health benefits include: Immunity booster, sleep enhancer and clarifies your skin.

My Ruling? It was really good!  My son prefers this one hot, as do I, but you can drink it iced as it has a fruity hint to it.

Coco Loco Tea: Honeybush, chocolate chips, creamy caramel pieces, rosebuds, natural flavouring (contains soy and milk products).

• Two teaspoons for 6-8 oz of water
• Use boiling water and steep for 5-7 minutes
• Smells sweetly of honey and chocolate.
• Health benefits: Sleep enhancer, Immunity booster, aids in digestion, clarifies your skin.

My Ruling? It was alright, I found it tasted more like dark chocolate than milk chocolate. I added milk to it and I still wasn’t in love with it.

Tea Rex (My favourite): Apple Pieces, carrot flakes, honeydew melon cubes, flavouring, beet root.

• Two teaspoons for 6-8 oz of water
• Use boiling water and steep for 5-7 minutes
• Smells sweetly of watermelon–it smells amazing.
• Health benefits: cleanses your body.

My Ruling? This tea is freaking awesome! It’s sweeter than DavidsTea’s Luscious Watermelon. I drink this one iced, so if you forget how to make iced tea, click here. Seriously, you guys have to try this one.

Stay tuned for some reviews on two of the other teas that the fans on my facebook page picked! Until next time, “That’s Tea To Me.”

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• Cold Steeped tea is different than its counterpart brewed tea that you ice.
• Cold brewing pulls the flavor gently rather than pushing out the flavor when you use boiling water.
• We used a teavana’s gyukuro imperial (the stuff they make matcha out of)
• Instructions:
• Generally you should use a little bit more tea than you would use if you were brewing it regularly.  Experiment, maybe the first time you cold brew, use just a bit more tea than you would for the amount of water you are using.   Use cold filtered water, and put the tea in the infuser and stick the entire thing in the fridge for 8-10 hours for green tea.  If you don’t have a Takeya system, you can use a jar or a juice container and stick the leaves straight in the water–but you’ll have to strain it out afterwards.
• Cold tea has the same health properties as hot tea, but with a lighter taste.
• Cold steeped tea is much sweeter than its counterpart and tastes much smoother. There is less tannins in the cold brewed tea.
• Cold steeped tea has a shelf life! It’s good in the fridge for about 3 days, after wards toss it out and make more.
• You can buy the Takeya Sets here.

I the colour of the tea made me think it was going to taste like lemonade and it messed with my senses. I would love to add lemonade to cold brewed tea. And next time I make iced green tea, I would use something gentle like Sencha green tea, as it’s a super light tasting tea, or a jasmine green tea…something more floral.
Happy sipping!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• Cold Steeped tea is different than its counterpart brewed tea that you ice.
• Cold brewing pulls the flavor gently rather than pushing out the flavor when you use boiling water.
• We used a black tea with mint for my first attempt at cold steeping.
• Instructions: Use 1.5 the amount of tea you would usually use for hot brewing your tea. Use cold filtered water, and put the tea in the infuser and stick the entire thing in the fridge for 8-10 hours for black tea.
• I forgot to take mine out after steeping over night, and left it in for a total of about 18 hours, and it was not bitter at all.
• Cold steeped tea is much sweeter than its counterpart and tastes much smoother. There is less tannins in the cold brewed tea.
• Cold steeped tea has a shelf life! It’s good in the fridge for about 3 days, after wards toss it out and make more.
• You can buy the Takeya Sets here.

I wasn’t expecting to like black tea iced. I think I liked it more because it was mixed with mint. It wasn’t bitter and actually a little sweet! A very light refreshing taste in the summer time for sure. You don’t use as much tea for cold steeped tea as for hot brewing and icing the tea, but it takes longer.
Happy sipping!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• This show focuses on making iced tea with Herbal tisanes. Today we happen to be using the Tropicalia from DavidsTea.
• For Herbal tisanes, you’ll want to use boiling water and you can steep as LONG as you want, even over night.
• For iced tea, used DOUBLE the amount of loose leaf tea for the amount of water you are steeping the tea in.
• Fill a glass with Ice and pour over after steeping it for at least twice as long as directed on the box for hot steeping.
• If you don’t have any ice you can brew a whole pot of hot water with double strength tea and let it chill over night in the fridge.
• Remember herbal teas are edible!
• You can buy the Takeya Sets here.

I thought the Tropicalia totally tasted like pina coloda but was a bit sweet due to the candy hearts in it.  I’ll finish the tin off that I bought but I don’t think i’ll buy more. This would be a great drink for kids for sure. Keep in mind when you make iced tea you follow the temperature guideline and steeping timeline for any other teas  besides herbal tisanes!

Happy sipping!

Hopefully by now you have realized that tea just doesn’t taste the same without a teacup. Try drinking your favorite tea from a coffee mug, and then try it in a teacup and you will instantly be able to tell the difference in experience, flavour, and taste. There are actually a ton of fluid dynamics going on, especially the longer you leave your tea, so a conical china tea cup will always taste better than a coffee mug.

So what are the most unique, fun, and best tasting teacups you should buy? Here are some of our favorites.

Magisso White Teacup

Known for extreme imagination when creating products, the Magisso Teacup streamlines brewing and drinking hot tea into one task. Looking to make life simpler, inventor Laura Bougdanos created a tilting teacup. Simply put loose tea in the strainer, fill with water up to the tea leaves, let it steep and then tilt the cup the opposite direction. Voilà, a perfectly brewed single serving of tea. Recognized at the 2011 Reddot design awards, this ingenious little cup will change the way you drink tea. Buy it now

Sagaform Stoneware Retro Tea Cup

Sagaform is all about joyful and innovative gifts for the kitchen and beautifully dressed table, both indoors and out. Retro stoneware tea cup with saucer. Wishing you a very warm warm welcome to the wonderful world of Sagaform. Buy it now

Royal Albert Teacup Set of 5, 1950-1990

This 10-piece teacup and saucer set includes the patterns from 1950 to 1990. Crafted of bone china with lustrous 22-karat gold trim, the five pairs all share the same shape for a highly coordinated look at the table while showcasing the special beauty of each design. For instance, set the soft, blue-hued 1950 Festival next to the bolder oranges of 1970 Poppy for an unexpected combination that delights the senses. Each piece has a commemorative backstamp, and the set comes packaged in a presentation-style pink and burgundy hatbox with illustrations of all the patterns. The china is dishwasher-safe and carries a two-year warranty. Buy it now

Hidden Fox Teacup

Hold a tea party that is full of surprises. What a delight, as you drink up, an animal will appear in your cup. This Hidden Animal Teacup reveals a sly, little fox hiding in the bottom of your cup! The cup will hold 16-ounce of your favorite beverage. Buy it now

Celtic Claddagh Stacking Teapot with Teacup

This is one of those beautiful teacups that you need to add to your collection. Imagine serving tea in this beautiful set. It serves one, but it is a combination teacup and teapot. Perfect for the special tea party you are having when you really want to impress someone. Buy it now

Blue Willow Chinese Teacup

The Blue Willow tells the charming old Chinese legend of an angry father pursuing his eloping daughter, only to see the maiden and her lover transformed into birds who fly away together. This beautiful Chinese tea cup has the classic Blue Willow design. The Blue Willow design depicts the charming and legendary old Chinese Blue Willow Story. The Blue Willow design is stencil etched on by hand then fired, creating a beautiful and long lasting finish. Buy it now

Hidden Bear Teacup

Hold a tea party that is full of surprises. What a delight, as you drink up, an animal will appear in your cup. This Hidden Animal Teacup reveals a sly, little fox hiding in the bottom of your cup! The cup will hold 16-ounce of your favorite beverage. Buy it now

Black Cast Iron Teacup

This high quality black cast iron teacup is perfect for enjoying tea. It can also serve as a great companion for any cast iron teapots (tetsubin). This classical Japanese style teacup is made from sturdy iron and has enamel coating on the interior to prevent rusting. Japanese cast ironware heats evenly and retains heat well and is praised worldwide for their beauty, strength, and superb quality. Buy it now

Dragonfly Teacup with Strainer

Enjoy an amazing cup of tea from this beautiful teacup with a strainer. The cup features a beautiful dragonfly, and is really stunning when you first set eyes on it. I’m a big fan of dragonfly’s so this one is definitely one of my favorites. Buy it now

Tea for Two Panda

This Ceramic Tea For Two Teacup Set is pretty fun! It features a cute little panda bear at the top of the set so it really stands out. They also make one with cat on the top for all you cat lovers out there. If you are going to share tea with someone, this is a really cute set you should have kicking around. Buy it now

Hidden Owl Teacup

Drink up! This white porcelain teacup reveals a little owl in the bottom of the cup when empty. Buy it now

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• Peppermint Dream: Peppermint (2nd Cut), Lavender
• Bring your water to a boil and steep for 5-7 minutes.
• It smells mostly like peppermint dry (I couldn’t really smell the lavender until I brewed it)
• It’s got a rich and spicy peppermint flavour with a hint of lavender, not at all floral. I was surprised how much I like this tea.
• Peppermint soothes the stomach and relieves stress, lavender has been known for centuries as a sedative.

My Ruling?  It is AMAZING! I loved the blend. It makes you calm and relaxed and it’s perfect for before bed or after meals. Very surprised I loved it.

Follow them on twitter and check out their website!

Until next time,  That’s Tea to me!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• Organic Cacao: 100% organic cacao shell.
• Bring your water to a boil and steep for 5-7 minutes.
• It smells amazing! It tastes like hot chocolate.  If you traditionally make your hot chocolate with water and not milk, it’s very similar.  If you
• If you like Dark Chocolate, this is definitely the tea for you.
• It’s an herbal tea so that means it’s caffeine free. But it contains over 300 compounds including tannins, catechins, polyphenols and a whole whack of antioxidants (comparable to green teas).
• It also has theobromine (which is a stimulant–so this is a great tea to get you going).
• Chocolate is a natural mood enhancer and it boosts concentration, so for all you students, this is a great alternative to drowning in coffee.

My Ruling?  It’s good, tastes like hot chocolate. It has a distinct dark chocolate flavour. I’m not a huge dark chocolate fan, and I would probably add milk tea.  For your chance to win a 50 gram bag of this tea, Like us on facebook and share the blog post with your friends.  Winner will be selected Friday, May 11th 2012.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• 1st tea: Ap-pear-antly Vanilla: Organic pear and vanilla flavourings, along with Nova Scotia linden flower added to the leaves make it reminiscent of the pear orchards in Eastern Canada. Boiling water, steep for 3-5 minutes.
• It has a very nice light vanilla taste and a hint of pear after taste. Very Delicious!
• 2nd tea: Organic Blooming Blueberry: organic Keemun tea from the cloud-enveloped highlands of China’s Anhui province, organic Rooibos from South Africa’s Cedarberg mountains, aromatic organic calendula petals from Egypt, purple flecks of organic cornflower petals from Hungary; tart, vitamin-c rich organic hibiscus of western Sudan and natural organic blueberry flavouring. This tea is characterized by the honeyed sweetness of blueberries in early fall, subtly toasted undertones of pine, cranberry, orchid and cloves.  Boiling water, steep for 3-5 minutes.
• This tea was not for me, it smelled like blueberries but for me it had too much going on in it. Because it’s toasted it has a smoky taste that I personally am not a fan of. Those of you who are Lapsang fans? Branch out and try this one, it’s a very unique blend.
• Post-teas. This is hands down the coolest thing about this company. Is it a post card? Is it tea? Why yes, it’s both! I LOVE this idea.  To win this tea, comment on this post and like us on facebook and share it with your friends! I’ll pick the winner on Friday May 4th!

My Ruling?  Out of all of the samples she sent, I liked the London Fog the best.  I also liked the: Lady Slipper. But hands down favourite was the London Fog. It had so much flavour! It was like an Earl Grey tea latte in my cup! Lady Slipper was nice (also a black tea with bergamot–but very subtle) but I think I was so in love with the London Fog that I found I preferred the London fog over the Slipper blend (like a lady grey).

Thanks Natasha (follow her on twitter too!) for this little review of Lady Baker’s Tea Trolley:

I was referred to Lady Baker’s Tea Trolley by a Twitter follower after declaring my new found love for tea. I pleasantly surprised to learn Lady Baker’s is a permanent presence at the Charlottetown Farmer’s Market. I wandered down one Saturday in March to taste their wares and was blown away by their Irish Creme tea latte. I was hooked. They have lattes and tea infused baked goodies (yummy examples include Oolong Chocolate Tea Cake,Chocolate Chai Muffins and Matcha Lime Torte!) for sale as well as their loose leaf tea and beautiful cups. I’m currently favoring the Island Strawberry Organic Green Tea as my after dinner cuppa. I’m looking forward to building a collection and am happy that if I can’t make it to the market I can always order online.To me, Lady Baker’s Tea Trolley will forever invoke visions and memories of Prince Edward Island. It truly is a local gem.

Follow them on twitter! And don’t forget to check out their website!

So until next time, That’s Tea to Me.

I’ve had so many people ask me what the secret is to a great cup of tea. There are so many things that make a great cup of tea: quality of the tea, temperature of the water, quality of the water, tea steeper you have selected, tea cup you are using, and more. I thought I would explain how I make the perfect cup of tea.

Step 1 – Decide on the type of tea

There are so many different kinds of teas out there. The first thing you will want to do is select between Black, Pu-erh, Oolong, Rooibos, Mate, White Tea, Yellow Tea, Herbal Tea, or Green Tea. Depending on what you select, the preparation will vary greatly.

Step 2 – Pick the best brand for the type of tea

I’ve found that different companies and brands actually produce different types of teas better. The trick here is to figure out which one is best for the type of tea you are going to select. I’ve come up with a little formula and cheat sheet for myself to help with the selection process. I might be sharing it in a later blog post if I can find the time to write it into the computer.

Step 3 – Decide on the variant

Now that you have selected the type of tea, and the brand you want to go with, you will want to decide on the variant of tea. For example my husband loves Chai tea, but finds that when you add a hint of chocolate, the tea tastes a little more fun and adds another dimension to the flavour of the tea. So figure out if you are just looking for a plain black tea, or if you want some added flavours.

Step 4 – Read preparation instructions

Make sure you take the time to read the preparation instructions. You will typically be given the steeping time and water temperature. If you are new to the tea, make sure you taste the tea the way it was intended, before modifying the steeping times or quantity of tea you want to use in the steeper. Oh yes and whatever you do make sure you never use a tea ball.

Step 5 – Get supplies ready

I like to lay out all of the things I’m going to need before I even boil my water. Otherwise I find I get flustered while the water is boiling, which can ruin the experience of that perfect cup of tea. Imagine the kettle going, and you can’t find that teacup you wanted to use! Find the steeper, make sure it’s clean and doesn’t have any flavours from your last cup of tea. Wash it well and put it on the counter. Get the tea your going to use ready, find a spoon, and get that tea cup ready! If you are going to use a tea thermometer, which I do recommend, make sure you have it ready to test the water temperature.

Step 6 – Boil Water

Make sure you use a kettle if you can over the stove. Ensure the kettle doesn’t have any rust or anything like that or you might just be adding some nasty stuff into the water. If you are using an electric kettle, make sure it’s not plastic.  Once the water is boiled, I recommend you test the temperature of the water and let it cool if need be, depending on the type of tea you are using. You don’t want to burn the expensive tea leaves you just bought and ruin your tea!

Step 7 – Prepare Tea

While the water is boiling, I recommend you get the steeper ready (or other steeping device) with the correct amount of tea you are going to use. Make sure you use the correct measurements and amount of tea as instructed. Don’t get creative yet. You want to make sure you taste the tea how it was intended first.

Step 8 – Steep Tea

You are almost there! Double-check your water with the thermometer, and now add the water to the steeper. Make sure the tea leaves are covered by the water, and that you are using the right amount of water for the tea. Let the tea steep for the recommended period of time. Patience is the name of the game here. Make sure that you cover your mug or tea leaves while steeping to ensure maximum infusion.

Step 9 – Pour Tea and WAIT

Once you are ready, pour the tea into your favorite teacup. Make sure you use a teacup and not a coffee cup, as they are designed to get the best flavour out of the tea you have made. You want to make sure all the best parts of the tea remain in the water, and a coffee cup is simply not made to sustain the correct balance of flavours in the teacup. This is why tea that is had in a china tea cup will always taste better than tea in a coffee cup. True story.

Step 10 – Enjoy your tea

This is the best part. Grab your favorite book, or whatever you want to do, and take a sip of that perfect cup of tea. It should taste just right, and take you to a whole new world.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• I first met Rachel on Steepster and started following her on twitter. (follow her personal account  and her iHeartTeas account)
• When I was in Chicago last time she was going to give me a few samples of some of her newest blends but unfortunately we couldn’t make it work (but she popped the teas in the mail to me), and next time we’ll have to meet up for tea for sure!
• The first of the two teas I tried was the Strawberry Island, it’s a black tea, so I used boiling water and let it steep for about 4 minutes. It is a very nice tropical tea. I love coconut teas and this one does not disappoint. It actually reminds me of DavidsTea’s Fantasty Island but instead of Raspberry it has Strawberry. Two thumbs up. Boiling water, 4-6 minutes, and 1 teaspoon.
• The second tea was the Raspberry & Apricot Green Tea Delight. I used 82 degree water and steeped for about 3 minutes. I think I oversteeped my first try, as it was kind of sour the way green tea does when you oversteep. The flavour is really light. On my second attempt I steeped for 2 minutes and holy hanna it was so much better. LOVE this tea!
• Rachel has four unique blends she does by hand and also has other items that she sells on her site:http://iheartteas.teatra.de/ Plus she’s always adding more.
• She also crafts unique oil scents and sent me a strawberry coconut, smells good enough to eat!

A little bit about Rachel:

Rachel is out of Chicago, IL and has been a tea lover for years.  Why should you pick her teas? Rachel aims to create unique blends that you haven’t tasted before. She has a unique flare for blending teas and often works on customizeable orders for clients. She makes small batches of tea for that very reason.  She loves the engagement and interaction between the client and herself trying to come up with the perfect tea for them and has recently made a caffeine free Strawberry Lemonade because someone asked her–how cool is that?!  She currently sells 4 blends of her own online but is looking to add many more over the next few months.

What are Rachels favourite teas? Outside of her collection she enjoys Milk Oolong from thepuriTea,  and also loves Coconut Pouchong from Golden Moon Tea. From her own collection she enjoys Strawberry Island the best. (Me too)

My Ruling: The teas are hand crafted and are made with fine ingredients. She sent a thank you card in with the teas as well as some scented oil for me to try. Her teas are relatively inexpensive and you can just feel the love she has for tea.  If you are looking for a customized blend, contact Rachel and see if she can help you out!

So until next time, That’s Tea to Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a green tea, all organic: Sencha green tea, cranberries, blueberries, caraway seed, mustard seed, sea lettuce. With natural flavouring*
• Boil your water and let it set for about 4-5 minutes to bring the temperature down to 82 degrees.
• Steep for 3 minutes. Do NOT oversteep as green tea bitters.
• It does not smell like pine or (evergreens) but rather like those Mr. Sketch Dark Green Markers.
• It tastes a bit fruity but not tart, its a good combination of cranberry/blueberry
• Sea lettuce is a fantastic source of iron and is abundant in minerals aka it’s really good for you.

My Ruling: It’s really good! It’s a great tea to replenish the good stuff in your body, and green tea is detoxifying in and of itself so if you’re looking for a Canadian sustainable sourced tea, that is inspired by David Suzuki then this is the tea for you!  I mean who doesn’t love David Suzuki?

So until next time, That’s Tea to Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a Rooibos Tea: Red and green rooibos, honeybush, sprinkles, ice cream bits, natural and artificial flavoring.
• Boil your water to 98 degrees with a steep time of 4-7 minutes.
• Not sure how many calories it has per cup but Chocolate cake and Ice cream cake had 10-15 in theirs so I wouldn’t rule it out.
• It smells very much like maple syrup, and it smells really sweet.
• It tastes nothing like birthday cake but it’s not sweet which really surprised me, it has more of a maple taste than an earthy taste..

My Ruling: I’m surprised, like it–It’s not a favourite of mine but it’s pretty good… But it tastes more like Maple to me than birthday cake.

So until next time, That’s Tea to Me.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a green tea that has, apple, kiwi, lemongrass, lemon peel, artificial flavouring.
• Boil your water to 82 degrees with a steep time of 3-4 minutes.
• Remember to let your water cool after boiling it for about 4-5 minutes so you don’t burn the tea leaves.
• DO NOT over steep as green tea will bitter.
• Smell stronger when it’s in the can than when brewed, I can’t taste the lemon in it.
• It’s not tart but has a nice kiwi taste to it.
• Definitely not disappointed I got a tin of it.

My Ruling: One of my new favourite green teas for sure, if you love Kiwi, you are going to LOVE this tea!

So until next time, That’s Tea to Me.

It never fails, whenever I go somewhere (like the UPS store) I get questions about tea and a lot of times pregnancy!

The March of Dimes recommends that women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant consume no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day (equal to about one 12-ounce cup of coffee a day). Herbal Tisanes are a great option but keep in mind not all are recommended for expectant moms. Many tisanes are filled with vitamin C, antioxidants and help reduce stress, anxiety, nerves and nausea, however some contain some herbs that may be harmful to you and your baby.

Someone always knows someone who is expecting and many people think all tea is safe to drink while pregnant. It is not. I’m going to list off certain herbs that may be found in various teas that you should avoid.  You should always do things in moderation so keep this in mind with the below warnings.

Herbs to avoid while pregnant:

• Black and Blue Cohosh**, Chamomile, Devil’s Claw, Don Quai
• Ephedra, Fenugreek, Gentian, Ginseng, Hawthorne
• Licorice Root, Mother Wort, Nettle, Penny Royal
• Red Raspberry Leaf**, Senna, Shepherd’s Purse
• St. John’s Wort, Yarrow

The active ingredients in some of the above herbs can have side effects that you may not expect. The adverse effects may be as follows:

So what tea’s can I drink when pregnant?

Keep in mind that anything you drink should be in moderation. There are a few things I wanted to mention about the above list. Chamomile. Chamomile tea is not safe to drink during pregnancy as it can cause uterine contractions, many people don’t know this, so if you only take one thing away from this article, let that be it.  Green tea is not recommended during the first trimester in pregnancy because it can inhibit the absorption of folic acid in your body, and when you are expecting you need to increase intake of folic acid.

Here are some teas that are great for your pregnant bellies:

• Rooibos (as long as it is not mixed with Rosemary–which is not recommended either)
• Honeybush
• Peppermint (helps with indigestion–again in moderation)

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a Black Tea that contains: Black tea, carob, White Chocolate Sprinkles, White chocolate pieces, cocoa, stevia and natural/artificial flavourings. (odd that it has white chocolate for chocolate cake)
  Allergens: Dairy and soy.
• Boil your water to 98 degrees with a steep time of 4-7 minutes.
• It has 15 calories per cup.
• It smells just like chocolate cake, but tastes more like watered down chocolate cake. It’s not overtly sweet like ice cream cake.
• As a tip the chocolate settles at the bottom so keep a spoon handy to stir it up.
• This tea will leave a lot of oily residue on your choice of steeper.

My Ruling: I actually like it. I’m not a huge chocolate lover so this is a subtle chocolate tea that I really enjoy. I prefer this one with milk however as it makes it creamier.

So until tomorrow, That’s Tea to Me.

The name oolong tea came into the English language from the Chinese name (Chinese: 烏龍茶), meaning “black dragon tea”.

There are several sub varieties of this tea, but I have only found one that I actually enjoy–actually two just as of yesterday. It really does have a certain taste to it that a lot of people either LOVE or don’t love.   Either way, don’t you dare be sticking this tea in a darn tea ball. See why here….

See where it falls on the chart:

Why is Oolong tea good for weight loss?

So here is the skinny (HA! I made a funny.)

And this is kind of scientific so i’m going to try to make it as sexy as possible.

Polyphenol in oolong tea is effective in controlling obesity. Specifically speaking, it activates the enzyme  (pancreatic lipase)that is responsible for dissolving triglyceride–AKA the bad fatty stuff. So if you are a person who loves carbs like me, you may want to love your Oolong tea as well.

What temperature do I steep Oolong tea at?

Anywhere from 93 to 96 °C depending on the kind of Oolong tea you are brewing.

How long do I steep Oolong tea?

Again it varies depending on the type of Oolong but generally between 3-10 minutes. AND it depends on which steep you are on. With high quality Oolong you can get multiple steepings out of it, and most people say that the 3rd and 4th steep is the best. Each time you will feel like you are trying a new tea.

What does Oolong tea taste like?

Depending on the subvariety, it can be:

• sweet and fruity with honey aromas
• woody and thick with roasted aromas
• green and fresh with bouquet aromas (my favourite kind)

All of this depends on how it was harvisted and the style of which it was produced. There are two distinct production styles of Oolong tea:

• Rolled into long curly leaves (most traditional)
• Wrap-Curled into small beads that each have a tail

How much Caffeine is in Oolong Tea?

Oolong tea has less caffeine than Black tea but more than the other varieties of traditional tea (Green, White, Yellow) but largely depends on how many times you brew the same leaves. Each time you brew the leaves the less caffeine you ingest, and the first cup you will have will have the most caffeine. The second cup will have 90% less caffeine.

The following picture is WHY you should never use a tea ball for Oolong tea. It cannot fully expand to get the full flavour out of your tea in a tiny tea ball.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a Black Tea that contains: Black tea, carob, ice cream bits, white chocolate pieces, vanilla, rainbow sprinkles, natural and artificial flavoring.
  Allergens: Dairy and soy.
• Boil your water to 98 degrees with a steep time of 4-7 minutes.
• It has ten calories per cup.
• It smells really sweet and tastes even sweeter.
• If you are not a fan of white chocolate you likely won’t care too much for this tea.
• If you don’t put sweetener in your tea you will find this tea very sweet.

My Ruling: I’m not a fan of it, it’s neat to try but it’s just way too sweet for me. Maybe for a treat you could add some spirits to the tea and top with whipping cream but it’s just not my cup of tea.

So until tomorrow, That’s Tea to Me.

The Drake Hotel’s Palm Court Afternoon Tea:

• When we arrived we were promptly greeted and seated near the beautiful fountain. We were given the menu (i’m attaching it at the bottom) and told that the only choice we’d have to make was what tea we were going to have. Afternoon Tea Menu Drake Hotel
• Then the special events manager, Shaun, came over and offered us champagne (tea and champagne? NOW we’re talking) and he saw that I had my phone out and mentioned that if i checked in on FourSquare that we’d get the second glass of champagne for a penny, a PENNY! Woot woot! Now that’s what I call a deal.
• So our tea was brought out to us and the leaves were in the pot, you had a sterling silver filter that sat over your cup and you poured the tea over that.
• Then the goodies arrived and Oh My Goodness the pastries were delicious, the scones were to die for, the sandwiches were cute and the best part was the English Double Devon Cream AKA clotted cream (but Devon Cream sounds nicer lol). To die for, seriously.
• The champagne was fantastic.
• The servers were amazing and were offering to take pictures of us and other guests, I thought I was going to look like a total tool asking for a photo, but nope.
• There were lots of couples of all ages, I thought it was going to be a lot of women, primarily older women but clearly afternoon tea at the Palm Court is not only a family affair but one enjoyed by all ages!
• They had a harpist playing and it was very lovely. There were also quite a few birthdays being celebrated, and each time the harpist would play happy birthday.

So what was the final verdict?

I am in LOVE with this tea room.  I’ve made it my mission to find more places to have afternoon tea at in my hometown. I know there are a few that are open seasonally. I only wish my aunt were around, she used to love tea rooms and would go with my mom on weekends. The price was what I expected (a little bit on the high side) at $38 per person, but I went for the experience and I was not disappointed. I loved that they were tech savvy and knew about foursquare and encouraged us to check in. It was a nice mix of the technology of today and the elegance of yesterday.  If you are in Chicago, go and visit the Palm Court. You won’t be disappointed.

Some pics from the event:

What I thought I’d look like when I went for high tea:

What I looked like: (maybe I should have put on my wedding dress, maybe next time)

The lovely Champagne:

The goods:

And me enjoying my tea:

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a Sencha green tea, mango, natural and artificial mangousteen and guava flavouring, safflower, marigold.
• It has a nice tropical fruit smell,totally smells like mango.
• Mangosteen is a small purple fruit about the size of a tangerine, which has traditionally been used to treat inflammation, dysentery, and skin disorders. It was also used to fight infection by boiling up the fleshy part of the rind. (which is what they put in the tea)
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.
• Boiling water for 82 degrees and a steeping time of 3-4 minutes. DO NOT OVER STEEP or burn the tea by using boiling water. Remember even if you are having it iced to follow the steeping time for green tea as it can bitter when over steeped.
• If making it iced you’ll want to add double the amount of tea and pour over ice as the ice dilutes the strength of the tea.

So what do I think?

This tea rocks! I just LOVE it! It’s great hot and cold (it’s hard to tell which one I prefer but I love the versitility of this tea.  I generally am not a fan of green teas iced so this is a first for me. Love love love it!

Have you tried it? What do you think?

Happy sipping!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a  black tea with: Hibiscus, apple, green tea, orange peel, safflower, cornflower, candied mango (mango, sugar), artificial flavouring.
• It has a nice tropical fruit smell, kind of like papaya and guava.
• It’s pink in colour, which is odd for a black tea.
• This tea is tart because of the hibiscus–extra tart because it’s the first ingredient.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.
• Boiling water for 98 degrees and a steeping time of 4-7 minutes. Remember even if you are having it iced to follow the steeping time for black tea as it can bitter when over steeped.
• If making it iced you’ll want to add double the amount of tea and pour over ice as the ice dilutes the strength of the tea.

So what do I think?

Absolutely gross hot. There is a weird aftertaste hot, and when it’s iced the weird aftertaste is subtle (not gone mind you). Whatever you do, don’t add milk to it. So if you like tart teas and want one with caffeine, and maybe want one iced for summertime, then you should check this tea out.

Have you tried it? What do you think?

Happy sipping!

1) One of my friends posted on my facebook profile the following comment:

“Erin. I just opened my cupboard and there sat no fewer then 4 bags of tea from Davids, three from Teaopia and 2 boxes of numi tea bags and a monster box of that tea I got from the Asian grocery. What the HELL have you done to me?”

2) Yet another one of my friends went on a retail shopping spree on tea and ordered $160 worth of it from two different places.  This is her post:

I got my tea packages today. It’s a lot of tea!! I LOVE IT!! I’m sipping of cup of Teaopia’s Mudslide and oh man it is good. My husband gave a little curse to Erin for turning me on to the tea thing as I was showing him what I got. lol I’ve tried 3 new ones today, I can’t wait to try more tomorrow.

3) Another friend of mine also posted this on facebook:

I have to thank you for what your “Ban the teaball” vlog has taught me. My “read my lips” is currently steeping in a pot, I cannot believe how much the goodness has expanded! It’s smells divine in here, can’t wait to drink it!

But my favourite what happened to me a week ago.  I was in David’s Tea with one of my friends and we were chatting up the sales girls and when I mentioned my blog to her she said, “Oh! You’re the one with the tea blog? With the videos? Someone was talking about  you this weekend.”  I mean that’s kind of cool!

I’m so excited that a lot of you are reaching out of your comfort zone’s and trying more new and delicious teas!  Thank you so much for sharing these moments with me!

Do you have a tea story that you’d like to share with me, even if it’s to tell me you order too much tea, please email me at Erin @ Erinstea.com. So until next time, “That’s tea to me!”

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s an Herbal Tisane that includes: Apple, rosehips, hibiscus, strawberries, lemon myrtle, sweet blackberry, ginger, blue mallow blossoms, marigold blossoms, artificial flavouring.
• It has a berry and floral smell with a heaping dose of lemon.
• It’s light pink in colour
• This tea is tart because of the hibiscus.
• If you are considering sweetening your tea, consider Steevia instead of Agave. Read why here.
• Boiling water for 98 degrees and a steeping time of 4-7 minutes.
• If making it iced you’ll want to add double the amount of tea and pour over ice as the ice dilutes the strength of the tea.
• Smells lemony with a hint of fruit.

So what do I think?

It’s not bad hot, but it’s much better cold. It is tart and lemony with a hint of strawberry. I can’t taste the ginger.  This is one tea I’ll be adding to my collection for summertime sipping.

Have you tried it? What do you think?

Happy sipping!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s an Herbal Tisane that includes: Hibiscus blossoms, apple pieces, carrot flakes, blackberry leaves, eucalyptus leaves, lemongrass, beetroot pieces, freeze-dried tangerine/orange slices and artificial flavouring.
• You can actually see the big pieces of tangerine/orange slices.
• The beetroot makes it pink in colour, and I can’t taste the carrot.
• This tea is tart and herbal’y’ because of the hibiscus and the Eucalyptus.
• Boiling water for 98 degrees and a steeping time of 4-7 minutes.
• If making it iced you’ll want to add double the amount of tea and pour over ice as the ice dilutes the strength of the tea.
• Smells lemony.

So what do I think?

I’m not a fan. Not just because it’s tart, and if I were to drink it it’d be iced. But it’s the odd aftertaste that i’m attributing to the Eucalyptus. Eucalyptus is super super good for you.  It has been used for centuries to clean nasal passages and that helps you breathe better!  As the website suggests to add cointreau or gin for a tasty adult beverage, and that might offset the taste of the Eucalyptus–and make this drink a bit more fun.

Happy sipping!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• It’s a Rooibos tea with coconut, pineapple, red/green rooibos, strawberry, calendula, cornflowers, jelly beans.
• 1.5 teaspoons for 6-8oz of water
• It’s caffeine free
• 98 Degrees (boiling water)
• I drink this without milk as I do most rooibos teas.
• It smells tropical but a light tropical because of the coconut and the pineapple and does not have an earthy taste.

So what do I think?

I like it! I didn’t think I would but I do!  I’m a little sad I didn’t see any jelly beans in my pouch because I was expecting to see actual jellybeans. It’s not earthy like a lot of red rooibos teas and it has a nice tropical/fruit smell and taste that is not tart. I would totally add this to my collection, it’s perfect for sipping on at night!

**UPDATE: David’s Tea sent me a bag of Jolly Jellybean to prove to me there are indeed jellybeans in them. Watch it here.

Happy sipping!

Look everyone makes mistakes. When it comes to tea though, making a mistake can mean the difference between a tasty hot cup of heaven, or a cup of sewer water. Ok maybe I am exaggerating
a little bit, but the reality is, making a few little mistakes can really dampen the flavour of your tea!

Mistakes Not To Make When Brewing Tea

1. Over brewing the tea
   Some teas need to be steeped for 2 minutes, some need to be steeped for 8 minutes. With every new tea you buy, you should make sure to read the recommended steeping times. One of the biggest mistakes “newbies” to tea make is simply steeping it until they think it should be good, and then drinking the tea. Next time, read the tea label, and prepare according to instructions. Some people like to tweak the steeping times a bit, and this is totally fine, but make sure you follow the recommendation at least once so you can see how the tea was intended to taste.
2. Not boiling the water to the right temperature
   There are some golden rules you need to follow when it comes to water temperature. You don’t want to damage the tea! Also, some teas take a little hotter water in order to get the flavours out into the water. As an example, Japanese Green tea is typically steeped with water at 74 degrees. In contrast, White tea should be steeped at 94 to 98 degrees. We did an entire write up on “Does Water Temperature Really Matter”, now is a good time to go read that post!
3. Using a Tea Ball
   If you still have one of these things, throw it in the garbage immediately. The thing with the tea ball is that it doesn’t let the tea expand to give the water the natural flavour that is pent up inside the tea. If you want to see a video of exactly what we mean when we say “Ban the Tea Ball”
4. Using too much, or too little tea when brewing the tea
   Certain teas require that you use two heaping table spoons of tea. Some require just two teaspoons. If you use the wrong amount of tea for that magical cup, you are going to end up wasting a lot of perfectly good tea, or worse yet, making yourself a nasty cup of tea.
5. Buying the wrong tea
   Some people think that they will like the same teas that everyone else likes. The reality is you need to find a great quality tea company, and then explore and experiment with the different teas they provide. A great tea company will tell where the tea comes from, how it was prepared, and even what port it was shipped from! There are many “cheep” tea places out there, especially on the internet, so make sure you do your research before spending your precious money on the wrong tea.
6. You think grocery store tea bags are actually tea
   Ok sure it is “real” tea, but it is pretty much the lowest quality, worst tasting tea you will ever drink. This is like saying you’ve eaten Italian Fettuccini Alfredo, when in reality all you’ve done is microwaved a no-name box of instant Alfredo. Do yourself a favor and buy some loose tea, and welcome to the world of… heaven. Welcome to heaven.
7. Microwaving your water, or using hot tap water
   Ok I never considered the fact that anyone would ever want to do this, but I have a friend (I won’t mention his or her name here) that told me in order to save time, they basically poor in hot water from the tap. Later if the tea gets cold, they microwave it. *Sad Face*. The problem with doing this is a microwave messes with all the little subltle things that makes tea amazing. Even further, it gets rid of many of the health benefits in that cup of tea you were enjoying. Using hot water from a tap that hasn’t been brought to a boil will bring all sorts of funky flavours to your tea as well. Just make a new batch!
8. Not storing your tea properly
   That precious tea you spent your hard earned money on needs to be stored properly! If you have it above your stove where all your spices, sugar, and other fun things are… run and move it immediately. It is actually the most common place to store tea, but it is the worst place because the heat from your stove will help all your spices mix in with your teas, and you will end up with some pretty awful stuff. Also, make sure your teas avoid heat, sunlight, and moisture.
9. Use creamers or half and half instead of milk
   Don’t even get me started with creamers. You do realize that creamers are actually grey and nasty looking until they turn them white with a bunch of chemicals. The incredible amounts of chemicals that will go into that poor cup of tea will turn your tea nasty, and remove all the health benefits of tea. Half and half is a little bit better than creamer, but not much because it is far too heavy for your tea, and it will not taste as good as it would with milk.
10. Use a rusty teakettle, or an electric teakettle to boil your water
    Many of us have a favourite way of boiling our water, but just make sure that you are using a tea kettle that has no rust on it. After may years, your tea kettles can rust at the bottom, and you don’t want any of that in your tea. So just check, and if you have rust, time to go buy a new one. Oh right, about that electric teakettle. Throw it out!!!!

So there you have it folks, 10 mistakes you might be making when brewing your tea! We hope this helps you get the most out of your tea. If you have any other tips, make sure you share them with us in the comments below!

How to get rid of a nasty hangover?

1) Don’t get drunk–and if that doesn’t work, then keep reading.

2) Alternate your alcoholic beverages with water. AAAANNND if you’re already hung over, go to step three.

3) Drink a soothing tea like peppermint or ginger tea to calm your stomach down.

4) If you have Rooibos tea, have some of that after you have the peppermint tea/ginger tea.

5) Keep hydrating, drink a lot of water and herbal teas. Green tea is also detoxifying so drink that too!

If all else fails take an Advil, and get some rest.

Happy Sipping!

Tealish Tea’s Hangover Helper–Get some!

I often get asked what the difference between White Tea and green tea is. Well I’m here to tell you a little bit more about White tea.

White tea came into production in the late 1700s, it was different than teas before it because it was a leaf rather than powdered tea that was used to make white tea.  Loose leaf tea was becoming the new trend of the day, which made way for the small teapot to steep this new trend. In terms of bud white teas, those didn’t appear until the late 1800s. White tea gets it’s name from the tiny white/silver hairs on the unopened buds of the leaves.

What does white tea taste like?

Because white tea is oxidized more than green and yellow tea, it has a very subtle flavour. Many white teas don’t have a strong taste but steep a yellow colour. Some words that would describe white tea are: soft, smooth, and sweet. But I call it sexy.

Does white tea have caffeine?

At 15 mgs of caffeine per serving, white tea has the lowest caffeine content of all teas. So if you are looking for a tea in the evening that won’t have you zooming around at 3 am, this is the tea.  The caffeine found in tea is sometimes called theine, theine is an identical chemical substance to caffeine but it has calming effects that almost counter acts the stimulation.

White tea leaves are harvested before significant amounts of caffeine are generated in the plant. It is only later in its growth cycle that the tea plant will produce the caffeine in greater quantities, which is why black tea contains several times more caffeine than white tea does. White tea leaves do not need as much protection against insects and pests early in the spring when the buds and leaves are harvested. Pretty cool huh?

Relax with white tea

Caffeine does not have any specific health benefits, but acts as a diuretic and a stimulant to your nervous system. Remember, temporary! Most coffee drinkers and tea lovers realize, caffeine can temporarily reduce drowsiness and promote alertness. Which is why when you’re  tired you ache for coffee. Many people think herbal when they hear white tea, and they think it has no caffeine, but it does, just not very much.

But because white tea has low caffeine content, people who drink it often say it gives them a calming sensation.  Using tea to relax has been around for centuries, not just in Asia.

Health Benefits associated with White Tea

White tea is loaded with Antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrients that protect the body from damage by free radicals. Free radicals are gnarly things that go around wreaking havoc on your body, damaging DNA and accelerating aging (oh no, not aging!). Antioxidants swoop down and neutralize them.

A class of antioxidants called Flavonoids inhibit the growth of Cancer cells and prevent the development of new ones. White tea has also been found to lower blood pressure because it can thin the blood and improve artery function, which may save you from having a stroke.

White tea has a whole whack of Caechins (another kind of antioxidants) and that has been liked with lowering cholesterol (the bad one, not the good one).

And because White tea thins the blood, lowers blood pressure and reduces cholesterol, white tea actually protects the heart and the entire circulatory system–which makes your heart happy.  Researchers discovered that by drinking 2 or more cups a day, those lucky people are 50% less likely to die after suffering a heart attack.

White tea is a natural killer of bacteria and viruses. The antioxidants so abundant in white tea tone the entire immune system, providing protection against a variety of invaders and a wide range of diseases. Its helps guard against the common cold and flu, and can ease the symptoms of HIV.

White tea also contains small amounts of fluoride and other nutrients that keep our teeth nice and healthy. It also kills the bacteria that causes plaque, tooth decay and bad breath, so after lunch drink up!

Remember those free radicals that we mentioned? Well those nasty things come from stress, sun damage, and poor diet–guess what, it makes you age faster! I know, shocking. BUT by drinking white tea, you can round them up and ship them out. White tea helps protect the skin and helps revers some of the damage we do to ourselves.

The Bottom Line about White tea

Many people think herbal when they hear white tea, and they think it has no caffeine, but it does, just not very much.  So if you are looking to relax at night or after a meal, consider White tea– it’s good for your health!

We’ve been talking a lot about different kinds of teas that work wonders for your health. But what are the best herbal teas to make you healthier? We did a ton of research and found some fantastic teas that you should add to your tea stash!

Peppermint Tea

We hate to sound like a broken record on this one, but peppermint tea is a must for anyone that is looking to drink tea for health reasons. This awesome tea will boost your immune system, help with digestive problems, help reduce your stress, and even clean up that nasty bad breath you are sporting. If you happen to have a really garlicky meal for lunch and don’t want to ward off the vampires at your office, just order some peppermint tea and nobody will know you at garlic cloves for lunch.

Ginger Tea

We talked about ginger tea for health before, but we need to bring it up again. Because ginger tea has high oleoresin content, it has some amazing health benefits. Ginger tea can help you kick that terrible cold, or even help reduce flu symptoms and help your body fight it off all together. If you have heart issues, this is the tea for you. It helps lower high blood pressure, improves circulation, and will lower you blood cholesterol levels. It’s really easy to make ginger tea, so give it a try!

Rooibos Tea

People tend to forget that rooibos tea is great for your health! It has a ton of vitamin c, as well as other healthy minerals your body can use to feel awesome. If you want to look younger, you should stock up on rooibos tea because it has specific antioxidants that can help ward off signs of aging! Also, if you happen to have bad skin, or suffer from eczema, this is the tea for you.

Lemon Balm Tea

Feeling a little down in the dumps? Put some water in the kettle and make yourself some lemon balm tea. Lemon balm tea will help lift your spirits and improve your concentration. So if you are like me and can’t seem to concentrate sometimes, lemon balm tea is for you. And before I forget, if you have kids that suffer from nightmares, lemon balm tea before bed is the ticket to killing the boogieman for good!

Chamomile Tea

There isn’t enough we can say about chamomile tea. It is an amazing tea that does everything but take out the trash! If you are on any kind of weight loss program, you need to drink a cup of chamomile tea just before bed. It will help your body burn calories while you sleep, and also make you sleep like a baby. Whenever I give it to my husband, it literally knocks him out and he goes to bed nearly instantly. Ladies, I don’t need to say anything more.

So there you have it, teas that will make you healthy! In terms of preparing these teas, you can buy the lose teas, or you can even grow many of these teas in your own garden if you want, or buy the plants in the store. And while these teas may be healthy for you, they also taste fantastic. Who said looking out for your body had to taste terrible? Until next time, that’s tea to me!

Why are Sloane Teas unique?

• They source at the point of origin.
• They are recognized by both the Tea Association of Canada and The Tea Association of The United States.
• They constantly cup their teas to ensure the quality remains high.
• They partner with the Maitre Nez (Head Nose) of one France’s foremost perfumeries and trained at the Studio Des Fragrance in Grasse, France.
• They are packaged beautifully in elegant tins.

More on Sloane Teas:

• They have 16 different kinds and have developed a taster’s arc that varies from Citrus to Creamy.
• The price ranges from $14 to $38 for 100g of tea.
• They have sampler packs as well with four different teas that vary in price.
• They are available in 30 different independent retailers across Canada (Sloane Tea Retailers) , and as of April will be available in Chapers/Indigo stores across Canada.

My take on the teas?

Absolutely delicious! They are a little pricey but would be great for a gift for that person in your life who love fine teas.  I would like to try some of the sampler collections before spending $30 on one tin of tea but they are definately high qualilty teas.  I currently am crushing on the sample of Heavenly Cream they sent me (it’s like an Earl Grey with vanilla but not creamsicle like).

So until next time, “That’s Tea to Me!”

Check out their website: www.sloanetea.com

Follow them on twitter: @sloanetea

I love drinking tea for the pure enjoyment of sipping on a delicious blend, and being transported to another world. However there are many reasons to drink tea for health benefits. What are the best teas to drink for your health that can take your mood, weight loss program, or sleep to the next level?

Green Tea

As we have discussed before, Green tea’s are where it’s at to rock your world. Green tea’s will detoxify your body, give you an extra kick to your step, and even help your body lose weight. What more can you ask for from a tea?

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile Tea has amazing health benefits. It is another tea that can help you lose weight, but unlike green tea, this tea won’t keep you up at night. In fact, this tea will make you want to pass out and hit the sack. It is also great if you want to relax and are feeling stressed. Who isn’t stressed?

Pau d’Arco Tea

Pau d’Arco is an incredible tea to help fight disease, sickness, and other aliments. It is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and is amazing at killing candida in your body. My husband recently added Pau d’Arco tea to his daily teas, and he has never felt better, and was able to melt off nearly 19 pounds in 7 days.

Matcha Green Tea

Yes it is green tea, but Matcha Green Tea is ground up green tea, which means you actually drink the leaves. This gives your body an incredible amount of anti-oxidants to help you get well if you are sick. Matcha can be a little complicated to make, so make sure you check out the video on how to make Matcha before you embark on this journey.

Peppermint Tea

If you have stomach problems, you need to start drinking peppermint tea. I used to drink gallons of Pepto-Bismol, until I found peppermint tea. Peppermint tea helps stomach cramps, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and even gallstone problems. Even more, peppermint tea can help strengthen your immune system, help you relax, boost your mental energy, fight skin rashes, and help you get rid of that migraine.

There you have it, the top five teas that are incredible for health. Make sure you keep some of these teas handy so you can break them out whenever you need them, or better yet, just add them to your weakly routine! Are there other teas that you recommend for health benefits? We’d love to hear from you, please add your comments!

In this episode I cover:

• How many teapots I have.
• What teapots do I use most often and why.
• Do I wash my teapots?
• Do I use soap to clean my teapots?

I actually found two more after filming this video that I don’t really use. (three if you count one that is for show only)  One is a straight black tea pot, and the other one is a glass tea pot with an infuser that I dislike because the holes are too big.

Let’s see your teapots!  Come and join the discussion on the facebook page!

Until next time, “That’s Tea to Me!” Happy sipping!

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. “Each cup of tea represents and imaginary voyage” surely sums up what tea is to me. To save this picture to your computer, simply click on the picture above, then right-click, and press save!

What you need to brew loose tea:

• A kettle (or a way to boil water)
• A tea pot or a tea cup ( a place to put your tea)
• A way to steep your tea:
• A mesh infuser
• a cup infuser
• a paper infuser
• a tea ball (only use if you have nothing else–I wouldn’t buy one)
• Loose tea

**If you don’t have a proper infuser you can use a coffee maker (the filter is like a tea bag) BUT make sure you clean it really well before.

Happy brewing!

This episode features Marlo Boux, a Blog Talk Radio Host, who has no tea background (perfect!). She runs a show called Girl Talk With Marlo. There was  a twitter conversation that went on when we were filming this episode, someone quoted the sucking tea with cookies, the timtamslam! I love it!

If you want to see more of my friends sucking tea through cookies, let me know! Email me! Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @erinstea. Don’t forget to check out Marlo’s show, and if you miss it you can download it on podcasts.  You can also follow her on twitter here: @MarloBoux.

"Tea is Liquid Wisdom"

We wanted to start some posts with just pictures. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. And sometimes a picture with some words can be worth even more! To save this picture to your computer, simply click on the picture above, then right-click, and press save!

Chamomile Tea is Amazing!

Did you know that over 1 million cups of chamomile tea are consumed on a daily basis? It’s true! Want to find out why, and what people use it for? Keep reading!

The stomach flu ran through our family a few weeks ago, so I started doing more and more research on teas, and while you might be bored of hearing about chamomile tea, it just seems to keep coming up everywhere I turn! While chamomile tea is not really a “tea”, and rather a herbal tisane, you gota love it! So truth be told I haven’t tried chamomile tea for all the uses below, but I was making a list of things to try, and I though to myself “why not just add it to a blog post!”

The Ultimate List of Reasons To Use Chamomile Tea

• Add a few cups of chamomile tea to the bath, for a relaxing and invigorating soak. It will also make your skin silky smooth.
• Stuffy nose? Headache? Take some chamomile tea, add some flowers, bring to a boil, and inhale.
• Burn yourself (not severally)? Put some cool chamomile tea on your wound.
• Have a little insomnia? Drink a little chamomile tea before bed.
• Have sensitive skin and need to exfoliate? Get some powered milk, some chamomile tea, and use that!
• Stay up late? Strained eyes? Other eye issues? Use a compress of chamomile tea on your eyes and watch it work its magic.
• Fungal infection? Guess what? Chamomile tea has anti-fungal properties! Take a cotton ball, dip it in some chamomile tea, and apply to the area.
• Suffer from menstrual cramps? Ok guys this one doesn’t apply to you obviously. Just drink some chamomile tea and it will relax your uterus! Hence, pregnant ladies should not drink chamomile tea.

So there you have it! The Ultimate List of Reasons to use Chamomile Tea. Do you have other uses for chamomile tea? Please add them to the comments below!

You may not have heard of ginger tea, so I wanted to introduce you to it! Ginger tea may not be a traditional “tea”, but I still thought it was worth mentioning. It’s an awesome tea because it can help with many gastrointestinal problems. It also tastes pretty awesome if you make it right. Ginger tea has a spicy, invigorating taste to it. Sure you could go out and buy some old ginger root tea bags, but why not make a fresh cup at home? How do you make ginger tea? Let me tell you!

Ginger Tea Recipe

Here is the best ginger tea recipe I could find, so you can try out some ginger root tea yourself. You will need: ginger root, water, a lemon, and some honey.

1. Get 4 cups of water and put into a sauce pan. Begin to boil.
2. Peel ginger root and then slice into slices.
3. Add ginger root slices to boiling water.
4. Cover, and reduce the water temperature so it simmers for 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Poor a cup for yourself, and add a little honey and a slice of lemon for better taste if you like.

Ginger Tea Benefits

Ginger tea can be used as a home remedy to help with nausea, help get rid of the common cold, and even help with the flu. My husband has used ginger tea to help him get rid of sore throats with some incredible results, especially if you add a little bit of honey and a lemon slice. The secret to make some really tasty ginger root tea is to use plenty of ginger. This isn’t one of those teas you’re going to want to skimp on. Use a full ginger root, and maybe a little more to make sure it is full of flavour.

Lastly, if you are using this to help with an upset stomach, remember to just drink it plain without adding honey or lemon. The lemon itself could really upset your stomach.

Green tea has so many health benefits I honestly don’t know where to start! I drink a lot of green tea, and I love it for the flavour, but I was interested to do a little more research on the health benefits of green tea. Again, I am not a doctor, so check with your doctor if you are planning on using green tea for medicinal purposes. I drink it because I like green tea, but if I can get some additional health benefits out of it, then I’m happy!

Why Is Green Tea So Good For Health?

My husband asked me the other day why he gets strong headaches right after drinking green tea. I did some research, and the major difference between coffee and tea was the high levels of catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in green tea. If you are familiar with anti-oxidants, Green tea has an incredible amount of EGCG which is one of the most powerful anti-oxidants out there. The major reason green tea has so much EGCG over black teas and Oolong teas is because green tea is steamed! This prevents the ECCG from being oxidized.

What Is Green Tea Used For

Green tea has been used for nearly 4,000 years in China as a medicine. There are many claims out there of the health benefits of green tea, including:

• lower high cholesterol levels
• help with rheumatoid arthritis
• fight cardiovascular disease
• help with impaired immune function
• reduce or illuminate infection
• fight tooth decay

I try hard to take care of myself. With an extremely busy life with a travelling husband, two kids, my career, and my love for tea, green tea is a fantastic addition to my daily routine. As with everything, it is not a wonder drug that can cure everything, and I’m not a doctor to be able to recommend the tea for medical purposes, but what I can tell you is that it does help keep me healthy and feel better day to day. In fact, I was at the store the other day, and I noticed some deodorants, toothpastes, and even creams are starting to appear that contain green tea. So clearly, the green tea benefits are out there, and research is starting to crop up.

Green tea tastes awesome, smells great, and if it can help keep you healthy, all the better.

Interested in adding camomile tea to your weight loss program? Here is the best way you can add this amazing tea to your weight loss plan. We also go into more detail on camomile tea weight loss in this article.

1. Steep Camomile Tea

You need to make sure you steep the camomile tea for at least 10 minutes to get all the weight loss goodies out of the tea. Once the tea is steeped, you can either warm it up, or cool it down to drink as an ice tea.

2. Drink Tea before a Meal

Every time you are going to have a meal, make sure you drink a nice cup of camomile tea. This will help get your stomach ready to digest the food, and will ensure you blood-glucose levels are good, ensuring your appetite is in check and you don’t end up scarfing down an entire pizza.

3. Drink Camomile Tea before Bed

You need to calm yourself down before bed to ensure you have a good sleep. Camomile tea is fantastic at ensuring you have a great sleep. If you don’t sleep well, you are going to be seriously messing up your insulin levels, which will cause you to gain weight. Camomile tea is the secret to a good night sleep.

4. Drink Camomile Tea When Stressed

Having a rough day, feeling stressed out at work? Make sure you have some camomile tea. Anxiety and stress will make your immune system weak, and your hormone levels will go completely out of whack. Your body will go into fat preservation mode, especially tummy fat. Drinking camomile tea when stressed will calm you down, and help get your body in check. Obviously, ideally you can remove that stress all together, but camomile tea will help you manage the stress better than a cup of coffee.

5. Stop Eating Pizza and Drinking Beer

No amount of herbs and camomile tea is going to make you lose weight. Teas can definitely help your body, but if you decided you are not going to exercise, and not make any healthier decisions other than drinking tea, you are going to be very disappointed!

And there you have it. Follow these five steps and you will see some incredible results with your weight-loss program. And more importantly, you will feel great!

People have been writing in and asking if camomile tea for weight loss actually works. I can tell you from experience that using camomile tea to help you lose weight definitely works. That said, you need to be realistic and realize that you can’t order pizza every night, drink some wine and Champaign, not hit the gym, and simply add some camomile tea to your weight loss program and expect the pounds to melt off.

Weight Loss and Tea

There are many teas that can help support a great diet and exercise program, but none seem to work as well as camomile (or Chamomile) tea does. Camomile tea contains antispasmodic properties that help with your gastrointestinal health. So if there is anything going on funny with your stomach, just adding some camomile tea can really help you clean things up in there. Another reason you might be gaining weight is you’re not sleeping well, or suffer from insomnia. It’s amazing what lack of sleep can do! Camomile tea helps relieve insomnia because it has a calming smell that will make you less tense, and calm you down. I have even made a five step plan for you to follow if you want to lose weight with camomile tea as a helper.

Lastly camomile tea can help you lose weight because camomile tea prevents hyperglycemia, or high blood-glucose levels. Taking camomile tea daily can help you regulate out spikes when you are drinking too much pop, or eating way too much junk food. Because camomile tea can stabilize blood-glucose levels, your appetite will be controlled which should in turn help you lose weight.

Final Thoughts on Camomile Tea

I’m not a doctor my any stretch of the imagination, but I can tell you that when I drink camomile tea, my stomach feels better, I am much more calm, and I tend to be less hungry throughout the day. If you do your research, you will find that many universities have done incredible amounts of research of various teas, and camomile tea always tends to come on top when the issue of weight loss comes up. Can camomile tea help you lose weight? Absolutely. If you are eating junk food all day and not working out, will camomile tea make you lose weight on its own? Absolutely not.

Here is a little background about tealish!

Tealish was established in 2005 by a young couple who fell in love with tea, but found there was nowhere modern and fun in the Toronto Tea scene. Tealish first opened in a small space on Walnut Avenue in Toronto’s Queen West neighborhood, offering over 100 loose leaf teas from the start. They’ve since moved to a larger space on the Queen West strip, developed their own tea accessories and signature tins, and even wholesale their teas to a variety of cafes and shops, including Whole Foods!

You can get their tea in store, or online. They’re independent, part of the ethical tea partnership, and carry unique teas from all over the world. Tealish teas have no artificial flavors or sweeteners, and always have visible chunks of real fruit, nuts or flowers in their blends!

I asked Alyssa what their favourite teas were?

Our favorite? Well that’s always changing of course! With over 120 teas to choose from on any given day, we could never commit to just one! Right now we’d have to go with Stress Buster, a fruity herbal tea with Tulsi (an ancient calming herb) from our new Wellness line.

My favourite part about ordering tea online was that I could even pay with paypal! Shipping was super fast and above all else? The tea is really, really good quality.

I have had a chance to now try all of them and I have to say, I love  the Kombucha Lychee Detox and Bella Berry.  I cannot wait to try more!

So if you are looking for a new quality place to buy tea, they have an amazing selection!

Hello and welcome to my review of the Teaopia Kids Tea Pack.

Let me begin with some info about me. I have three young ones (aged 5, 3, and 9 months). We are a busy family but a happy family. Our musical pursuits are an integral part of our day by day however to make ends meet we run a subcontracting exterior renovation business. There are a lot of things we try and do. We laugh a lot and we love a lot. If you would like to know more about us and the array of things that keep us going 24/7 please check us out.

So…back to tea. More specifically tea for kids. Until recently I hadn’t given much thought to tea specifically for children. I always gave them some of whatever I was having which  was usually a black tea. My boys refer to it as “special tea”. I wasn’t feeling too great about the caffeine though. I have since learned that there are some great caffeine free teas out there that are perfect for children.

Enter in the Teaopia Kids Tea Pack. This sampler type pack contains four different flavors for a total of 110g of tea. At $15 I felt this was a decent price considering that it was on par for 100g of most loose teas, and in this case they also came in labelled individual tins. My husband always says that I am a sucker for sets.

The four flavors of the Kids Tea Pack are: Tropical Fruit Punch, Wild Cherry, Apple Pear and Strawberry Kiwi. We tried each of the teas hot and cold and in that order. Here is a little bit of what we thought about them.

Tropical Fruit Punch

Contains: Green Rooibos, apple and carrot bits, raspberries, barberries, orange peel, beetroot, coconut, rose and cornflower petals.

That is a lot of stuff, then again it is a fruit punch, it demands a variety of flavor. This particular tea delivered true to it’s name. It smelled like an orange popsicle and tasted better. We certainly enjoyed this tea and it would be on my stash list for sure if it was available for purchase loose but I do not see that option on the web site. If anyone else knows different PLEASE let me know.

Wild Cherry

Contains: Green Rooibos, apple pieces, cranberries, beetroot, heather flower blossoms, hibiscus and cherries.

Don’t let the floral parts fool you, this tea is all cherry. It smelled gorgeous. The hot version had a light tea taste with a hint of sweet cherry while the cold version tasted like diluted cherry juice. It was very yummy and very refreshing. This is definitely on my stash list.

Apple Pear

Contains: Green Rooibos, apple pieces, elderberries, beetroot, pear bits and sunflower petals.

By smell alone I had very high hopes for this tea. It smelled like a fruit salad of crisp green apple and pear. However the hot brewed version did not resemble that at all. I found it mostly tasted like the green rooibos. I found the apple and pear only lent it a bit of tartness. It did redeem itself a touch with the cold version but not enough to make me want to buy more.

Strawberry Kiwi

Contains: Green Rooibos, pomegranate flowers, kiwi and strawberry bits.

Before I say anything about this particular blend I will say that I *normally* do not like the Strawberry Kiwi combination, in anything. I find it often very fake tasting in any other way I have had it (juice, candy, etc.). With that out of the way I will say that brewed hot this tea tasted mostly like the green rooibos with just a hint of strawberry kiwi flavor. Brewed cold though the strawberry kiwi flavor really shines. I found it very natural tasting and rather nice. While I still don’t care much for the strawberry kiwi in general I would definitely recommend it to anyone who does like that combo.

Please keep in mind that these are my/our personal taste preferences. These were also out of my tea norm. I am usually a black tea (especially chai) kind of gal. I like milk and honey in my tea. Fruity teas are not usually my thing but for these I can make an exception. They have even inspired me to branch out and possibly add more fruit teas to my collection.

Individual tastes aside here are some overall thoughts:

-The directions recommend 6-8 minutes for brewing time but I found I needed the full brewing time if not a smidgen more.

-In any of these teas a tiny bit of honey would go a long way to bring out all the natural sweetness.

-These would be great teas to use to introduce children to tea in general. They are caffeine free and in child appealing flavors.

-Keep in mind that any caffeine free tea with child friendly flavors can make a great kids tea (some even have chocolate in them!!!!)

Final Thoughts:

I will be purchasing the Wild Cherry for sure and if Teaopia ever sells the Tropical Fruit Punch in loose form I will snap it up in an instant. I am really looking forward to making jugs of ice tea with them in the summer and even using that ice tea to make popsicles. These teas would make fantastic substitutions for juice and encourage hydration. I believe introducing children to tea is fantastic and it can certainly be part of your child’s healthy diet. They are not just just for kids either. They can be enjoyed by adult and child alike. Sip on my friends.

Keep in touch with Jessica by following her on twitter.  If you want to hear more from Jessica, please email me at Erin@Erinstea.com, happy sipping!

Maybe you just joined us at Erin’s Tea, or maybe you’ve missed a few of our videos or articles. Here is some of the most popular content from Erin’s Tea.

Tea 101 – Where to Begin Your Tea Journey

So you want to get into tea, and don’t know where to start? During this video, I give you some great tips to get started with your tea journey. Things like how to steep your tea, why you shouldn’t use a tea ball, and much more. This is the best place to get started with tea.

General Temperature Guidelines For Tea

When I first got started with tea, I had no idea that water temperature and steeping times where so important to make a great cup of tea. In this article I try and cut it back to the most simplest form possible. This is a great place to start learning about tea water temperatures.

5 Things You Need to Know Before Going Tea Shopping

So now that you have the basics down, time to go tea shopping! Find out 5 things that you can’t forget when you go buy some tea. This quick video will make you look like an expert when you step into your favourite tea store.

My Tea Collection

I wanted to show everyone my tea collection, and try and inspire other people to want to share their tea collections. This worked out pretty well as people all over the world started sharing their tea collections on our Facebook page.

Tea During Pregnancy

Is it safe to drink tea during pregnancy? How much can you drink? Should it be avoided all together, or should you make it part of your daily routine to support good health in your developing baby?

So there you have it folks, five of the best articles and videos on Erin’s Tea to get you going with your tea journey. I am passionate about tea and all of its positive benefits on your health, your mood, and how fun it can be to build up your very own tea collection. I hope this blog helps you discover the incredible joy I get from tea. That’s Tea to Me!

I used to love drinking coffee. I worked at Starbucks as a Barista. Then I met Tea, and I haven’t looked back. Here are 10 reasons why I prefer to drink tea over coffee.

10 Reasons I Drink Tea Over Coffee

1. Teas have awesome antioxidants that do a number of awesome things for you.
2. Teas are more versatile than coffees without the need for sugars, milk, and other additives.
3. I can’t tell the difference between decaffeinated tea and regular tea. Decaffeinated coffee is just nasty.
4. Herbal teas are amazing when you are sick and can help you feel better. Coffee will only make you feel worse.
5. Green tea has EGCG which basically helps you speed up weight loss in the abdomen by up to 77%.
6. Prevents skin damage and wrinkling.
7. Drinking certain teas makes your hair glow! More on that tip later on.
8. When you have a hangover, I just have some hangover helper and I feel awesome!
9. To seduce people that live in the UK or in the former British Colony.
10. It tastes awesome! There really is a tea for every mood.

I love Tea, and to be honest I still drink a cup of coffee once in a while. But when I have the option, I always go for the tea. Tea is just a part of my life now, and I feel 100 times better day in and day out now that I have added tea to my regular routine. I found when I drank coffee, I had a little bit of pep for an hour, and then I felt like crap shortly after and needed more.  The more coffee I drank the more upset my stomach was and it just made me feel jittery. Can’t you tell? I just love my tea.

On Friday we announced our first contest on Erin’s Tea! If you shared this photo to your Facebook wall you’d be entered into the contest for a chance to win this tea from Argo Teas! We’ve had over 200 shares and hundreds of likes and comments. I am so excited that you all love tea as much as I do! (Or people just want free tea lol)

So, the lucky person whose name was picked is…. Tommy Toadman! Congratulations! Please email me at Erin@Erinstea.com with your mailing address!

Well ladies, the list isn’t that long but tea is so versitile that at least there are a few more options. If you are looking to cut out caffeine completely you will want to stay away from traditional teas. Rooibos may be called a tea but it isn’t from the  camellia sinensis plant (which is where traditional teas come from–and they all have varying levels of caffeine). Rooibos (or Red bush) is a plant that is grown only in South Africa.

Why Rooibos Tea is good during pregnancy

It has very little tannin (the stuff in tea that makes it hard for your body to absorb iron) and while pregnant, you really don’t need any more reasons to be anemic.

It has loads of antioxidants! And recent studies show that the antioxidants in the rooibos teas are comparable to those found in green tea!

It has been shown to soothe the body’s reaction to allergy and rashes… so if you have a reaction to something usually, consider increasing your intake of rooibos teas.

Areas of concern for Rooibos Tea

Too much of one thing can NEVER be good. Be aware of the things that they may add to rooibos teas. Specifically if they add Rosemary because that can cause Uterine contractions.

When I was pregnant, I found that rooibos tea tasted like Play D’oh, very clay like. You can get green rooibos that isn’t as earthy, or get a mint chocolate rooibos… mmm chocolate and mint!

Happy sipping!

The instructions are there, basically all you need to do is share the contest picture on your facebook wall, and you are entered into the draw to win! The contest is over on Sunday, February 19th, 2012, so make sure you head over and share the picture. We are going to randomly pick a winner on Sunday!

I hope you win!

Erin

So, she so sweetly numbered the teas 1-5 and it was my job to guess what was what.  I think I did pretty good. I have asked her not to tell me until after I post the video, so we shall see if I got them right. Basically, I smelled the teas first. I could tell almost all of them except for one by smelling the tea bags.  So I took out my old lady tea cups for Tetley because, well, it seemed most fitting.  So, here are my guesses!

1) Orange Pekoe-still yuck, but better than red rose. **CONFIRMED

2) Earl Grey **CONFIRMED–but it’s decaf

3) Peppermint **CONFIRMED

4) Chai**CONFIRMED

5) Vanilla Rooibos **CONFIRMED

So hopefully I’m right! Let’s see what Kristy says! Follow her on twitter (@secondpumpkin), she’s new but awesome. I love Love love these challenges. If you all want to see me to another one, please email me at erin@erinstea.com.

Until next time, “That’s Tea to Me.”

**So apparently because I didn’t guess decaf i got 95.3% right. I’ll take it. Thanks again Kristy!

Chocolate Fingers Dunking in Tea Instructions:

1. Get a chocolate cookie (best ones are cadbury ones)
2. Bite off both ends of said cookie
3. Brew your favourite black milky tea.
4. Suck tea through cookie until tea comes through.
5. Flip cookie over in mouth and enjoy!

Yes it’s messy but it’s delish, and it’s fun to do with kids! Not all cookies are created equally. If one doesn’t work, try another one!

If you have any other ideas for my show email me! Until next time “That’s Tea to Me.”

The shop is in an odd location (not where I’d have pictured it to be) for a tea shop. Most posh tea shops are in “posh” areas of town.  But I found it with ease, and it’s close by where I live. Most of the tea places are at least 30-45 minutes away from where I am!

When I walked in, we were greeted and offered a sample of one of their teas.  It was a no pressure environment. There was a meeting going on with one of the owners (Angeline) and I was able to talk to the other one (Geoff). He was very friendly and knowlegable. We had easy conversation about our favourite teas!  They had 60 teas in their stash and had a shelf where we could smell them (in little cups). Best thing? Everything is prepared fresh…. and to its temperature.

Even Coffee, there were two people there who orderd coffee, the beans were ground, and done fresh in a french press. It smelled amazing. Even this tea girl can appreciate the aroma of coffee, when it’s done right!

Pros: they are local, the price for a brewed tea is $2.00! They have over 60 teas, they are close by, they have a nice set of accessories. ( Bodum tea pots and french presses)

Cons:  they are a little off the beaten track for those not in the area, the description of the teas and ingredients are not listed on their tea bags. This  is a con for me because sometimes I can’t remember what is in a blend of teas I’ve purchased and the description makes me decide what I want.

Why they are unique: They combine three things they love, tea, yoga and musical performace.  At the back of their shop is a yoga studio!  They offer Yoga once a week and Pilates twice a week. I love that they combine the two, wellness teas and yoga! Fabulous!

I love asking people what their favourite teas are so here are Angeline’s and Geoff”s:

Angeline’s favourite tea: My all-time favourite tea that I’ve drinking for 4 years, cannot live without it is: Scarlet Runner! It’s a Green tea base with pineapple, mango and papaya, red sandlewood, cocoa kernels, and just a touch if not a hint of coconut & vanilla! It is divine!!!! My favourite Rooibos is: Champagne Praline- A Rooibos infused with champagne, strawberry bits, almond bits and fine praline chocolates that melt into the tea. It’s borderline ridiculous how good it is!

Geoff’s favourite’s tea: Orange Rosemary Sencha: A green tea base with the invigorating aroma of Rosemary that blends so nicely with the green tea base, it also has orange wedges, orange peel, sunflower & safflower for a nice refreshing cup! Another one of Geoff’s picks would be a new one we’ve just recently brought in a couple of weeks ago called: Energy- It fits into the “Wellness” category: A green mate base with lemongrass, spearmint, ginseng, gingko, nettle, cornflower/calendula/sunflower petals. This tea is robust and energizing, extremely refreshing with a lovely spearmint finish!

Angeline also mentions that before owning her own business, her personal stash was quite large, and that she’d go out and buy 7-8 kinds on her outings to tea shops (sound like anyone you know?!) So everyone, there is hope for all of us!

If you live in Winnipeg and you haven’t visited the shop, it’s a must try! They have a sampler pack (3 out of 6 choices for $15 of pre-selected teas–25 grams). As of right now, i’ve tried their Monk tea blend (black tea), their vanilla green tea and their Toffee Dream ( white tea) that I LOVE. Right now they don’t have a plan to do e-commerce for a few years. But it is a possibility.

Until next time, “That’s Tea To Me.”

Exquisite Taste

Location

1-2089 Plessis Road. Winnipeg, Manitoba.
MAP
Ph:  (204) 222-5030

Hours:

Monday: 10 am – 6 pm
Tuesday to Thursday: 10 am – 8 pm
Friday: 10 am – 6 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm
Closed Sunday & Holidays

What teas are safe to drink during pregnancy?

Does tea and pregnancy go together? We’ve been getting so many questions lately with respect to what kinds of teas you can and cannot drink during pregnancy. We thought we would start a new section on Erin’s Tea, to talk about this very topic! Is green tea safe during pregnancy? Are herbal teas safe? What about black teas? Oolong tea? Rooibos tea? There are so many things to cover that it is going to take a many tea blog posts to cover this topic.

Generally speaking many alternative health care providers promote herbal teas during pregnancy, and say tea and pregnancy naturally go together. Not only do they promote herbal tea during pregnancy, but they feel herbal tea is essential to support a healthy pregnancy. However, most people know that traditional advice is to avoid tea during pregnancy. This is mainly because of the lack of studies on most herbs and pregnant women.

Caffeine during pregnancy

Although non-herbal tea has great health benefits due to its antioxidants, all traditional teas have caffeine. As you know, pregnant women are discouraged from drinking caffeine during their pregnancy because caffeine does cross the placenta and reaches your developing baby. The average cup of non-herbal tea contains about 40-50 milligrams of caffeine. Because a developing baby can’t process caffeine like you can, there is much controversy over how much caffeine is safe and how much, if any, tea you should consume during pregnancy.

Herbal tea and pregnancy

There is no caffeine in herbal teas, with the exception of yerba mate. Therefore caffeine is not an issue with herbal tea during pregnancy. However, because of the lack of studies on many herbs on a developing baby, there is much controversy on whether or not you should drink tea during pregnancy.

More Information on Tea and Pregnancy

As you can see, there is a ton of information we need to break down for you on the topic of tea and pregnancy. Stay tuned for a series of posts covering this topic in detail! We are going to start things off with green tea and pregnancy.

The Benefits of Camomile Tea

Camomile Tea benefits are one of the hidden secrets that many people tend to forget. Everyone likes to talk about the benefits of Green Tea, and Mate, but everyone seems to forget the health benefits of Camomile Tea. If you have a cold, you need to make a pot of camomile tea, because the benefits to your imune system are great! Camomile will boost your imune system and help you fight off that nasty cold. In fact, it is a secret fact that the egyptians and romans used to use camomile flowers on wounds, specially prepared, to help speed up the healing process. If you are a female and suffering from menstral cramps, you will be amazed at how well camomile tea works at soothing the cramps.

Basically, camomile tea is a wonder tea that should be kept on hand, and be a part of any medicine cabinet or tea stash. The best part about the tea is the effects of drinking camomile tea will remain for up to two weeks following your last cup, due to the way camomile tea elevates your hippurate and glycine levels. If you have a swollen joints, have pain running on a teadmill, or wake up with swollen knees like me, start drinking camomile tea today! You will be amazed. Let’s go through the top 10 benefits of drinking camomile tea.

Top 10 Camomile Tea Benefits

1. Camomile tea reduces diabetic complications and hyperglycemia
2. Boosts the immune system to fight infections associated with colds
3. Relieves muscle spasms and menstrual cramps in women
4. Will relax your nerves
5. Reduces inflammation
6. Soothes the stomach
7. Helps to promote restful sleep
8. Helps relieve back pain
9. Helps relieve rheumatism
10. Improves liver function

Chamomile tea comes from herb Matricaria recutita. Its leaves have been brewed for centuries and drank as a fragrant and flavourful tea. When was the last time you had some camomile tea? Was it for a cold? Do you feel you reaped the camomile tea benefits? Let us know!

I think Red Rose is feeling the heat that loose tea is bringing… Or any other superior bagged tea is bringing.  A friend of mine Marlo posted this one evening as she was watching TV.  And yup that’s Canadian figure skater Kurt Browning. Oh Kurt, get on the winning team, Red Rose is not the winning team.  A lot of tea companies who only offer bagged teas are starting to look for new ways to engage new tea drinkers… but I don’t think this is the way to do that… Do you?!  Does this make you want to drink Red Rose or make fun of it…

Plus that car only “works”  from the side view…Oh and the conversation that ensued from the discussion on twitter… imagine getting in an accident with the tea-mobile!

It is part of the “Share the warmth” campaign where by clicking share the warmth they’d donate a pot of tea to a registered Canadian charity and get a coupon for buy one, get one free. Man they have to give their tea away for people to want to drink it… how many times have I seen the buy one get one free coupon for this tea? Too Many.  I do see that they now carry English Breakfast, has anyone tried it? Is it any good?  I’m not a bagged tea hater, but it’s got to be good tea… like Twinings! Mmmm Twinings.

Happy Friday everyone!!

Yellow tea is not well known because it’s rare and hard to get. It is ONLY grown in China. It is rare even in China, which is why you’ve probably never heard of it.  There are two types of yellow tea that I’ll talk about, the real one, and the one that’s the imposter!

Real Yellow Tea is actually yellow in appearance and is made specifically to remove the grassy or vegital taste of the green teas that some people can find unpleasant.  (If you’ve ever had Matcha, you’ll know what vegital means). It is a variety of tea that comes from the  Camellia sinensis  plant (that Black, Green, White, and Oolong and Pu-Erh teas come from) And it’s oxidized a little more than green tea but not as much as Oolong tea. See from the same plant we get 5 teas that are oxidized for a different amount of time, and taste very different. So yellow tea tastes more subtle and sweet than green tea.

Here is a helpful chart to go by:

**Note: Pu-Erh undergoes a second oxidation.

The second kind of yellow tea is more from the ancient stories of Chinese Emperor’s.  Tea used to be given to the Emperor and “yellow’ was the royal colour and were paid as a royal tax… they were not actually yellow tea, but were called “yellow tea.”  There is also green tea that has been improperly fermented that is passed off as yellow tea but that’s not what real yellow tea is. (and that would taste different)

Generally you would use water that is 80 degrees to steep this tea, and it’s flavour is similar to white tea (being a very light tea).  It also has the same health benefits associated with Green tea.

Yellow tea is the least produced and known tea because it is time consuming and tedious to make.  Awww, poor yellow tea, it’s like the underdog of tea.  And you will find, you cannot find yellow tea in most of the new tea shops that are popping up. There are only a few select (generally online) stores that carry it, and they sell out FAST.  You know what? It’s not even the most expensive, White tea is more expensive!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• #1 What are your likes? What are your dislikes
• #2 Do you have allergies or sensitivities
• #3 The time of day you’ll be drinking tea
• #4 The reason you’ll be drinking tea
• #5 MAKE A LIST! and Go online to check out their stash!

I promise you will not be the first one who goes into the store with a list! It will help you feel prepared and organized! As a bonus you can ask the representative what they recommend based on your choices for something you may NOT have tried! One last tip, smelling teas really will really make you bring your paper choice to life!

Happy sipping!

• Japanese Green tea usually around 74 degrees.
• Chinese Green tea usually around 82-90 degrees.
• Oolong tea 94 degrees.
• White tea 94-98 degrees.
• Matè 94 degrees.
• Black, Herbal, Rooibos, Pu-Erh tea 98 degrees.

So what does this all mean to you when drinking tea? Well it means that you can dramatically alter the taste of the tea by steeping temperature. I find steeping temperature effects the taste of green tea the most. If you use boiling water on many green tea’s you can “burn” the leaves and that makes green tea taste bitter.   I know there are people who use boiling water on green tea, so if you do that, reduce your steeping time to 30-60 seconds instead of minutes.

Do I need a thermometer?

No. If you have one for candy or meat, those will work too (make sure they’re clean!) But even if you don’t have those, you can get the correct water temperature by following this guide line. (It’s a guideline, ALWAYS read the brewing instructions on your tea as it can vary)

• Black, Herbal, Rooibos, Pu-Erh, (White tea some of the time) teas you can use BOILING water (98 degrees).
• Matè , Oolong, (White tea most times) bring to a boil and let sit for 2-3 minutes.
• Green Tea (Chinese): 82-90 degrees, bring water to a boil and let sit for 4-5 minutes.
• Green Tea (Japanese): 74 degrees, bring the water to a boil and let sit for 7-8 minutes.

How do I take the temperature of the water for tea?

This is if you are using a thermometer. Boiling water is going to be around 98 degrees, so if you are letting water cool for other types of tea you can put the water in the tea pot (note your water will cool much faster OUT of the kettle. ) But you can also keep it in the kettle if you are using a steep “master” (the plastic things that go over your mug) and you’ve already put your leaves in it. You can stick your thermometer in the kettle to test the water after it’s come to a rolling boil to get an accurate reading of water temperature.

Does my water have to stay that temperature while I steep the tea?

No. It would be very hard to keep the water at 98 degrees while steeping most teas.

The bottom line?  Each tea has a temperature it tastes best at. Temperature is not complicated, nor does it need a thermometer.  Bring the water to a boil and just wait a few minutes to cool it down as per the guide above, and I promise you will notice a difference!

Happy Sipping!

And laying all these teas out there like this makes me realize I have way too much tea. But I swear I drink at least 3-5 cups a day. Enjoy!  Thanks to Nicole for the request to see my tea stash!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• Water Temperature: 75 degrees, or boil water and let sit for 8 minutes. It’s ground up green tea.
• You should use a bamboo whisk (Chasen) a Chashaku (the spoon thingy) and a Chawan (a bowl)
• I heated my bowl up with water and dried it before pouring.
• You will need two spoonful’s of matcha (I skimped a bit, but being my first time, I had no idea what to expect. I would be more generous next time)
• Add 60 ml of water, 1/4 cup to the bowl.
• Stir the water/matcha in an M shape (up and down) for 10-15 seconds and then break bubbles by doing circular motions at the top.
• High amount of caffeine.
• Tastes very vegital, but not gross or gritty like I expected.
• I could see myself drinking this often, and the open can has to go to the fridge.
• Now all the facts you guys are interested in, Why it’s healthy:
• 10x the anitoxidants per serving than regular green tea
• 70x the antioxidants of orange juice
• 9x the beta carotene of spinach
• Boosts your metabolic rate by 30-40% with regular consumption–which helps you get rid of FAT.
• Rich in polyphenol antioxidants and catechins including EGCG, which is said to help protect you against cancer, help prevent cardiovascular disease, help reduce cholesterol in the blood and help slow the aging process and help reduce high blood pressure.

Consider this, 1 gram of matcha contains 1384 antioxidants, compared to spinach that has 27….

The bottom line?  It’s hard to find high quality stuff in North America, and if you do, it’s really pricey. But keep in mind you only need two of the spoons for a drink.

One of the best things about this? You can add it to smoothies, ice cream, yogurt and even Martini’s… Maybe that’s the next video….

I need a 12 step program. I have a problem. A friend of mine sent me a message after watching, how I select my tea in the morning, and she said,

I say this with love, but you are going to drown in tea.

And I don’t disagree with her, and I’ve been trying to come up with a way to store my tea so that it’s neat and not a hot mess.  Generally when I want to drink tea there are different reasons. I drink tea because of many reasons. There really is a tea for every mood. Sometimes I drink tea because i’m exhausted, or because I want to sleep, or because I want to eat bad food and it makes me not, and I also drink tea to get me through a hang over. Isn’t drinking tea amazingly versitile?

I mean everyday I want new tea. I hold myself back–most days!  But the more people I talk to the more they tell me about their favourite tea places. And my “want” list increases.  There are many places I want to order from but i’m trying to restrain myself.  After my boxing day fiasco (ordering too much tea–and not liking many of them) I am trying to limit my purchases. But my girlfriend from Liv and Lily (who were at the globes by the way) told me about Tealish. A Canadian company all about loose tea. And I have resisted until today. Do I need more tea? No. Do I need to drink more tea, of course!

You can probably guess it, I ordered MORE tea. BUT I got free shipping. Yes, that’s my rationale! AND they have a tea to help with hangovers!  Woot woot!  I recently started using Klout, and as of a few days ago, that is one my “topics” that i’m influential about, I had a little laugh, and now I’ve bought hangover cure tea. Can’t wait to try it!

Have you had your tea today? If not go and put on the kettle!

They’ve also shipped it to me already…I’m beyond excited! Some people buy shoes, I buy tea.  Until next time, “That’s Tea To Me!”

About Steepster

Born in March 2009, Steepster is an online tea community where people can keep a tea journal (or ‘tealog’) and share ratings, reviews and tasting notes for the teas they’re drinking. Since its launch, Steepster has quickly become the largest community-generated collection of teas and tea information on the Web.

And there you have it. Name the tea, and generally they have people who have tried it, AND they have a tea club (sort of) that you can sign up for and get tea’s each month (brilliant).

There is a tea cupboard where you can log what teas you have at home. The tea log allows you to add tasting notes and ratings!  Very cool.

It’s kind of like facebook for tea. You can create a profile, discuss tea’s and ask questions as well as swap tea. It also has a places button that pinpoints tea places near where you live!

I only have 60 something teas in my tea cupboard but i haven’t entered it all in, yet. It’s neat to connect with people who love tea as much (if not more than me) and see what they think of teas that I love or hate.

I warn you it’s addicting….add me if you join! Erinstea!

Jen: ‎Becky, come arrange my cupboard puh-lease. I’ve got no room for anything!

Kristy:  Is that a Tetley box I see peeking out???

Becky: Yes, Kristy still have love for the Tetley sometimes.

Kristy:  It’s going to start singing “don’t you… forget about me”

Erin: Can I put this on my blog?!

Becky:  Sure Erin, soon enough I am going to be walking into Davids Tea and saying “Hi, I’m the Becky from Erinstea.com”

I’m curious to see how everyone organizes their tea.  We had a birthday party for my husband last night and I had three people come up to me and ask to see my tea stash… the sheer volume is overwhelming, right now, it’s in a clear Rubbermaid box, but I may have to clean out my cupboards and find a way to organize….Hummm….

When we were looking at tea’s my friend Christy was really surprised at what the tea actually looks like. Tea’s like Check mate have actual chamomile flowers:

And the other one she found cool was Movie Night (it has actual popcorn in it):

And she liked this one because, well, it sparkles! This one is also known as the “vampire tea” because it sparkles like Edward from Twilight.

So what did she walk out with? Forever nuts (YUCK–but I asked her what kind of tea she usually drinks and I suggested this after hearing her likes and dislikes) and one of my suggestions: Checkmate.  She will report back to us after she’s tried it!

Also another woman from an online baby group I belong to posted this the other day:

If you can’t read the text it says this, “So Erin, what the hell do I do now with it?!  I’m a tea virgin.”  I advised her to get a meshy infuser as stuff like this and Rooibos is really fine–and that her life would never be the same, welcome to the dark side!

**If you have stories of trying new teas because of this blog or because of a tea lover in your life email me (erinstea @ gmail .com)!  Until tomorrow,  that’s tea to me!

I also heard from a girl I used to work with, who said she was looking to kick the coffee habit, and wanted to know what I suggest.  So I definitely went with Mate’s.  I suggested a few and she went with Jungle Ju Ju and Honeybee.  When I go into the store, i’ll see if they have any Ju Ju as they were out last time, if not i’ll just order it online.

Another one of my mom friends said this:

“You tea slores (term of endearment I promise) have gotten me into yet another addiction…nicely done. I have a cart full and ready to go at David’s….”

Muahahahaha, the tea lady has struck again!

Katy  I have been converted as well. I got a Teaopia Teaser pack for Christmas and I am loving all of it! So far I have tried Pomegranate Green tea, Superberry White tea and Mate Sweet Energy tea. They are all so good! I was scoping out the David’s Tea site today too.

The first time I went on, I ordered a good chunk of stuff because… hell most of it was at least 30-75% off.  I also ordered more tea, and ended up getting 20% off. Only got it off because i’m so amazing…. that, and the fact that I ordered 2 lbs of tea. Yes, that’s right I ordered pounds of tea. Do you know how much tea that actually is?!

It’s hard to buy tea when you can’t smell it. So we shall see.

Then, I went back again. I bought more product this time around. I mean it was free shipping, so I saved there right?  But added a few more teas.

So I’ll do a video when my stuff comes in! Shipped today! What kind of buys did you all get for boxing day?!

Until next time That’s tea to me.

So this place will be reserved to talk about all of the stories from my readers and friend who have changed their tea ways because of my crazy tea talk.

A few of my close friends have dubbed me the mad hatter because a lot of our conversations revolve around tea and tea accessories. Not to mention the large amount of people who have had their eyes opened to tea who had previously never given it a passing thought.

Each time I hear a new tea story, it really does warm my heart.  So if I have yet to hear from you about your first journey into a fancy tea store OR you going out and buying something other than Red Rose, please email me!  Erinstea@gmail.com!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 24th’s tea is Santa’s Helper-Black Tea with peppermint.
• Steeping temperature is 98 degrees for 4-6 minutes.
• Medium amount of caffeine.
• Chinese black tea, peppermint leaves, candy cane sprinkles, clove, cinnamon, orange peel, natural flavouring.
• I like to drink mine with Milk, and you could add sweetener if you like.
• Has a festive taste to it, very much like a candy cane.
• Ruling: It’s very good, but read my lips is better.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 23rd’s tea is Organic Crème Brûlée (Rooibos).
• Steeping temperature is 98 degrees for 4-7 minutes.
• Caffeine free!
• Green rooibos, safflowers, calendula/marigold.
• Safflowers  have been used in Asian medicine for centuries.  Extract from the flower of the plant provides natural alternatives for joint discomfort of arthritis. Its properties reduce pain and inflammation.
• Calendula/Marigold: has been known for many centuries for its’ exceptional healing powers especially treatment of wounds.  When you drink it, it’s known to alleviate symptoms of nervous tension and prevent sleepless nights.
• I drink it without anything, but you could add milk/sugar if you like.
• Has a warm vanilla taste to it. Would be a good tea to curl up with a book to.
• Ruling: really good, I’d buy this one.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 22nd’s  is an English Breaktast.
• Steeping temperature is 98 degrees for 4-6 minutes.
• Medium amount of caffeine.
• It’s a sri Lankan black tea mixed with Assam tea from India.
• Easy transition for you Orange Pekoe drinkers.
• Served best with Milk and/or sweetener.
• Has an earthy taste to it.  It was a bit strong for my liking.
• Ruling: Not for me, not bad, but not my favourite.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 21st’s  is a Coco Chai Rooibos.
• Steeping temperature is 98 degrees for 4-7 minutes.
• There is no caffeine.
• Rooibos, coconut, cinnamon, ginger root, cardamom, red pepper, cloves, pink peppercorns.
• Served best with Milk and/or sweetener.
• A spicy Chai–lighter due to the Rooibos in it..
• Ruling: Nasty! But that’s because I don’t like Chai.  If you like Chai’s this one’s lighter than other’s I’ve tried.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 20th’s is Honeybee a yerba mate.
• Steeping temperature is 98 degrees for 4-7 minutes.
• There is no caffeine but don’t let that fool you it’s full of stimulants.
• Red and green rooibos (Cape Town, South Africa), honeybush, green mate, lemon bits, lemon myrtle, calendula petals, blue cornflowers
• You should drink it plain.
• Gives you an extra kick without the jitters, it won’t go bitter.
• Ruling: Amazing. Light and fragrant. Not sweet, but a subtle honey tone to it. Wonderful taste. I will be adding it to my stash!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 19th’s is Exotica- an herbal tisane with a spicy note to it!
• Steeping temperature is 98 degrees for 4-7 minutes.
• No caffeine.
• Lemongrass, pink peppercorn, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, pineapple, orange peel, coconut.
• You should drink it plain.
• Smells like my spice rack.
• Ruling: surprisingly good. Very lemony without the tartness.  It is not something I’d drink every day but I don’t dislike it.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 18th’s is Elf Help–Green tea with a kick!.
• Steeping temperature is 82 degrees for 3-4 minutes.
• Remember Steeping time and water temperature is important, bring your water to a rolling boil and let it sit for 3 minutes to cool off the water so you don’t burn your leaves.
• Medium amount of caffeine.
• Sencha green tea, orange peel, apple, papaya, raisins, barberries, cranberries, coconut
• You should drink it plain.
• Barberries are packed with vitamin C.
• Smells like oranges
• Ruling: warm and inviting, it’s nice but it’s not something I would add to my stash due to the amount of Orange in it.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 17th’s is Secret Weapon.
• Steeping temperature is 94 degrees for 4-5 minutes..
• Remember Steeping time and water temperature is important, bring your water to a rolling boil and let it sit for 1 minutes to cool off the water so you don’t burn your leaves.
• Low amount of caffeine.
• Great beginner white tea!
• Gogi berries are really high in antioxidants and you can eat them if you want to after you’re done steeping.
• You should drink it plain.
• Smells more nutty than Toasted Walnut.
• White tea was only made available to people outside of Chinese Emperor’s 200 years ago! So feel regal when you are sipping!
• Ruling: One of my favourite flavoured White tea’s by DAVIDsTEA.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 16th’s is Toasted Walnut.
• Steeping temperature is 82 degrees for 3-4 minutes..
• Remember Steeping time and water temperature is important, bring your water to a rolling boil and let it sit for 3 minutes to cool off the water so you don’t burn your leaves.
• Low amount of caffeine.
• You should drink plain.
• Ruling: One of my favourite flavoured green tea by DAVIDsTEA.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 15th’s is Cream of Earl Grey–Black tea.
• Steeping temperature is 98 degrees for 4-7 minutes..
• Has a warm vanilla taste to it, so if you like a lighter version of Earl Grey, this is a good one to try
• Medium amount of caffeine.
• You can add Milk/Sweetener to black teas, I prefer milk.
• Ruling: It’s good, because I love earl grey but it’s not my favourite that Davids has. My favourite tea is Earls Garden by them.

Fun history fact, Earl Grey tea is named after a British Prime Minister in the 1830’s who loved gifts of bergamot flavoured tea!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 14th’s is vanilla oolong.
• Steeping temperature is 94 degrees for 4-7 minutes.
• If you have no thermometer bring water to a boil and let rest for one minute before pouring over tea.
• When not steeped, it does smell like vanilla but once steeped it smells like lemon.
• Medium amount of caffeine.
• Has Organic Taiwanese pouchong oolong tea, Chinese mao jing green tea, organic lemon myrtle, organic marigolds.
• If you’ve tried Oolong tea in the past and find it too strong, this one is much more like green tea.
• Ruling: smells and tastes more like lemon than vanilla. Not for me, but a lighter Oolong than i’ve had before.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 13th’s is Forever Nuts–Herbal Tisane.
• Steeping temperature is 98 degrees for 4-7 minutes, this one is steeped for 5:30.
• Lovely smelling tea.
• No caffeine.
• Smells like apple pie, you can eat herbal tisanes, and I did try it, not too bad!.
• If you are new to tea this is a good one to try as it’s their most popular tea.
• If you want to add milk and/or sweetener you can, adding sugar can help combat the tartness of herbal teas.
• Ruling: Not something I’m in love with, but I can see how people might like it.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 12th’s tea is Buttered Rum Black Tea.
• Steeping temperature is 98 degrees for 4-6 minutes, but i’d prefer mine closer to 6.
• Perfect holiday after dinner party.
• Has low amounts of caffeine so you can enjoy it at night time but not be up until 2 am.
• It has coconut, and vanilla bean in it, and smells divine.
• This tea can be enjoyed warm or cold.
• If you are new to tea this is a good one to try.
• You can add both Milk and Sugar to this tea if you like seeing as how black teas are strong enough to still hold a flavour when milk/sugar are added.
• Ruling: I would definitely add this to my tea collection, amazing!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 11^th’s tea is Japenese Sencha Green Tea.
• Steeping temperature is tricky for Japanese green tea, it’s 74 degrees and between 3-4 minutes.
• If you do not have a thermometer you should let the water rest after you bring it to a full boil for about 5 minutes to get the temperature as close as you can to 74 degrees.
• Sencha is the most popular green tea in Japan.
• Green Tea is full of antioxidants to cleanse your body and detoxify your body.
• This particular green tea has a medium amount of caffeine.
• Is a flavourful green tea in its natural state, I wouldn’t add milk or sweetener.
• If you are new to green tea, this is a prefect one to try.
• Ruling: I would definitely add this to my tea collection, very good green tea.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 10th  is “Sleigh Ride a holiday flavour.
• It is an Herbal Tisane, temperature 98 degrees, steep for 4-7 minutes.
• Smells like apple cobbler.
• Contains apples, hibiscus blossoms, candied pineapple and coconut, cinnamon and beet root–don’t worry it’s just for colour–a nice pink.
• No Caffeine.
• Be sure you are using correct steeping time and temperature.
• Should be drank without milk/sugar. But this one, you could probably put milk and/or sweetener to balance the tartness.
• Ruling: Not something I’d add to my tea stash anytime soon.  If you are into tart herbal tisanes then you’ll likely really like this one.  Smells divine though.

Argo

Double walled Tea tumbler with infuser.  I did see a similar tea pot steeper that I use in most of my videos (the green pot) but it had a tea cozy to help hold heat in! Very cool.  I found it overwhelming to be inside the store and not having been there.  They tried to push lattes on me versus actual tea, but I opted for good ol’ green tea. The type I had was Japanese Sencha blended with matcha. It was very good.  But I was overwhelmed by my choices, and didn’t feel that anyone was really into helping me.

Teavana

We continued down the Michigan Mile, and I fell in love with Teavana in the Nordstrom building. Fell. In. Love.  I wanted to take the sales rep back to Canada with me so we could talk tea forever.  He was so knowledgeable and totally got me types of tea that fit ME. Plus he made quite the sale out of me… I walked away with four tins of tea, two flower teas, a tempered glass teapot for said flowering teas, a tea steeper thingy that goes over top your mug and then a mug and metal infuser.  One of the girls knew where Winnipeg was…  and they said that they have two locations in Canada, Vancouver and Edmonton.  So Teavana if you’re listening, COME TO WINNIPEG. That is all.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 9th  is “North African Mint”.
• It is a Green Tea, temperature 82 degrees, steep for 3-4 minutes.
• Smells minty with a hint of spice.
• Contains Japanese Hojian Green tea, that is roasted in a porcelain pot over charcoal, not steamed.
• Low caffeine.
• Be sure you are using correct steeping time and temperature.
• Should be drank without milk/sugar.
• Has ginger, peppermint, fennel.
• All of the above are known as digestive aids.
• Ruling: tastes like peppermint tea more than green tea, but it has a definite clove taste. It would be paired well after a spicy dinner.  If you are having Indian, Thai or anything savory, this is a great tea for that!

Just today my friend Becky said that I was the tea enabler and she succomed to peer pressure as she was at the mall.  She couldn’t walk past DavidsTea and had to see what the fuss was all about–so she stepped in. And as she was telling a mommy board group that we’re part of, she said to the Customer Service Representative who asked, “Can I help you with anything?” Becky’s reply, “My friend tells me I drink Grandma tea because I drink Orange Pekoe.”  I just about fell off my chair as I read it!

So what did she get? Elf Help, Santa’s Secret, Oh Christmas Treat and Gogi Pop…. that is all a far cry away from Orange Pekoe! Woo hoo!

Another girlfriend of mine from the U.K. also went out to her local Teaopia and got some Darjeeling, Lapsang Souchong, Strawberry Shortcake and Caramelissmo.  Also a far cry from “regular” bagged teas.

To all of you who have gone outside your comfort zone, well done!!  Keep pushing those boundaries!  Enjoy your first cup of awesome tea!

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 8th  is Sweet Dreams.
• It is a herbal infusion, temperature 98 degrees, steep for 4-7 minutes.
• Herbal Infusions are derived from: Hibiscus, Dried fruit and rosehips.
• Smells like Chamomile and Lemon.
• It is caffeine free. You can actually eat Herbal infusions.
• WHO: says that 80% of the worlds population still derives its medicine from plants and roots steeped in boiling water (which is where Tisane’s originated from)
• Make sure you have really hot water to get the most out of your infusion.
• This infusion has: Chamomile, lemongrass, lemon, fennel seeds, orange and rose petals.
• Chamomile is made from a flowering daisy that has grassy flavours and a sweet honey undertone.  It’s known for it’s sedative effect.
• Ruling:  Tastes like Chamomile with lemon, I have a tin of this, it’s ok, but not something that I’d order more of–Unless you LOVE Chamomile.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 7th is “The Skinny”.
• It is a Oolong, temperature 94 degrees, steep for 4-7 minutes.
• Smells citrusy.
• Oolong has the larges concentration of polyphenyl: reduces triglycerides and gets rid of free radicals that harm your body
• Low caffeine.
• Be sure you are using correct steeping time and temperature.
• Can be drank with milk and/or sugar.
• It has Pu’erh, ginger and ginseng.
• All of the above are known as digestive aids.
• Ruling: surprisingly light, pretty decent if drinking it straight away, once it cools the orange becomes too strong.  This would be in my maybe to purchase pile.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

• December 6th  is Organic Detox.
• It is a green tea, temperature 98 degrees, steep for 4-7 minutes.
• Smells like lemongrass.
• It does not have a lot of caffeine.
• Be sure you are using correct steeping time and temperature.
• Should be drank without milk/sugar.
• Ginkgho helps replenish the good stuff in your body and protects against the free radicals that cause damage.
• Ginger helps with digestion if your stomach is not feeling very good the next day.
• Ruling:  Very good, especially if you’ve tasted other detox teas.

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

Approx 4 tsp Dry

Steeped Oolong tea (same amount as shown above.

This is on a large dinner place

Erin’s Tea Show Notes

ERIN’S TEA SHOW NOTES

Erin’s Tea Show Notes

• Welcome to Erin’s Tea
• Started my love of tea with Green Tea
• Green tea health benefits
• learn about lose tea, bag tea
• Obsessed with tea
• Educate people on tea and learn about what makes up certain teas
• Please stop drinking coffee

And holy shit, I just learned that herbal tea (like chamomile) doesn’t contain any tea (traditionally speaking), it is often called tisane or herbal infusion. I’ve been calling it herbal tea for years!  But the other “official name” is Tisane!  How fancy is that.  At your next afternoon get together; ask them if they want some Tisane with their goodies…

So on my quest for some perfect teas, we’ll have to distinguish between bagged and lose teas… that much I know already!

So, what are some of your favorite teas?

Tea for Two

Tea to me, used to be one kind. Red rose.  And I honestly still like a cup every now and again, but there is a whole world of tea out there waiting to be enjoyed.

A few things about this blog.  I’m not a sommelier of tea.  I’m not an expert, and I won’t pretend to be.  But I will tell you honestly what I think of the teas and how to make some of them, heck we’ll learn together.  I’ll review a whole host of teas; including bagged tea’s… yes I’m not a tea snob, not yet.

I also have to confess, I was a coffee lover. I even worked at starbucks for a brief time.  I do still enjoy coffee once in a blue moon but my preference has become tea.

Looking forward to getting to know you and your tea likes and dislikes along with mine!