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: 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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 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!

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!

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

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!

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.

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!

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.”

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!

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….

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!

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