David's Tea Turmeric Glow Herbal Infusion

A new season is on the horizon and that means new teas from David's Tea. I don't think Turmeric Glow is part of the new spring collection but it's new to us.

This tisane is made from carrots, ginger, turmeric, sweet blackberry leaf, pineapple, beetroot, and natural pineapple flavouring.  It has a bright orange colour from the turmeric and a very vegetal flavour. It's quite a different taste and at first I wasn't sure what to make of it. It's not very sweet at all though the sweeter ingredients probably temper the spicier flavours. It's definitely driven by the carrots and turmeric, with the ginger adding a bit of zip.

Upon contemplation and a second cup while watching an episode of the great animated adventure show "The Deep" I've decided I do like this tea but it doesn't rate among my favourites.

Turmeric Glow is great if you want to try something a bit different. Apparently turmeric is an ancient traditional remedy and good for your skin. Your mileage may vary. As always I make no claims to the efficacy of such things.

Recommended.

For more info follow the link: https://www.davidstea.com/ca_en/our-teas/tea-type/herbal/turmeric-glow

David's Tea Caramel Corn Fruit Infusion

Caramel Corn is a delicious treat but should it be tea? Let's find out! Mrs. ISMOTU picked this up after trying it iced but on this rainy day I thought drinking it hot would be more apropos. 

David's Tea Luscious Watermelon Fruit Infusion (Iced)

Last time we were at David's Tea we bought some little bags of tea marketed as the perfect portions for making iced tea. Since we bought an iced tea pitcher last summer we thought it was time to bust it out again.

Luscious Watermelon has apple, carrot, watermelon, wild strawberry leaves, honeydew melon (honeydew melon, sugar), beetroot, and artificial watermelon flavouring.  It's a great refreshing iced tea and I don't think it would work as a hot tea very well.  The watermelon flavour predominates and is sweet but not too sweet. I'm not a huge watermelon fan, especially in non-watermelon form, but this works nicely. The carrot flavour sneaks in on the finish while the beetroot mostly gives it colour and sweetness.

This is a great refreshing iced treat for sipping on a hot afternoon in the sun.

Recommended.
For more info follow the links:
https://www.davidstea.com/ca_en/luscious-watermelon-iced-tea-pack
https://www.davidstea.com/ca_en/luscious-watermelon/

David's Tea Organic Egyptian Chamomile Herbal Infusion

I'm feeling a little under the weather this week so what better way to chase the sniffles away than by enjoying a nice hot cup of chamomile tea.  Only one ingredient here: Egyptian chamomile, dried little daisy-like flowers that are delicious.  The tea has a brighter yellow colour than other chamomiles I've tried and the flavour is smooth and gentle. It's a great contrast to the raucous and ferocious Kamen Rider Amazons episode I'm watching.

David's Tea Organic Coconut Ice Herbal Infusion

Coconut Ice seems a bit of unexpected name for a typically hot beverage. Apparently it is supposed to invoke the flavour of coconut ice cream with its blend of honeybush, coconut flakes, cocoa shells, and natural whipped cream and coconut flavouring. I feel like this was purchased back in the summer with the intention of making it into an iced tea but I don't think we ever did. On paper this tea sounds like a winner and for many people it probably is but for me it's not so good.  I can't remember if I've mentioned how honeybush doesn't agree with me on this blog before, but I really dislike it. Mostly it's the smell I think, it reminds me of something alcoholic, almost whiskey-ish, but that really doesn't go with tea. Even with my nose plugged I struggle to taste the other flavours, the honeybush is just too overpowering.
Not Recommended.

 So this was a disappointing choice but luckily redeemed by delicious chocolate caramel cookies and a new animated discovery Wander Over Yonder from the creator of Powerpuff Girls and starring Jack McBrayer (Kenneth from 30 Rock). It's a silly little show that I will probably add to my post of current awesome cartoons like Gravity Falls and Steven Universe.

David's Tea Apple Custard Fruit Infusion

Another "back of the cupboard" review while I watch the finale to the excellent revival of "the X-Files" that I can only hope will lead to more. I may have overlooked this tisane due to its similar name to the "Sweet Apple Cider" I reviewed back in the fall.

The Apple Custard contains apples, golden raisins, coriander, chamomile, and vanilla flavouring. The vanilla and apple flavours predominate giving this tea a mild sweet taste.  I think this bag was sitting for a while and as such the flavour has faded over time.

Overall this tea has not left me wanting more, unlike the latest adventure of Scully and Mulder.

Not Recommended.

David's Tea Ginger Peach Moringa Herbal Infusion

Ginger Peach Moringa, I know two out three of those words. So the ginger and peach are what drew me to try this tea but what's a moringa? According to the tin moringa is a "wonder-plant used for everything from detoxing to immune boosting" blech. I drink tea because I enjoy it I don't look at it as alternative medicine. I also just like to try new things. I don't need to be sold on a new tea because of some kind of magic plant. It's a beverage not a potion.  Ok, rant over. How's the tea?

Pretty decent actually. The peach flavour predominates and the ginger is in perfect harmony with it. A bit of spice to cut the sweetness of the peach. This tisane also contains moringa leaves, blackberry leaves, and lemongrass, but they are all in the background.  This was a nice accompaniment to the latest episode of Supergirl where we are introduced to Bizarro in an episode that plays with the classic secret identity dating issues trope.

Despite my annoyance with the marketing I did really enjoy this tea.
Recommended.

For more info follow the link: https://www.davidstea.com/ca_en/ginger-peach-moringa-4

David's Tea Organic Mango Turmeric Herbal Infusion

The next of the brand new teas we picked up over the weekend is the Mango Turmeric, which is accompanying my trek through the X-Files. I'm over halfway through season 8 and thus nearly ready to check out the new series.

This bright yellow tea has a complex, savoury flavour. Anchored around the yellow root indigenous to India this infusion also contains ginger, mango, pineapple, lemongrass, lemon verbena with some natural orange and mango flavouring.  The smell of this tea was the first thing that hit me. The scent of the turmeric is strong and distinctive. It elicits the notion of a memory in my mind but I can't quite place it. The ginger adds a spiciness to the savoury punch of the turmeric (which is a great example of the fluidity of English pronunciations) while the fruit flavours are all but lost in the mix. I can detect a hint of citrus but nothing really of the mango and pineapple (Mrs. ISMOTU says she gets a hint of the mango sweetness but it's faint).  As such it does not pair well with the cheesecake I had for dessert but that's more poor planning on my part than any real criticism toward the tea.

I like it, it's quite different from many of the other flavours I've tried but it is enjoyable. I don't think it'll become a favourite but would probably go nicely with some Indian food.
Recommended.

For more info follow the link: https://www.davidstea.com/ca_en/mango-turmeric-organic-5

David's Tea Banana Nut Bread Fruit Infusion

Banana bread is a delicious treat that I should really make more often. When we were in the frigid North I would toss bananas in the freezer when they started to turn, with the notion that I'd make delicious banana bread. It never happened. So far this year my wife has made a super yummy banana bread twice and I've reaped the benefits.

This fruit infusion captures the flavour surprisingly well by using a mix of dates, currants, almonds, banana, and some added flavouring. I think it's the dates that are the secret ingredient here. I would never have thought to use dates in a tea but they work really well.

Banana Nut Bread fruit infusion is complimenting nicely my evening watching the latest episode of Supergirl, a show I'm enjoying far more than I thought I would.

Highly Recommended.

For more info follow the link: https://www.davidstea.com/ca_en/banana-nut-bread-5

David's Tea Cocomint Cream Fruit Infusion

Coconut and peppermint? Sure why not.

This is a older tea in our cupboard and as such I don't think it's available anymore. But it is a nice one actually. I definitely wouldn't have thought to pair coconut with mint but sweet and fresh tastes work together well. The blend of apple, coconut, blackberry leaves, peppermint, and spearmint is described as "cool and creamy" on the label and I'd say that's as apt as anything I could write.

Cocomint Cream has an interesting flavour that I enjoy best in nebulous intervals. It's not one of my "go to" teas but it certain hits the spot when I'm in the right mood.  I'm enjoying what may just be my final cup of this blend as we prepare to honour Alan Rickman's passing by watching GalaxyQuest, "By Grabthar's hammer, by the suns of Warvan, you shall be avenged!"
Recommended.

*edited to add: apparently I reviewed this one once already back in September. Here's what I thought of it then.

David's Tea Sleigh Ride Fruit Infusion

Whilst on holiday visiting family in my hometown the intrepid ISMOTU couple restocked our tea coffers and took advantage of some sales which would be over by the time we returned home.  Today's post is about the first of those spoils.

Sleigh Ride came in an adorable wee tin with, naturally enough, a sleigh on the front. This fruit infusion is anchored by apple and cinnamon flavours buoyed up by pineapple, papaya, beetroot, raisins, coconut, roasted almonds, and popped rice. Why am I using nautical terminology when describing an wintry delight? Because it's my blog and I can by wry if I want to? Also it's just more fun that way.

On the whole Sleigh Ride reminded me a lot of "Forever Nuts" which is not bad company to keep by any means but it doesn't really have enough of an identity on its own to make it stand out. It's warm and cozy, sweet but not sugary, though I find many of the flavours are masked or blend together to something more generic than I think they were hoping for. The popped rice is neat and looks like tiny popcorn but I can't detect its presence in the taste of the tea. Ditto for the pineapple and papaya. I think their flavour just blends with the sweetness of the beetroot.

It should come as no surprise that with a name like "Sleigh Ride" this tisane is part of this year's winter collection and thus will only be available for a limited time. We bought ours for 40% off and if you can snag it at that price you won't be disappointed but I'm certainly content waiting for the sale to try it and I can't say this will be one I'll miss terribly once it's gone.

For more info follow the link: https://www.davidstea.com/ca_en/sleigh-ride-tea

David's Tea Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait Fruit Infusion

Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait from David's Tea is a sweet/tart combination of apple, hibiscus, raisins, carrot, yogurt bits, beetroot, strawberry, and rhubarb.  Strawberry Rhubarb is about the only combination that will get me to eat strawberry things. Typically I'm not a fan of strawberry anything (I know, I know, I'm weird, everyone tells me this) but for some reason the sour astringency of rhubarb makes it okay. This tea leans more toward the sweet side as suggested by "parfait" in the name but still has a nice bite, with the rhubarb backed up by the hibiscus which also provides part of the striking red colour.  The beetroot is mainly there to make it even redder. This was the most wine or blood coloured tea I've ever had. Though it may just have been the mug I was used made it look so much redder than other hibiscus or beetroot teas I've tried. Regardless I enjoyed this tea it was perhaps mispaired with the delicious banana bread Mrs. ISMOTU baked for us today but I still liked it. Is it a must try? Probably not but it won't sit at the back of the cupboard forever either.
Recommended. Kinda?
I dunno. It's also late which makes me more ambivalent and less decisive but I'm just going to roll with it.

For more info follow the link: https://www.davidstea.com/ca_en/strawberry-rhubarb-parfait-4

David's Tea The Glow Herbal Infusion

The Glow may have a ridiculous name but does it have enough flavour to overcome that?  The Glow is a blend of cinnamon, rosehips, nettle leaves, rooibos, and marigold.  Despite the inclusion of rooibos it's not grouped in that category so it must not be a major ingredient in this tea.

The cinnamon scent is the first thing you notice about The Glow but flavour-wise it's not overpowering.  This is a delicate floral driven infusion that hit the spot during our first major snowfall of the year.  This time I think the white stuff is here to stay.

What attracted me to this herbal tea was the nettle and rose bits as ingredients. I've previously blathered on about how much I enjoyed the pure nettle leaf tea and in The Glow I must say I feel the nettle flavour is lost among the other flower flavours. The rosehips and rose petals are more noticeable and overall I do enjoy this bouquet of a beverage.

Recommended.

For more info follow the link: https://www.davidstea.com/ca_en/the-glow

David's Tea Lemon Myrtle Herbal Tea

Lemon Myrtle is an herbal tea that contains only one ingredient, lemon myrtle.  According to the label the lemon flavour and scent is due to a high concentration of a compound called "citral" which is present in lemons to a lesser degree than in the lemon myrtle plant. The flavour is simple, not too tart nor too sweet.  A refreshing beverage which at least feels like it will help me stave off this cold I'm coming down with.

I'm really enjoying this tea. It's full flavoured and the olfactory sensation adds greatly to the experience.  I think this herbal tea has jumped onto my favourites list and while the David's Tea version is apparently no longer available I hope that like the nettle leaf tea I can find an alternate source for it once my supply runs out.

Definitely recommended.

David's Tea Cranberry Orange Muffin Herbal Infusion

Cranberry Orange Muffin is a mixture of cranberries, dandelion root, pineapple, cinnamon, orange, hibiscus, and mango.

I'm not sure why it needs the word "muffin" in its name. The cranberry and orange tartness is balanced by the mellow flavour of the dandelion.  The cinnamon is not overpowering, nor is the hibiscus so I should be able to make a pot of this one and not have Mrs. ISMOTU complain.

I'm enjoying the Cranberry Orange Muffin but I'm not raving about it. It's a good one but not a favourite.

Recommended.

For more info follow the link: https://www.davidstea.com/ca_en/cranberry-orange-muffin-4

David's Tea Sweet Apple Cider Fruit Infusion

Another Sunday afternoon, another cup of David's Tea to enjoy.  Today I'm trying out the Sweet Apple Cider fruit infusion. Apple Cider is a classic beverage that I associate most with coming in from playing outside on cold winter days to find a mug of cider waiting to help warm me up.

The sweet apple cider tastes just as you'd expect. It's sweet, it's apple-y. According to the label "the only thing missing is the cinnamon stick" and that's very true. There is no cinnamon in this apple cider and it's absence is noticeable. I don't have a supply of cinnamon sticks in the house and I've been drinking all the teas I've been reviewing neat, that is without adding anything else to them. So the fact that this one needs augmentation lowers my opinion of it a bit. Especially since they are clearly aware that apple cider should have cinnamon in it. It's not quite as bad as say just microwaving a cup of apple juice but it's not as rewarding as I'd like.

Apparently I wasn't the only one because this particular variety seems to be discontinued and replaced with the "Spiced Apple" which does contain cinnamon.

So while this is an okay beverage I feel like it's going to take a while for the remnants of this bag to be consumed.

David's Tea Ginger Beer Fruit Infusion

From the last post everyone knows I'm a fan of ginger so when we saw this new offering from David's Tea I just had to try it.

Ginger Beer is an herbal tea with ginger (obvi), apples, and raisins. This has less spice and more sweet than the Super Ginger so it might be more palatable to more people.  They really manage to make it taste like a nice old fashioned ginger beer, you can almost feel the bubbles.

This is a tasty tea that I hope sticks around beyond the fall collection. It is a gentler alternative to the Super Ginger for the occasions when you might not want super spicy.

For more info follow the link: https://www.davidstea.com/ca_en/ginger-beer

David's Tea Forever Nuts Fruit Infusion

This one's an old favourite. I don't remember exactly when I first tried Forever Nuts but I enjoyed it immensely. The nutty flavour is warm and inviting with cinnamon notes. Almonds and apples are the main ingredients though I can pick out the taste of cashews as well, though that must come from the added flavouring.

One crazy thing about Forever Nuts is its signature bright pink colour which comes from beetroot. Presumably the beetroot also imparts some sweetness. To me this is a perfect autumn tea, it's warm and hearty with unexpected colour.

Forever Nuts is one I always like to keep on hand and it's never let me down. I think the first time we brought a tin of it home (or more likely received it in the mail) I drank it religiously and thus didn't crave it for a while but now I'm back on that horse and hey it's better than heroin. (??)
Highly recommended.

For more info follow the link: https://www.davidstea.com/ca_en/forever-nuts-5

David's Tea Berry Poppins Fruit Infusion

This one was sitting at the back of the cupboard for a while so we'll see if there was a reason.

Berry Poppins is a mixture of apple, hibiscus, rosehips and blackberry. The hibiscus is one reason it may have been at the back of the cupboard as Mrs. ISMOTU is not a fan of that particular ingredient.

The combination of flavours works pretty well together. To bump up the blackberry flavour they use some artificial flavouring which normally I don't care about one way or the other but there's a few specific types that I can just taste. Blackberry and raspberry artificial flavours top that list and that lowers my affinity for this tea. Honestly, part of it is the smell which I can't describe very well.

Berry Poppins is good if you're a big berry fan but it's not one of my favourites. Apparently it wasn't a big hit as it is no longer available. Who knows if it was a flavour thing or just a dismal response to the terrible pun name.

David's Tea Mulberry Magic Herbal Infusion

Tonight I'm enjoying David's Tea Mulberry Magic while checking out the new Guardians of the Galaxy animated series. Both are entertaining. Will Friedle is the man from Batman Beyond to Bumblebee in the latest Transformers cartoon to Star-Lord now, he's got a great set of characters under his belt.

Mulberry Magic is a simple blend of mulberry leaves and macadamia nuts.  The nutty flavour is robust and sweet, and the mulberry leaves are earthy and herbaceous. I like this tisane and as I keep working on these types of blog posts I find I have less to say about the ones I really like beyond saying "I really like this, it's tasty."

Apparently there are fancy health benefits to mulberry leaves but I'm not concerned about any of that. I drink tea because it's tasty and has less calories than pop or other beverages.  Mulberry Magic fulfils the tastiness criteria and is a nice source of variety in our tea cupboard.

For more info follow the link: https://www.davidstea.com/ca_en/mulberry-magic