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I don’t care what the popular opinion is on this one, but I love it and am sad they are discontinuing it. I like the strong cardamom, the anise, and the fact that it is not as strong on the licorice (bleh) as The Spice is Right. I feel refreshed. It reminds me of my 5:00 AM mornings studying anatomy in the autumn before the sun comes up. I have a lot of little memories when I drink this tea. Perfectly spicy!

I’d love some recs for good cardamom-heavy teas for September and onward! Anyone? Any brand will do. Exploration time!

I was hoping for more buttery salty flavours, but unfortunately it is more on the fruity side. When I steep it weaker it is OK, but the stronger I steep it the more fruity and sweet it tastes. Just not what I hoped for… There is also no actual tea leaves in it. :(

I’m not a big dessert tea fan, and I usually don’t like chocolate flavoured things (chocolate purist) but I find myself craving Read My Lips. I have the special coloured tin for this one. It’s just delicious – I like the chocolate mixed with the mint. So good. I want to try David’s Teas other chocolate blends now.

It appears that I have enough Frequent Steepster points for a free 150g of one type of Davids Tea, or three 50g of different flavours. It is so hard to pick whether I want to buy more of my favourites or try something new from them! Eek. Leaning toward the latter.

Anyhow… Gyokuro Yamashiro. Wow, what a vegetal green!! Like other reviewers have said, it is vegetal enough to be reminiscent of garden veggies. No “grassiness” to it for those who dislike that about greens. It’s a good in-between for meals because of the flavour. I agree with another reviewer that its flavour is indeed less spring-like and crisp (as many senchas are) than it is autumnal – if that makes sense. It doesn’t refresh you in the same way as other senchas do for that reason – rather more warming and savoury, like cooked vegetables. It isn’t bitter at all- more buttery, actually, than any other green I’ve had. Basically – buttery veggies? It’s a nice change from my usual grassy green. It’s a lot better than it sounds — trust me!

As to how I got a hold of it: I received 150g of this as a Christmas gift — but was floored when I saw the price for that amount! It’s certainly a premium tea. A lovely cup, but best that I save it for special occasions and drink more inexpensive senchas on the regular.

“Honey and herbs” describes this tea perfectly. Oh my goodness. This is the first time I have tried a honey flavoured tea that actually tastes like honey. Sometimes I find “honey” teas tend to just taste… sweet. You don’t get to taste the actual honey. In Rainy Day there is a tiny bit of sweetness, but it is off set by the herbs (such as wild strawberry leaves), and the flavour of the honey really shines without the tea being too sugary tasting (“sugary” being something that I really dislike in teas – I’m a straight tea drinker and don’t like too much sweetness). The dry leaf scent is really lovely, too — herbal and nectarous. It really does conjure up images of cosy summer rain! I imagine this tea would feel heaven sent if you’re feeling under the weather.

And just to note, Nikaido is one of my favourite gems in Steveston Village. So many unique local teas, and fairly priced.

Initially light like chamomile tea usually is — but unfortunately I cannot taste the Vanilla, and if left to steep too long, takes on a stronger licorice flavour that wasn’t initially evident. Maybe I’m a purist? I just don’t think that chamomile and licorice bode too well. The licorice flavour takes over the delicate flavour of the chamomile.

My advice: don’t let it steep too long and it’s a decent cup of chamomile.