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Well today has definitely been much improved from the shit show that was yesterday. For one thing, it is the start of a long weekend which means I got to leave work early today since the office closes at 3. Then, getting home I got to park the car for the weekend which means no more mini panic attacks for a little bit due to having to drive. Then, my sister and her husband got back from their honeymoon and brought gifts…for me that meant tea.

They were in Africa so they grabbed a few teas for me to try and then they had a stopover in Paris where they grabbed a few more goodies to bring home. In addition to tea, they hit up Laduree in Paris and bought me one of each macaron flavor. I told them they were insane given when I bought 5 macarons, it cost me like 20 euro. They bought like 20 macarons. She said is wasnt that much but I have a sneaking suspicion she is lying. Nonetheless, it was a very nice gesture and I look forward to trying all my new treats.

This is one of the teas she grabbed while in Africa. I have never heard of this company but she came back with a sampler box of 16 of their teas. I am not sure why I reached for this one first but it is a nice introduction to the company.

First thing I noticed was all the mint in the teabag when I pulled it out of its little box. It was like a 1:1 ratio of mint and black tea leaf. I wasn’t sure if this meant the mint would be overpowering or not but as I sip the brewed tea, I can say it definitely is not. I am not a huge fan of chocolate in teas but the chocolate here comes off more as a creaminess and the slightest hint of cocoa to mix with the fresh peppermint flavor. The base tea is smooth and very timid but provides a solid foundation for the other flavors to stand on. It’s a decent chocolate mint tea.

With that said, this reminds me more of the dark chocolate mint chocolates (the brown ones) from Laura Secord as opposed to the Ice Mint chocolates (the light green ones), which is my preferred of the two (hopefully people know what I am talking about and know the difference or this reference will sound like complete gibberish). It’s good but not something that is leaving such a strong impression that I would need to source more of this from Africa. Pleasant way to end an evening though.

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My cupboard has grown exponentially since joining this site and I have a lot to share. Feel free to snoop through my cupboard and message me if anything interests you – I am always happy to swap!

For me, flavored teas are definitely my sweet spot. I will most often reach for black teas and rooibos or honeybush blends but I do keep some flavored whites and greens around for when the mood strikes. I have a few herbals/tisanes but most of the time I find myself disappointed by them as they often smell deliciously sweet and then end up tasting tart/sour. I have a little bit of an aversion to pu’erh and oolong teas. I am also wary of florals, earl greys, and chai teas. I do not like overpowering citrus flavors nor do I usually like hibiscus, licorice or chamomile. I love dessert teas – caramel, vanilla, toffee, cookie, cream, and other sweet flavors make me smile. Fruits like strawberry, peach, mango, and pineapples will often catch my attention as well.

I have also realized that although I really enjoy adding frothed milk to some of my teas, if I do not like the tea with zero additives (just in plain water without milk or sugar), I probably won’t drink it. The one exception is flavored matchas which I will happily drink in cold milk if I do not like it mixed with hot water. My theory is if the tea can’t stand on its own then it is not for me and I will more than likely try to swap it out for something else.

Tea Ratings Guide (as of December 10, 2017)
90-100 Teas I NEED on hand at all times
80-89 Teas I want to keep around for a cup every now and then
70-79 Teas I am glad I have around and can experiment with but probably don’t need more than what’s in my cupboard
60-69 Teas I would not turn down a cup of from a friend but that would probably be enough
50-59 Teas I can see why someone would enjoy but are not for me
Under 50 Teas I really did not like and most likely got dumped

Location

Waterdown, Ontario

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