enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

IMG_5476

In August, I tweeted that I was looking for new teas to try. Kal suggested David's Tea and then while I was up in Winnipeg, I was able to go to the David's Tea storefront. Safe to say, prior to a visit there I knew next to nothing about tea. Okay, I knew something about tea – but that something was : it all tastes similar and comes in tea bags.

Turns out there is a lot more to the story.

IMG_0729 IMG_0745

The experience in the shop reminded me so much of wine tasting except that everything is cheaper, brighter and you don’t need a designated driver by the end of the night.

At Kal’s the day before I had tried Jesse’s Tea, a great non-caffeinated version so I bought that as well as Forever Nuts and Copabanana. And then, I choose a few caffeinated versions : Movie Night, Read My Lips and Pumpkin Chai.

Since I have been home, I have tried all six. When Paul was home we tended to eat dinner and then drink wine. Sometimes I still do. But the other nights, when I really don’t want alcohol, I still miss the feeling of sipping and enjoying something. Enter non-caffeinated David’s Tea. Not the same, but really good and already habit forming. (My favorites so far are Read My Lips & Forever Nuts.)

Paul is also not able to drink wine while on deployment but has said he’s been drinking a ton of coffee all day long. (He’s exact words were “I feel like Mikael Blomvist [from the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo] drinking a cup of coffee on every page.”) I’m excited to see what he’ll think of drinking teas instead so I'm going to send a box of different favors and a infuser. Hopefully he’ll enjoy it. (I’m pretty sure that while on deployment it is all about the little things.)

B4e5f2e36979414794b9d3f9628f13cc_7 Dcd0774fb5d04cb1831e41b869653d5c_7

Right now, I am just heating water and using a metal tea infuser but I am hoping to upgrade to something like this when I need to reorder.

If you are in Canada and haven’t already been to a store (which is unlikely, I know) drop in! And if you’re in the states, and want to try, they ship! We don’t get much of a fall in San Diego, but that will not stop me from wearing scarves and drinking hot tea for the next few months. 

IMG_5548

Any other teas I should be trying?

Posted in ,

67 responses to “adventures in tea.”

  1. Rachel Avatar

    I drink Trader Joe’s Mango Black Tea religiously when I study at night. It’s delicious and caffeinated 🙂

    Like

  2. jennifer Avatar

    I buy great tea at the Vista Farmer’s market (I’m in North San Diego County) but I saw that the woman who sells it (Joy) also sells at the Hillcrest Farmer’s Market (closer to you). There’s info on her teas at http://www.sipndipatea.com/
    I’ve been trying to convince Joe from Falcon Hill Pottery (also a local, farmer’s market vendor) to get working on some small ‘brew inside’ filtered tea pots…I’ll keep you posted if he gets some made- they would be incredible.

    Like

  3. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    come to Seattle–we have two tea store at Pike Place alone–both with infusers!

    Like

  4. Sue Williams Avatar

    I love David’s Tea! My daily go to is ‘organic green seduction’ a pomegranate green tea. My current obsession…iced Luscious Watermelon. (Read My Lips is another fave of mine.) You can also get one of the larger steepers on the David’s website if you’re ordering from there. http://www.davidstea.com/accessories/infusers-and-filters/the-steeper Enjoy!

    Like

  5. frances Avatar
    frances

    hey elise,
    not sure if anyone has suggested this yet but i drink coffee puerh and love it – smells like chocolate mm 🙂

    Like

  6. SY Avatar

    oops. thanks to you I just bought a ridiculous amount of tea. 🙂 They all sound so good! Who could say no to chocolate teas + free shipping? though i have to say chocolate in tea does sound kinda odd.
    Oh, and not sure if you’ve seen this site, I found it while googling for reviews to help me decide which teas to get: http://steepster.com/

    Like

  7. Marianne pollock Avatar

    T2 from Australia I love sleepy time. They also have cool names

    Like

  8. Kristle Avatar

    I love David’s new Fall Harvest tea collection. The Pumpkin Chai is delish. Just tried the Buttercream white tea last night. If you plan a future order from David’s, I must recommend the Organic Vanilla Oolong tea. This one in particular has the wholesome scent/taste of vanilla with a little bit of refreshing citron tossed in. Oolong teas are a whole other experience. They awaken every part of you which is awesome. I don’t know what it is about oolong tea but I find I am my most productive, creative and energetic self when I drink a cup every morning. It’s the best!

    Like

  9. MissKoolAid Avatar

    I’ve been a tea drinker for years now. Love the variety and quality of teas at David’s Tea. For a caffeine-free light, fruity tea, I recommend “Green and Fruity” which is good hot or iced. I also love the Honeybush Ginger Lemon when my stomach is a bit upset or when I feel a cold coming on.
    Have fun with this new obsession!
    Sophie

    Like

  10. Chelseabird Avatar

    I LOVE that you’re into tea! Although I am a huge coffee person, I also LOVE tea! Awhile back I heard about David’s Tea from Holly of Red Velvet and I have been wanting to try it out every since. Recently I was gifted some tea from The Coffee Bean and I’m loving it (loose leaf and bagged). I’m thinking that I should go check out my local Tevana soon for some fall flavors!
    XO

    Like

  11. Danielle Avatar

    I love David’s Tea because the people who work there are knowledgeable and they really like talking about tea and helping you find the right one for you. Best part of my day!

    Like

  12. Linda Avatar

    You have such an inspiring blog! Found you through Just a Titch.
    There’s a documentary about Tea called “Meaning of Tea.” I highly recommend it even though it’s not available thorugh Netflix 😦
    I never thought I could sit through a film about tea and be entirely engaged.

    Like

  13. elise blaha Avatar

    thank you! and thanks for the tip! I will check it out.

    Like

  14. Jen H Avatar
    Jen H

    Having been on the opposite end of a deployment than you are, I can assure you that you are right. Deployments are all about the little things. I’m not a coffee drinker, but I would have gone a little crazier without my tea over there. 🙂

    Like

  15. Tanya Gilmartin Avatar

    Hey Elise! So cool that you are into David’s Tea! I live in Ontario, Canada and am ADDICTED to it! You have got to try “pure Chai” -it’s so spicy, I make it with warm milk for a chai latte, perfect for fall weather. Also their “Citron Oolong” is a nice fresh lemon tea- add just a touch of honey….mmm

    Like

  16. Holly Avatar

    Late comment, but I LOVE DavidsTea. One of the few stores that Canada has & the States doesn’t! (haha! But we are finally getting Target in 2013! Woo!) hehe my favourites are definitely Read My Lips (which I’m drinking right now!) and Forever Nuts. Also, Alpine Punch is delicious! & I looove Copabanana. I actually ordered a few different teas on Monday (and blogged about them the other day!) and I was so impressed by how quickly it shipped! And you get 3 free samples with every order! AWESOME!
    Plus whoever runs the DavidsTea twitter is pretty cool! 🙂 haha.

    Like

  17. sue Avatar
    sue

    I love homemade chai all winter long, but there is one other tea I am obsessed with…Joy’s Teaspoon “Almond Cookie”. It’s delicious!!!!! It’s herbal and is simply pieces of roasted almonds (almond flavor), dried apples (sweetness) and dried beet pieces (lovely pink color). It’s the only tea I will actually pay shipping for and order again and again. Delicious.

    Like

Leave a reply to Chelseabird Cancel reply