Hiatus

Hey all!

I'm going to be taking a hiatus for a while. I'm very scatter brained right now, and just feeling a little overwhelmed with everything I need to be doing with life.   Add that to feeling a little burnt out, I just need some recovery time for me to focus on getting my life a little more organized.

I may still post some stuff, but there probably won't be any tea reviews for a few weeks at least.

Thank you for your love and patience

-L

Shirley Temple

I'm trying this one with my amazing cousin!

It's fucking fantastic there are like no words. With about 4ish tbsp of honey, and 50 grams and like 7 cups of water it is so amazing you have no idea. It's like true blue fruit punch, without any sort of juice or soda added.

(I typed up something huge, but my computer deleted it so fuck that)

Electric Lemonade

I made electric lemonade and it was great! My friend Fiona came over and she liked the plain lemonade more so than I did.

I used almost 50g to 5 cups of water, then added about another 2-3 cups of water once I put it in the fridge. I also added 3 tbsp of sugar.

To me, that wasn't sweet enough. But once I added some white cranberry juice, it was once of the best things ever. Sweet and tart, but not bitter. I was also 10000% upset that it wasn't electric pink, but hey. Can't win everything!

7/10 would do again!

Up next, shirley
temple!
-L

#bad at time managment

Okay so, this weekend I got too busy with wedding prep stuff. So I really didn't type up the post I prepared.

So I'm making it today, and posting it Tuesday.

Have pictures of my dog to soothe you.

Hiatus - Kayla

All posts from Kayla will be on hold until further notice.

I have some very important family matters going on and until I am back in the right frame of mind, I am giving myself a break from tea updates.
I do not know when this will be.

My apologies.


~Kayla

Huckleberry Tea (type 2)

So this is the second type of huckleberry tea I've gotten, and I think it may be better than the first one I tried. It's more huckleberry and less tea. It's actually one I want to try sweetened and iced. I would have today, but it's been cold. And I really don't want to drink cold tea when it's been cold and raining.

But, mostly I've been obsessing and spending time with my new puppy! Her name is Honey and she's perfect in every way.

-L

28 Day FitDetoxTea - Intro (it's super long)

So, I decided -out of boredom and slight desperation- that I would give one of those "detox" teas a go.
But not for what you might think!!!

I chose FitDetox because, while their ad work is misogynistic bullshit pictures of sexualised women showing of their hot bodies (which they most certainly did not obtain by just drinking tea, but nevertheless make you feel like a fat piece of shit - but I digress), they don't really seem to bullshit, it's "100% organic", and there are no laxatives.

It's a two-tea system. With a Morning Detox, and a Bedtime Cleanse.
All about helping your body do its natural detox. (detoxing just means pooping/peeing - the only way to actually detox) And they are quite honest about it. You need to DIET and EXERCISE to lose weight.

Their claimed benefits:

• Suppresses Appetite
• Speeds Up Metabolism
• Improves Skin Health
• Increases Energy
• Reduces Bloating
• Clears Skin

As someone with IBS and hormone madness, those benefits seemed rather nice (read: OHGODSYESPLEASEGIVETHOSETHINGSTOMENOW)

Funny enough, GREEN TEA. GREEN TEA has been scientifically proven to aid in weighloss when you consume about 5-8 cups a day (which I will have tried a 14 day challenge of before this challenge)! But this tea doesn't contain any green tea - something I think would TOTALLY work for them.

It's all about the detox - cleanse that colon!

INGREDIENTS:

Detox Tea Ingredients:
Organic Fennel Seed, Organic Nettle Leaf, Marshmallow Leaf, Marshmallow Root,
Calendula Flower, Hawthorn Berries.

Cleanse Tea Ingredients:
Organic Peppermint Leaf, Organic Basil Leaf, Olive Leaf, Organic Fennel Seed,
Organic Nettle Leaf, Marshmallow Leaf


Pricing: It's is kind of expensive considering the simple ingredients... Even with the constantly marked down 28 day package from $64.95 down to $54.95, and the "today only" (not really-it's always there) extra 20% off. This is also in US dollars, so as a Canadian, I really didn't save a single damn dollar from the price I was looking at initially. (Whommp whomp)
But shipping is free! And I got my tea in 13 business days. Coming from Australia with free shipping, I didn't find it that bad.


IMPORTANT

My review will NOT be based on a weightloss regime. I will not be following the meal plan, I will not be following the exercise plan.
I am trying this tea to see if it will help with my awful digestion problems - NOT weightloss.
I want to share how it works and what it does for my DIGESTIVE HEALTH without changing anything about what I normally do.



Thanks very much for suffering through that incredible intro.
On Monday: DAY ONE OF FITDETOXTEA 28 DAY CHALLENGE

Stay tuned.


K

Whoooooops

Okay so I'm being bad.

I don't have a review for today. For at least more of a reason than I forgot! #stillembarassed #whyamiusinghashtags?

1) We're meeting our potential new puppy today (Monday), and out of excitement I slept like 4 hours Sunday night. So Monday is being spent being lazyish
2) I've been super busy with new house stuff, I still have laundry to fold and put away
3) I'm getting a cold
4) Wedding planning. Enough said

I'm sorry and promise to have a review for next week! It will still be summer teas, because I'm remaining in denial.

-L

Summer iced tea!

First post in the new house! Yay!

So I made an iced tea concoction, and have been adding it to everything, including drinking it plain. All of them were great.







It was amazing to mix with Okanagan Peach Cider (yay booze and fizz!), to mix with water (perfectly flavored water, with no added sugar!).

Not to mention it smelled amazing! I'll be doing more specific ones on each of the teas involved, so no worries!

 -L

Green Tea Challenge ON HOLD

I got a sinus infection this week...

Now I am on cortico-steroids after three days of anti-biotics... The steroids have a side effect of weight gain. And I am definitely feeling it. And it's for TWO WEEKS. ugh

So, until I am off of the drugs, I can't really get results I can trust from this...



But I WILL say. My skin has seen a HUUUUGE improvement. Cleared up my acne and less dryness in my skin.
So, that's a plus


Sorry for the inconvenience.

Organic Japanese Sencha

Let me preface by saying there is nothing wrong with this Japanese Sencha by DavidsTea.

It's just boring as hell. It's nice and earthy and enjoyable, but just kinda boring after trying, again, Tea at Seas green. I know, I know, they are different types of green. But the flavor on the Tea at Sea green was so much more complex and enjoyable, this one just pales in comparison.

So this particular green gets a 6/10, just because it pales in comparison to others.

-L

14 Day GREEN TEA WEIGHTLOSS?! Challenge - Day 1

It has been SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN (mmmm, gotta love that phrase) that green tea does aid weightloss!

As someone who has recently started to gain more weight than I ever have before (for no damn reason other than hormones... stupid hormones... getting old... grr) I figured I would put this to the test!

For the next fourteen days I will -attempt to- consume 6-7 cups (the scientifically determined amount from the study, which used extract in capsule form - but drinking tea is so much more pleasant) of green tea every day!!!


Tea of choice: Rose Congou Green from DavidsTea. Green tea from China with rosehips and rose petals.
Mostly because I have a TON of it (250 grams - no idea how that happened), but also because rosehips are super good for you and help with digestion!

I am going to make it cold in a big jug in the fridge for at home drinking, then take a bag to work every day (which I should get 2-4 cups out of) to drink hot. a little of each world.

My prediction: I will have to pee a lot... and might  lose some appearance of cellulite on my thighs/butt.


No before/after pictures until the end.

I will do a half way pint update next Friday!
Until then,

Happy steeping!
And wish me luck!

~K




Challenge begins tomorrow morning - AUGUST 14

Green Seduction

Oki Doki! Green Seduction from DavidsTea!

Let me tell you, I was NOT seduced by this tea. It smelled vaguely like pomegranates, if they weren't the freshest, and it was really quite bitter.

I brewed it as I would any green tea - a short steeping time and lower temperature, but it was still pretty blah and pretty bitter.

I think was it was missing was something to sweeten it, like some apples or something like that. Because it was just so... one noted and bitter.

Blaaaah. 3/10, would not do again.

-L

Red Velvet Cake

Red Velvet Cake from Davidstea was not one I expected to like to be honest.

But I really, really did. It smelled amazing right off the batt. Like cake batter, which for a tea saying it's cake, is a good sign.

I brewed it like a regular black tea, and it tasted almost exactly like it smelled. It just needed SLIGHTLY more sweetness, which could have been achieved by adding some vanilla agave (I can't find mine as I am packing up my room right now, and it's vanished among the disorganization. Hella ace idea to mass do reviews while moving!).

It scored a solid 7.5/10. Simply because it's a tea you'd need to be more in the mood for, and drinking hot tea on a hot day isn't always the most fun - and today is a hot day.

Would do again.

-L

Starbucks: Peach GreenTea Lemonade

I had a giftcard and some curiosity, so I thought I would give it a try!


My thoughts?
Pleasantly surprised.

The main flavour is actually green tea, which tastes like a pretty floral jasmine. And the peach and lemonade just mix with it super well.
I'm a slow drinker, but my "venti" was gone in the five minute drive home.

One downside? The tea tastes like it was slightly over-steeped (a bit bitter and burnt), but that is probably more of a random issue one would encounter depending on the barista who brewed that day.

I really like this drink.
The only reason it doesn't beat my number one cold drink (cool lime refresher) is because LIME!!!!
But it is a very strong second.


~K

Dragon Pearls

I'm not going to lie, I wasn't really in the mood for a really floral tea today. So I didn't enjoy Dragon Pearls by DavidsTea as much as I thought I would.

I brewed it as a green tea, and added only 8 pearls. I think next time I'll steep it longer, but put half as many pearls in.

If you love jasmine, you\ll adore this tea. Because it simply reeks of jasmine.

I enjoyed it, but in a more 'meh' sort of way. So I'll try it again another day, and then add an out of 10 rating, for now it's a massive ??/10.

-L

Electric Lemonade

Ingredients: Apple, green mate, apple pomace (pomace, citric acid), sweet blackberry leaves, blueberry, red currants, raspberry, strawberry, natural red currant, lemon and strawberry flavouring. 


First, I would like to say I made a huge mistake...
I thought, "Hey, I will make a whole jug of this so I can drink it in the morning for a nice boost!" not knowing it's strength.

I didn't make it strong enough.

You have to use about 50% more than you might for other teas, and REALLY let it steep.


Despite being weak, I like it.

It tastes like lemon and raspberry with mate.
It's good, I just need it to be way stronger.


Nothing special, but it's a really great addition to the boring DT mate collection. 

Buddha's Blend

I really enjoyed Buddha's Blend by DavidsTea, but not as much as I enjoy Three Wishes by DavidsTea (so long as it's not iced!).

They taste pretty similar, honestly. It's just a little less fruity, and little more like a green tea. So really, I have no complaints about this, save for maybe add something to amp up the fruit flavor???

#boringassreview

-L

(I took a picture but since I had to get a new phone because I broke my last one it somehow went missing)

Rooibos Chai

Okay I know what you're all thinking. I've reviewed this tea before as a sample!

Which is true. But I, in my silliness, did not prepare it as one should a chai tea. This time I did.

I used three full scoops of the loose leaf tea into a tea bag, plopped it into a double-boiler with milk, let it steep for quite a few minutes on medium. Added three sticks of honey (I would have preferred my agave, you need less of it, but the honey was on hand). Ran myself a nice bath, and then soaked for a bit with the lovely tea.

And man, is this lovely. If you find a regular chai to be too much, then this will be nice for you. It still has that chai flavor I personally love, but it's slightly more laid back and smooth.

10/10. Would steep again.

-L

Quangzhou Milk Oolong

Not gonna lie, I kinda don't like this tea. Like at all. Quangzhou Milk Oolong by DavidsTea is so blaaaahhh to me.

I steeped it as you would any oolong, did two flushes- even though the second flush was better, it wasn't as good as the Tea at Sea oolong I have. And just realized I've never reviewed it even though I adore it. That's going to have to happen!

The first flush was so blaaaah. I tasted basically no milk or honey, just some basic green tea flavors.

The second flush gave a bit more of the milky taste, but not by much.

3.5/10, no thanks on doing that again!

-L

Vanilla Matcha

Ingredients: Coconut nectar, matcha green tea, natural vanilla flavouring

I think that this is an excellent way to introduce someone gently in to the world of matcha.

It is incredibly mild; a very gentle flavour of matcha, sweetened slightly with some creamy hint of vanilla.
I was expecting something rather potent, in both the matcha and vanilla categories, but was pleasantly surprised.

The flavour is almost spot-on to matcha pocky!


I think that next time I will be using a little bit more powder so I can get more flavour.
It's a bit bland in a regular serving for someone who really enjoys regular matcha.


Short and sweet.
I was able to write a hot tea review because I woke up insanely early, so it is not yet blistering hot outside.
I've been sticking mostly to water the last two weeks.

I promise to try harder. I have some birthday money to spend on some o DT's new iced tea flavours.
I'm pretty excited for electric lemonade!

Happy Steeping,

~K

Mango Madness

This tea doesn't smell much like anything, honestly. I expected to be hit in the face by mangos, but it's kinda blah scent wise.

Honestly, taste wise this tea doesn't pack much of a punch either.

It's like if you put some lemon juice in a glass of water. And not even a lot of lemon juice. And I steeped this fucker strong. So, this tea isn't HORRIBLE, it just doesn't taste like much.

3/10, would not waste money on something that nearly tastes like nothing

-L

Queen of Tarts

This tea is a mate! Meaning, it's going to give me energy. Because fuck yeah stimulants in all natural forms.

I brewed this on the herbal temperature. Because why not am I right?

As for they taste...well...they didn't lie. It's pretty fucking tart. Like unless you specifically like tart things (You people who eat sour skittles as an example), you'll probably want something different. The flavors behind the tart are good, the tartness is just a major roadblock for me.

That being said, it's a very PRETTY tea. The tea itself is pink, and the leaf is pretty too
!

-L

Currant Affair

Okay so, to me, this tea smells a little gross.

And by gross I mean the currant scent mixed with the rooibos scent made a cat-piss-esque scent that is just driving me insane. So no matter what this tea tastes like, I'm just going to have a whole whopping memory of the scent.

And it does taste good. It tastes a lot like black currants, is nice and naturally sweet, and the cat piss smell is gradually going away.

So, if your nose isn't weird like mine, I'd say go for it! If it is, smell this tea before purchase.

-L

Raspberry Mojito

Apologies for my absence. I was recovering from some minor surgery, spending the last two weeks sleeping and recovering. Thank you for your patience.


Ingredients: Apples, raisins, hibiscus blossoms, carrot, beetroot, peppermint, lime, raspberries, rose petals, natural and artificial strawberry flavouring. 


I looooove mojitos.
And raspberries.

I was very excited to hear about this tea, and I am not disappointed.
I am having it iced.
But, if you like hot fruit teas, this would probably make for a nice twist to a hot peppermint tea.

Peppermint is definitely the most stand-out flavour in this tea, so you might want to have something to sweeten in up a bit if that isn't your thing. I tried adding some raspberry agave, which was excellent! But I like it on it's own as well.
But, while the mint flavour is strong, you can still taste the raspberry (and a little bit of that strawberry flavouring), plus the tiniest hint of lime. It could do with some more lime. ALWAYS MORE LIME

Today I am trying it made at DavidsTea, so the next time I make it I will be trying it a bit stronger.
Because I definitely bought myself some of this stuff, and will more than likely be going back for more.

Chris bought me a SodaStream as an early birthday present, so I can not wait to try this one as a pop.


I recommend that everyone at least pop in to their local DT when they are sampling it.
I am really enjoying it.


Happy Steeping,

~K

Bear Valley: Ghost's baby

She finally had her baby! And man oh man, he is going to be tall!

I've fallen deeply in love with him and if I had the ability, would adopt him ASAP.

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Donation (cheque, money order, paypal, and ATB cares  payment methods all available!)
You can also sponsor a horse monthly or through one time donations!
Charity Focus

Blueberry Jam

So you guys know that blueberry tea I reviewed earlier? The one my brother got me? Blueberry Jam tastes basically just like that.
Like...no jokes it's basically the loose leaf version twin. And the blueberry tea is cheaper I do believe. Just some food for thought. Or...tea for thought I guess.

I steeped it as if it was a black tea, just for giggles.

Overall, it's a good tea I can't complain about it. But for sake of ease, I'll still with the stuff my brother got me - I can always order more of it online.

-L

Here is the plan

As I'm sure people who have moved, and had to paint and do all that shit before putting all of their stuff in know, moving leaves you unable to get to any of your stuff.

So, I'm going to prepare 3 weeks worth of reviews for during the move (that is what I"m doing today!), and then pre-prepare the rest of the way until the move within the next few weeks. Then I can get packing with some of my tea supplies.

As it stands I am continuously being interrupted by something house related. Whether it is dealing with the bank, talking to the real estate agent, getting home insurance set up...the dentist.

We also have to think about if we are going to need movers, and if so who and for what day. Getting all the stuff for the stuff to do the stuff.

So yeah, slightly less chaos, but still pretty chaotic. So this week, and potentially next week, I'm going to be preparing a bunch of reviews. Hopefully it won't go into next week!

Wish me luck, and sanity.

-Laura

Please don't get mad at me

I'm flaking out. Again.

But my fiancee and I are in the process of buying a house, and I've been so stressed about everything that I just haven't remotely thought of reviewing a tea.

I'll be back at it ASAP.

-Laura

DavidsTea Tea-Pop! Strawberry Colada

StrawBerry Colada

Ingredients: Hibiscus, rosehip shells, apple, pineapple, coconut, strawberry, natural and artificial flavouring


Now, I have made my own tea pops, using gingerale... well, I have been doing it WRONG

DavidsTea uses a SodaStream, they carbonate the water that they use and use a little bit of agave to combat the bitterness of the carbonation.
THIS is how it is done. Seriously. I need a soda stream now.
The flavour of the tea is not compromised at all, and WAY less sugar.


I immediately bought some of this tea after tasting my tea-pop.
It's so fruity and sweet, and the coconut is just there enough to remind you of the "colada". The strawberry and pineapple are the defining flavours.
I really love this. More than Just Peachy? 

This ties with Just Peachy (which came back this year, YYAAAYYY) as favourite iced tea.


It was a lovely part to a nice, hot day out.
I recommended everyone go in to their local DavidsTea and try this as a teapop.
I never want to drink another regular pop again.


Happy Steeping/icing/...pop-ing? Carbonating? 
TEA POP!

~K 

White Peony

White Peony by DavidsTea. A tea a couldn't find on their website...so maybe it's another discontinued? Whoops?

It's a nice little white tea. Smooth drinking and slightly floral. Like there is nothing wrong with it, it wasn't even overly mild for me.

Drink on!

Huckleberry Tea

I fucking love huckleberries.

And I couldn't remember if I reviewed this tea before. But because I fucking love huckleberries idgaf.

It's a black tea, with huckleberries. Made in Montana, where the huckleberries taste fab (same with Idaho. Sorry BC your huckleberries aren't as good bro)

How does it taste? Great. Like black tea and huckleberries.

Fuck yeah

Sleepily yours
-L

Liebster Award

So, we were nominated for this award by one of our longtime readers, John B. He writes Tea in the Ancient World, go read it. I know this took along time but I, Laura, forgot all about it. I even forgot to tell Kayla because I DID AN OOPS.

This award is for new blogs with less than 200 followers. Mainly, it looks like a team building, blog sharing, tool for world domination through tea drinkers.

So, we'll both answer the questions  (some of our answers may be the same)and then make some for others! And because John wrote out the background, check his blog for the links to that!

Questions for Nominees: 

1. What is it about your blog subject that is so compelling?
   Laura: Us, by far, our stunning personalities make everything better.
   Kayla: I would have to agree with Laura. We aren't very technical and we just let our thoughts flow.
2. Favourite tea?
   Laura: Oolongs or Rooibos. Oolongs mainly on their second steep, and rooibos because they are yummy and such.
   Kayla: I love oolongs. Milk oolong is probably my favourite. Oh, and black jasmine pearls are my other go-to.
3. What's the furthest from 'home' you've ever travelled? 
   Laura: Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands
   Kayla: Hawaii and the Dominican Republic
4. What's one thing Thailand is famous for, other than food?
   Kayla: I don't know much about Thailand... but my guess is... tea? haha
   Laura: Thai massage?
5. Guess your bench press
   Kayla: I have a bad rotator cuff and intercostal muscle issues and carpal tunnel (I'm a hot mess)... I DO NOT bench press.
   Laura: Well, considering my left rotator cuff is buggered, I'm going to say "not much".
6. Do you believe in ghosts?
   Kayla: Yes... but not the kind of crap where those asshats on tv claim to be hunting ghosts.
   Laura: Basically what Kayla said. Ghosts, yes. Paranormal activities/ghost hunting shit? Uh no.
7. Are people still evolving?
   Laura: Science says yes. I'm going with science.
   Kayla: The biology of all life is ever-changing.
8. Why can't astrologers detect dark matter?
   Kayla: I'm not Neil deGrasse Tyson! Or a scientist of any kind, for that matter... go ask a scientist!
   Laura: Dammit Jim! I'm a massage therapist/tea blogger not a astrophysicist!
9. What historical person would you visit?
   Kayla: This is too hard... Oscar Wilde would be fun to have tea with, I suppose... Probably Jane Austen, though.
   Laura: Charlotte Bronte to discuss Jane Eyre with. 
10. What is one thing you do that almost no one else can do?
    Kayla: There is nothing that I can do that someone else somewhere in the world can not do better than I; that's life, not cynicism. Of people I know personally...? I'm good at writing fiction? Or, if we are being philosophical or some shit... BEING ME!! ;D
    Laura: My friends think I'm hilarious, everyone else (including family) does not see my comical merit. Except, I only manage to be funny when not trying to be. Humor on purpose doesn't suit me.
11. What did Buddha teach?
    Kayla: I am not familiar with Buddhism. Religion of any kind just isn't my bag...of tea HAHA- okay I'm done.
    Laura: Sorry bro, I have only a vague and probably stereotypical idea.

Now for OUR AMAZING QUESTIONS!

1. NONE
2. BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN HERE FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS
3. HAHA
4. #LauraIsLazyAsShitBro

Fancy Melance

Another tea from my bestie!

I'm not sure what type of tea this is, but it looked and smelled like a green tea. So that's how I steeped it.

It smells a little like honey. Overall, just a sweet smell. It looks like your average green tea would. Taste wise, it doesn't taste much of anything special. Like a sweet, very light, green. By now I'm sure you all know how I feel about a tea with a mild flavor - it just isn't my thing. But, a nice mild flavor is better than a bold disgusting flavor.

Taste wise, it scores about a 7.75 out of 10. Rebuy wise it scores about a 3.

Mild tea lovers, rejoice. You have one for you! Bold tea lovers, I wouldn't.

Nepal Black Tea : Organic

Organic Black Tea from Nepal
DavidsTea

This is going to be a pretty short review.

This tea is an incredibly delicious black. I steeped it for four minutes, and it is the perfect amount of time.
Very similar to an English breakfast tea... it's rich in flavour, but not over-bearing, and really smooth.
This is a black that should be in everyone's cupboard.


DavidsTea is donating all profits from their Nepal Black to the Red Cross until May 4th.
So pleases hurry.

I have a co-worker who is currently trapped in Nepal after visiting with some family. They are all currently living in a tent,, as their home is no longer structurally sound. Her family is without a home, and she has no way of getting home to Canada.

There are hundreds of stories like this, and worse.


To Donate

Red Cross:
ALL ELIGIBLE DONATIONS MADE BY MAY 25 TOWARDS RELIEF EFFORTS IN NEPAL WILL BE MATCHED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA.

Bear Valley

First things first, I'd like to say I'm having a bottle drive on May 30th!

Check here for more info.

Some Updates!

Bethie is doing fantastic! She actually trotted and almost sorta ran with the other horses in this fine weather! (There is a video on the facebook page)

Ghost, the balloon

Rosey had her foal! So adorable, the other horses were cheering her on. (A video of her baby getting bum scratches is on the facebook page)

Smudge, Voodoo, Quinten, Plume, Estelle and Rasta, have all been adopted this last month! Congrats to them, and thank you to their new parents!

Ghost still hasn't given birth. Even though she looks like a balloon. We're all amazingly curious as to who the father was (a draft?) or if there are maybe twins? Wish her luck!

Contact Us

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Donation (cheque, money order, paypal, and ATB cares  payment methods all available!)
You can also sponsor a horse monthly or through one time donations!
Charity Focus

Holy shit

So, I thought I had some stuff pre done. Turns out, I didn't. For two weeks.

I feel like such a twat.

Shit shit shit

I'll get reviewing

-L

Grand Cru Matcha + The Matcha Shaker

Matcha green tea from Nichio, Japan

Grand Cru is strong and creamy, it's an excellent matcha.
I can definitely say that matcha is something to take on slowly, it's powerful green tea flavours can be a hard thing to handle for those new to tea.
Matcha lattes are a good way to start.


The matcha shaker.

This wonderful travel mug is worth the $35 price tag, in my opinion.
It not only comes with an agitator for the matcha, but also an attachment for steeping regular tea!
The top of the mug also comes with a mesh filter for any clumps that might remain, but I did not have any problems with that.

Remember to always press the pressure release button on top so when you screw off the lid you don't have a tea-splosion. 

Tea steeper - Filter lip - Matcha agitator

Matcha Latte!

Pure delicious matcha, to the line

This mug is absolutely fantastic!

but! It can be a little difficult to get your hands on. They are very popular, and it is incredibly obvious why.

They call it the matcha shaker... what they should have called it is The Perfect Tea Mug.

I also like that it is clear. I like travel mugs where I can see my tea.

I have gushed enough about this mug...

 

Happy Steeping... or shaking!

~K

Bear Valley: Prince and Twenty

I'm afraid this is going to be another sad post.

A last month (once this post comes out), we lost three of our senior horses. Prince, Emmy, and Twenty.

Prince

Prince was 32 (so old!), and had been managing well. But, sadly, he had a severe colic episode, and had to be put to sleep. He was truly a prince in his life and always would humor Beth in all of her 3 year old antics! He will be missed, as will his buddy scratches. He passed on March 19th.

Twenty

Twenty had had arthritis pretty badly, but was managing well with lots of love from volunteers. But sadly, he developed an abscess on one of his feet. On some horses, this can be fixed with time and treatment, but the older a horse gets, the harder it is. And with all of the arthritis Twenty had, it would have been far too painful. He was one of the Bear Valley's first rescues. He was put to sleep March 12th.

Emmy

Emmy was also put to sleep on March 12th with Twenty. I personally don't know as much about Emmy, just that her and Twenty were close friends.

Horses are herd animals. The seniors form their own small herd and are close to each other. It is always very hard for them to handle the passing of a friend, let alone 3. Right now the senior herd are all feeling the sting of this loss.


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Lemon Tart

Another tea from my bestie Katie!

Lemon tart!

I've been doing a lot of volunteer work and house hunting stuff, so I've been hella busy!
This black tea pleasing. But it is also lacking.

It is pleasing because it is smooth and not bitter, which is fantastic for a black tea.

It is lacking in the whole "lemon tart" aspect. I taste no lemon. I taste no tart.

That being said, if would taste FANTASTIC with a lemon tart.

Hella

Apricot Chai

According to the sample bag, I really should be able to taste the apricot. SO I WAS REALLY EXCITED AFTER I SMELLED IT AND IT SMELLED FAB. I got this from Tea Desire.

It tastes dry and bland.

No fruity-ness, no sweetness, just kinda cinnamon-y and dusty and dry.

NOPE. NOT GOOD. DISLIKE. 0/10.

-L

Gold Rush

Ingredients: Organic: mulberries, coconut, white Silver Needle tea. With natural and organic flavouring

My brother has been trying to get me to try this tea for at least a year now. I haven't because 1. It has coconut, I am so sick a DT teas with coconut, and 2. It isn't very cheap

So, he gave me enough to make myself a cup so I could see why he likes it so much.


I am pleasantly surprised.

While I have never tried a mulberry before and never really heard anything about them besides that silly ice-cream truck song... I could not believe that they taste like!
Caramel!

This fruit and coconut tea tastes like a light and creamy caramel.
It's the weirdest thing... but I actually really enjoyed drinking this tea.
It's delicious! And organic!
Plus, it's a DT staple, so I don't see it going away any time soon.

I would recommend everyone give this tea a chance. Unless you're allergic to coconut, that is....



Happy Steeping,

~K

Bear Valley: Winky

This story is not a happy one. But, I needed to feature it, because working with a rescue doesn't always have happy tales to tell.

We got Winky in January, with two other mini-donkeys. The three were good friends and were very nice as well.
Winky came to us foundered and with a sinus infection. When a horse or donkey founder, their feet are affected and it can cause a decline in their general health as well.



One always hopes that, when an animal comes in sick that they can and will get better. Winky never did. On February 20th, he only ended up getting worse, and by February 21st, he had passed away.

He passed away in the warmth of the barn, and with his two best friends by his side. So he did have peace in the end, and died in safety and with dignity.

Please help with the continued care of animals like Winky, and his friends.

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Morning Ginger

Another tea from Katie!

Morning Ginger. Which I'm reviewing because, yet again, I'm sick.

Now I don't know all of the ingredients, so, I'm just guessing off of what I COULD see. There was fennel, lemon grass, chamomile, and ginger.

Overall, this tea was actually good. Not too heavy on the ginger, and nice and soothing as well. I would have liked a little something to add some sweetness or spice to it. I just can't place WHAT.

Thumbs up mother fuckers.

After 7

I got this tea from Katie, and it's called After 7. I have no idea where it's from or what type of tea it is. It looks and smells like a rooibos, but we'll let my mouth decide.

Well, it tastes like a rooibos, with a hint of peppermint.

It's nice, it's refreshing, it would taste good cold as well!

It's good, and I mean, it's sort of after 7...am.

:D

-Laura

White Nectarine

Ingredients: Apricot, white tea, blackberry leaves, safflowers, natural nectarine flavouring.


Before I being, I would like to take a moment to bitch about something that DavidsTea has been doing quite often... LYING! Gr!
I am so sick of a tea being named a certain thing -this one for example, White Nectarine- and then that ingredient is only a flavouring and not the actual fruit -White Nectarine's featured fruit is apricots. WHAT?! 
Their Key Lime tea did the same thing, which made me so angry I still haven't tried it.
DavidsTea, please! Stop with the flavouring and just use the ACTUAL FRUIT.


Let's begin.

I love nectarines. I will choose them a thousand times over peaches, or nearly any other fruit for a snack. I suppose it is safe to say that they are my favourite fruit. But it was not only this that made me excited to try this tea, it was the smell! By the gods, does this tea every smell beautiful!
My brother was amazing and bought this for me because I was short on cash and was so in love with the smell.

Such a gorgeous and robust flavour. While it definitely tastes more of apricots than nectarines, it is love at first sip.
This just might be my new favourite fruit tea.

The blackberry leaves blend so nicely with the apricot, and while the white tea is slightly hidden in the background, it still adds to the flavour very nicely.
Incredibly smooth and fruity without being intrusive on the natural, leafy flavours.

Fantastic!!
Everyone, this tea. This tea!

Aaron!! You are the BEST!!


Happy Steeping,
Get your butts to DavidsTea and get yourself some of this beauty before it is all gone!

~K

Bear Valley Rescue: Abby

Abby Jan 23/15

Abby is a pretty little lady! And I do mean fairly little. She only measures 14 hands! (That's about 4.7 feet at the shoulders). She's not that old either, only about 11!
Even though she was rescued from a hoarding situation in 2008, she's friendly. She came to the rescue pregnant! Her baby, River, was a little mule.

She also is missing the tips of her ears, we believe that that happened because of frostbite.

She currently has no one sponsoring her.



Contact Bear Valley!

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payment methods all available!)
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Whomp I got busy

Well...I'm sorry this is embarrassing.

I had teas planned. I had GOALS.

Then I got too busy and too demotivated due to adult things to actually do them.

I'll be back in action next week.

-L

Marketplace Spice

I decided to have a beautiful rooibos that I got for Christmas from my bff Katie.

It was smooth and just the right level of spicy and creamy. Adding a touch of cream would have made it 1000% perfect.

Like omg I have no words

Sorry this is so short but I 100% forgot

Lots of love,

L

Chanakara Chakra Tea - Light blue - Vanilla Honeybush

From the Chanakara Chakra tea collection.

Ingredients: Organic honeybush, orange peel, calendula petals, natural flavor of vanilla honey, safflower

This is a really delicious rooibos-tasting tea. You can really taste all of the flavours: orange, vanilla, honey... but it does not cover the tea itself.

I am quite the fan of this one. And it really helps my sore throat at the moment.


I will be using the next six weeks of posts to cover the rest of the Chakra teas


Happy Steeping,

~K

Bear Valley Rescue: Phoebe

Phoebe is a grey mare who is about 10 years old this year! She came to Bear Valley as part of a 2010 SPCA seizure of 26 horses. When this pretty little Arab came in, she was pregnant but sadly, in February 2011 she lost her foal.
She can be quite nervous, so while she is halter-broke, she is not foot-broke (which means).
A few years ago, in 2012, she hurt her eye, but the vision was able to be saved thanks to treatment.

Cream Caramel

This is a green tea blend from Tea Desire. Cream Caramel!

I haven't tried it before this review, so everything is up in the air at the moment. When I opened the bag I smelled caramel, but it was almost overpowered by the green tea's scent. Which concerns me greatly.

My love for caramel must be greatly known far across the world by now (here's looking at you all of our Russian viewers!)

This just in. It tastes really good.

Light and caramelly and yummmm

I'm going to go drink it all because of reasons

-L

Kayla's Magical Cold-Busting Mess of Craziness (or: The Ass-Kicker)

So, this week Chris caught a crazy nasty cold. I have never seen him cough so much and look so miserable. I knew what had to be done... tea must be made.

Instead of just making him a regular cup of Cold 911 from DavidsTea, I had to be all crazy and take it about six steps further. This is what I did

Mostly equal parts, all from DavidsTea:

• Cold 911
• Nettle leaf (no longer sold, could replace with Liquorice Twist)
• Detox
• Chamomile
• Peppermint (for flavour)

(Combined Ingredients: Peppermint, apple, juniper berries, nettle leaf, mulberry leaf, rooibos, sencha green tea, lemongrass, ginger, ginkgo.With natural eucalyptus, orange, and lemon flavouring)

AND it's all organic!

Add a tsp (or more, I won't judge) of honey.

It just tastes like a sweet, medicinal peppermint. 

Well, I have been informed that, thanks to three large mugs of my madness tea, Chris is free from his sore throat symptoms and feeling much better!
And for someone who refuses to drink or try tea (even when he enjoys the smell), this is a great victory for tea. He even ASKED for some at one point.

There you have it. The Ass-Kicker.
Well, the the kicker of the asses of colds.... yes.

Matcha Matsu...

...Banana smilkshake/ice cream!
 This shit is bananas, B.A.N.A N.A.S.

I'm not kidding it's amazingly good and I love it. Which is why it's the last of my love month reviews. Because I am literally in love with this.

I froze two bananas (which for one person is too much if you just want to make a milkshake, if you want left overs for ice cream or have two people or second helpings, then it is perfect). Once frozen (but not frozen like a brick), I plopped them in the food processor (sorry blender, ya'll just can't handle frozen bananas).
Once in the processor, I pulsed them until it was pre-puree stage. Then I added in my milk and blended until smooth. Start off with a small amount of milk and slowly add more.
After it was smooth, I added in some matcha. For me, I added about a table-spoon. But like with the milk, start slow and add in until you like the flavor.

Once I got it to the consistency I wanted (basically a milkshake), I simply poured and drank.

And don't worry about it melting, because the more it melts, the more smooth and silky it gets. Just make sure to drink it before it's warm, because warm probably wouldn't be the best.

As for the ice cream, it tasted just as amazing.

Make this. Drink this. Turn it into an ice cream and eat this.

Happy creating,

L

Bear Valley Feature Horse: Ghost

This is Ghost in 2005. Such a beauty!
Note, she is not pregnant

Ghost is a horse near and dear to my heart. I sponsor her as much as possible (I sadly can't do a monthly sponsor due to finances). The first time I saw her, it was love. Seeing her before and after pictures, and her story just solidified it.

Ghost is about 15 years old (which isn't all that old for a horse! They can live until over 30!). She was originally rescued in 2005 from a feedlot (yes, horses are sold for slaughter in Alberta. For meat. Meat to be sold to eat in other countries. It is not legal to sell horse meat in Canada to Canadians), and then two years later she was adopted. You may be wondering, why, if she was adopted out 8 years ago is she back with Bear Valley now?

This is Ghost January 2015. She's pregnant.

Assholes. That's why.

She was sold by her adoptive owner, and she has, in her relatively short life, passed hands SEVEN TIMES, and, since being adopted out, been bred multiple times. Let me fill you in on some of Bear Valley's adoption rules.

Unless written consent is given by Bear Valley Rescue, mares are adopted or fostered on the condition that they not be bred. Colts are released on the condition they must be gelded as soon as possible and not be used for breeding. 

Please note that if ownership of the horse is transferred, these conditions must follow the horse to its new home.

Horses adopted or fostered from Bear Valley Rescue are released on the condition that they never be sold at auction or for slaughter.

Bear Valley also is always open to taking back a horse they adopted out, if it's adoptive owners can no longer care for it properly anymore.

She was bred without permission, the conditions of ownership managed to be ignored. Currently, she is going to remain a permanent residence of the rescue. 

She is currently expecting a foal, probably sometime in April 2015. 

Bear Valley Contact Information:

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You can also sponsor a horse monthly or through one time donations!
Charity Focus