I’ve had a really brutal cold this week. Cancelled all my meetings. Stayed home, and drank gallons of David’s Tea. Gallons. I am pretty certain I would not have survived without his teas. If I had, it would not have been a pretty sight. David’s Teas saved me this week. Seriously.
To be honest, I am not what you would call a tea connoisseur. I love Marks and Spencer Gold Tea, and fill my suitcase whenever I get over to the UK. At work I had a team tea pot and we would try to have M&S tea and hob nobs a couple of afternoons a week. We got a lot of odd looks, being a corporate environment and all, but it was good bonding time, over a nice cup of tea. Herbal teas, however, have always been a mystery to me. I love the idea of them. They sound so wonderful, but taste, like……water….or even worse, medicine. Yuck.
Late last fall, strictly out of curiosity, I stopped into David’s Teas in Bloor West Village. I had no intention of buying a single leaf. The shop is super cool – one entire wall lined with large tins of teas with intriguing names – and friendly staff offering a sniff of this tea or that. Forever Nuts. Goji Pop. Countess of Seville. All of them more beautiful than the next – all smelling simply divine. But I really, really wanted them to actually taste divine.
I came home with Organic Creme Brulee and Coco Chai Rooibos. And a little organic Agave nectar. And a nifty loose tea strainer. And directions. Strict instructions. I normally don’t follow instructions very well, my husband can attest to that. This time though, I followed the rules. I measured the tea. I set the timer for steeping. I allowed the water to cool slightly. It was a lot of work – I’m not gonna lie. But I was rewarded. Rewarded with an amazing comforting cuppa, absolutely loaded with flavour.
I was hooked. Calorie free, many caffeine free – what could be better when curled up on the couch watching TV? Soon, I started swinging by David’s whenever I could. I was buying tea for friends. I was brewing cups, even pots frequently throughout the day. Each unique combination has such wonderful flavours that deliver – and the finish is so clean. Cameron had to stage a brief intervention when my tin collection surpassed nine varieties. I couldn’t help myself. I started hiding the tins.
Spring helped me with my addiction for David’s brews, when evenings on the couch were replaced with long walks, and maybe a G&T in the backyard vs. a cup of warm tea. But by summer, my old habits resurfaced. You see….David’s Teas are AMAZING iced! Jessie’s Tea with lavender, rooibos and a hint of coconut – so refreshing. Happy Kombucha – fermented tea laced with mango, pineapple and safflowers, transformed the cottage dock into a tropical getaway. The kids even got in on the brewing action – once I told them they could drink these sugar free treats with abandon.
Here we are back in the season of warm fires, crunching leaves and stuffy noses. Perfect tea weather. As soon as my sniffles hit, I started a brewing frenzy – having recently stocked up on The Glow – rooibos, rosehips, rose petals, oat straw and nettle leaf – I just felt better smelling it. I snubbed chicken noodle soup, Halls, and Neo-Citron – I had The Glow on my side.
Disaster struck mid-week. I had to make an emergency run to David’s – I was getting dangerously low on tea. Crazy bed-head, pj’s on under my coat, tissues falling out of my pockets and bright red nose – I must have looked like some sort of sick, desperate, herbal tea junkie….which….I guess….I was. Or maybe is. The girl sized me up and offered me Mulberry Magic. The label reads: “Soothing and smoothing. Wanna be happy, friendly, thin and gorgeous? Here’s your tea.” Umm…YES!???! Maybe she was trying to tell me something? Who cares. The tea is amazing – and I am now happy AND friendly – 2/4 ain’t bad. Maybe I need to brew a few more pots to achieve thin and gorgeous. The good news is I almost feel well enough to go back to David’s – they just got their new seasonal teas in and I need to try Elf Help.
Check out their site – there’s so much great info…and then go load up on David’s Tea!
