I’m sure I’ve had a silver needle before, but I don’t have any recollection of it.

I brewed it for 2 min’s at 175 degrees. After the allotted time brewing the coloring as surprisingly fair. The lightest hint of gold, it was almost barely there. Holding it up to the light, there was a warm glow, but I had to double check that I had prepared it properly and I had.

The leaves dry, are a little fuzzy with a faint silvery green in color. When brewed they resemble teeny tiny little pea pods, cute actually. The aroma right from the package is also faint, you have to crush a little of the leaves to release their oils and fragrance.

I rarely add anything to my tea, unless it’s a black and this was no exception. I wanted to taste all notes of the flavor, but there was very little there. It left me feeling like I simply drank a mug of hot water. If I were looking for a warm drink with out the rich tannins of a black tea, I may reach for this and I would never turn it down, however, it was forgettable. I wanted it to be a little more, I had higher expectations, but this is a quiet, tranquil tea. You just have to accept that.

You can purchase the Silver Needle – Bai Hao Yin Zhen directly from the Canton Tea Co. website. Save 15% right now when you use the code LEAF at checkout!

We all have a ton of different travel coffee mugs in our cupboards, each bought with certain standard expectations.  Short ones, fat ones, tall ones, double walled, you name it.   They usually work ok.  Good for the commute to work, keeping your morning coffee warm for an hour or so. They aren’t truly meant for sitting for longer periods or for really cold activities.

I have spent a lot of money on travel mugs that make big promises and rarely deliver, until now.  My wonderful husband (actually my 2 little boys who know my love of all things tea) bought me 2 of these for Christmas this year and they are by far my favorite useful gift.

I decided to do a little experiment to see just how long the liquid stays warm for.  I boiled water, put in white tea, positioned the strainer and placed both tops on it.   I used the bag it comes in as well.  That was 4:10 in the afternoon.  I tested the tea at 11pm and it was still 120 degree’s, more then warm enough, I left it in the tea in the cup for the night and tested it again in the morning and to my complete surprise, it was still 95 degrees.   That was 16 hours and it was still warm, seriously!  I’ve never come across any other travel mug that has come close to this.

It is now a staple for my daily tea enjoyment, regardless if I am home all day or out and about traveling.    When I know I am going out all day, I will make both travel mug’s and simply tighten the lid on the 2nd to enjoy it much later in the day, tasting as if I had just made it.  I now  get to savor my tea, all warm and comforting all day long!

You can purchase the JOEmo XL Tea Travel Mug directly from the TeaFrog website.

On the same trip to Banff, (see this previous post on the Banff Tea Company’s French Blend) I found this cute little teapot. I was resistant to buy yet another tea pot, after all how many does one person really need to own! We’ll this one I was glad I picked up.

I like to make a small pot for myself, instead of brewing directly in the cup every time. The bright, cheery colors caught my eye and I picked up a pretty green with a white etching. It’s dishwasher safe and included the metal tea basket for brewing any one of your loose tea choices. It’s a one-cup pot, but makes about a cup and a half. Another thing I love about this particular pot is that when pouring, it doesn’t drip back down the spout. This would make a perfect gift; it was under $25.00, so very reasonably priced.

You can purchase HuesNBrews i-pot (sunflower) from the Amazon website (this is NOT an affiliate link!).

On a recent trip to Banff, we passed this quaint little tea store. There was no resisting, you just never know what you are going to find, and I wasn’t disappointed. They offered a whole wall of teas from Maple to Almond and even an ice wine tea. I was as usual, drawn to the black tea’s and came across a flavor called – French Blend. It has such a comforting, warm aroma. The dry tealeaves have a beautiful rich earth color with hints of lilac, jasmine and cornflowers.

I brewed a tbsp for 3 minutes at 180 degrees and it made a perfect cup. I always add a little milk to my black teas and this one was no different. Be careful you don’t brew too long; it can get quite bitter, as a lot of black teas do.

After trying it and enjoying, I figured I would have to make the 100g bag last as long as possible (either that or convince my mother to give me back the bag I bought for her) but was very pleased to find that the Banff Tea Company has a web site where I can order it again. Nothing worse then finding something you love, and realizing there’s no way to get it again, once you are home from your trip. I would give this flavor a solid 9/10 and will be ordering again soon!

You can purchase Banff Tea Company French Blend directly from their website.

I’ve decided over the last little while I really have to expand my tastes for white teas. I’ve never been a huge fan of herbal teas, most of them upsetting my stomach slightly, but the whites tend to be different. Not as strong, or medicinal, more soothing and refreshing, this one delivers.

First let me say that I love Tea Forte. There is something about the packaging that truly appeals to me, like little presents wrapped in silk. The triangular shape tea bags are unlike any other tea on the market that I am aware of. Could be that the shape maximizes the brewing process or it’s simply a marketing genius, either way, I like it. At the top of the triangle is a little wired leaf that allows you to neatly hang the tea bag on the side of your mug, eliminating the need for a spoon.

I brewed this particular bag 3 times, each time at 180 degrees for approx. 4 minutes. It has a wonderful aroma. The sweetness of pear with a slight undertone of ginger. It was perfect timing for a tasting of this flavor as I had a little upset tummy from thanksgiving festivities and ginger has soothing properties. Surprisingly the first cup was very sweet, far too sweet for my liking. I add nothing to my white teas, preferring to savor the full flavor. It wasn’t until the 3rd brewing did I really begin to enjoy this one, the sweetness drastically abating. This would make an excellent iced tea on a hot summer day, and once we are back in summer months, I will give that a try. I think the reason I gave this particular tea 3 chances is simply because Tea Forte is a favorite of mine, but I have to say, this isn’t a tea that will have space on my shelf. I’ve given it a 6.5/10.

You can purchase Tea forte white ginger pear directly from their website.

I do believe I have just found it!! I didn’t think it could be done, I was skeptical at best, but I went in with an open mind and I have been rewarded. Yes I am talking tea. I drink a lot of it and all different types. Some gourmet, other’s my daughter and I refer lovingly to as ‘crap tea’. That’s the stuff you pick up at drive through to warm your hands and thaw your toes in a hurry.

Teas with a fruit essence has never really been my thing, white tea’s I have tried, but usually go back to an old standard black, Earl Grey Special from Tea Frog being my first choice.

In becoming a reviewer of tea, I have been able to open my world and palate to a whole other experience.

First let me say I love the packaging, well not the packaging per se, but more the design of the tea bag itself. I know, it doesn’t REALLY matter, but to me I notice stuff like this. The bag looks as if it’s been hand stitched in a perfect little pillow form. The stitching extending long enough to easily dunk and retrieve the bag, but the best part of it has to be the little label on the end of the string. A little label attached to the bag with all the necessary information on brewing time, type of tea and their website with phone number. It’s a small thing, but it made an impact on me.

The best part about this tea is I truly enjoyed each cup, and I brewed the same bag 5 times, the final brewing I left it in the cup to extract the last hint of flavor. There was a very subtle hint of the fruit, melons and peaches, enough to be made aware of the flavor, not overwhelmed by it. I couldn’t detect any bitter aftertaste. As per my usual I drank it without any additions to it and savored each sip. I could imagine drinking it over ice with a splash of lemon & sugar on a hot day, or in my to-go travel mug on my way to the toboggan hill this winter. I have to give this one a strong 8.5/10 and unless you detest the aroma of peach, I am confident you would enjoy this light addition to your tea drinking choices.

You can purchase Mighty Leaf White Orchard directly from their website.

I love the look of this tea with it’s definite bits of floral, lilac and orange peel. The pale greens and yellows accented by hints of mauve and black. This is a tea I consider a standard in my tea cupboard and one I reach for often when a standard black just isn’t what I am looking for. Steeped for 3 minutes at 180, this has a mild, subtle fragrance, with definite citrus tone, orange and lemons. It’s a loose tea, so a tablespoon in your infuser is perfect. I often use the same leaves to brew 3 – 4 times with the same citrus undertones; they simply get lighter with each additional brewing.

The flavor is soft, comforting, with the whisper of citrus aftertaste and none of the chalkiness you can sometimes encounter. There are many reasons I drink tea, and since I’m Canadian, often it’s for warmth. This is a perfect warming up choice, which I think deserves a strong 8 / 10.

You can purchase Rishi Tea Citron Oolong directly from their website.

There are a ton of health aspects associated with Green tea. I’ve always had a hard time finding a good green tea that doesn’t leave my mouth with a strange woodsy aftertaste. I decided to try this particular tea 2 different ways and exactly as it’s recommended to brew. 180 degrees for 3 minutes. The first cup was brewed with no additions and the 2nd I added a teaspoon of honey. I never add honey to tea, but decided to see the difference. I’m not a fan of sweet hot tea but I have to say it was this was a pleasant surprise. The first unadulterated cup had a nice fragrance, an earthy, mossy smell I attribute to green teas but not over powering. I would drink if served to me, but would choose something else given the choice.

The second cup with the addition of honey was a soothing refreshing experience. The small bit of honey took away some of the woodsy flavor without adding a ton of sweet to it, almost neutralizing the earthy aftertaste without compromising the actual integrity of the tea. There was a hint of honey aftertaste that was much preferable to the cup without the honey. This was a cup I would happily make for myself after a long cold winters day or as a beginning to one.

You can purchase Adagio Xu Ya Ballad directly from their website.