In search of holiday teas

Christmas won't be Christmas without any Celestial Seasonings holiday teas.

When my local Bulk Barn store didn't get the Celestial Seasonings holiday teas this year, I scoured the internet to find a Canadian company that sold them online. 

In September (!), I bought one (1) box of Candy Cane Lane at Well.ca. 

Then last month, I found Sugar Plum Spice, Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride, and Candy Cane Lane at London Drugs. I was worried that they'd sell out so I paid full price ($4.49 CDN - NO REGRETS!), and purchased two (2) boxes each to maximize the shipping costs. They're currently on sale: $3.49 CDN each or Buy 2 or more for $3 each.

I'm now well-stocked on these classic holiday teas for two (2) Christmas seasons!

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I've been preparing for the looooong pandemic winter by stocking up on teas from my favourite local tea companies. I'll be sharing these teas throughout the holiday and winter season.

Dessert By Deb specializes in dessert-themed teas. My friend Deb recently released her Holiday Cookie Party Collection, as well as some super cute tea tins and gift sets. 

If you subscribe to her weekly e-newsletters, you'll receive promo offers and deals (e.g., free shipping with $50 purchase + bonus goodies). I can't wait to receive my sticker-adorned package!

Geek + Tea specializes in geeky and fandom teas. Aly grows and blends the organic teas on her herb and flower farm called Holly Frost Farm.

Monarch Tea Co.'s holiday tea line includes teas, tea-infused candles, gift sets, and a cozy crew neck sweater.

T by Daniel recently released a limited edition luxury teabag collection. The black and gold tea canisters are beautiful and the pyramid sachets are 100% biodegradable. I'm excited to try the new teas, and restock on a fave--the Almond Cookie Crumble black tea.

Three of the teabags sold out quickly on T by Daniel's website, but you can still get them on Well.ca (which offers free shipping with $35+ purchase).

Tea Amo has gifts for all tea lovers: teas, teapots, teacups, infusers, treats, earrings, and tea-infused perfume oil. If you're lucky enough to live in the Greater Hamilton Area, Heather and Marian will hand deliver At Home Tea Afternoon Boxes to your house!

Tea at the White House (TWH) offers teas (loose or tea bags), teawares, teapot masks, tea-inspired candles, and treats (e.g., Buckingham Palace Collection biscuits). 

TWH recently won the well-deserved Readers' Choice Platinum Award for: Atmosphere, Desserts, Business that Gives Back to the Community, and Grocery Pick-up and Delivery.

TWH's tearoom is currently closed, but the tea shop is opened for retail sales with extended holiday hours (11 am to 7 pm, Friday & Saturday).

 

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This post is not sponsored. I work hard for my money and like to support small tea businesses that offer unique and delicious teas, and exceptional customer service!

Cozy tea-inspired candles

We're heading into the dark days of winter. Fortunately, I'm well equipped with my cache of cozy tea-inspired candles which I've accumulated over the last several years!

Bath and Body Works candles (left to right): London Calling (smells like lemon tea!); White Tea & Ginger; and Blackberry Tea Leaf (doesn't really smell like tea, but the bear holding a cup is cute!).

Yankee Candle's White Tea

Clintons' Green Tea & Bergamot tinned candle

 

Tea at the White House: Cream Earl Grey and Scones & Jam candles

Crown Point tea-infused candles: Monarch Tea Co.'s Cream Earl Grey and Chai.

  

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” - St. Francis Of Assisi

Fall Teas: Apples, chais, cinnamon buns, and more!

I've been drinking up my fall teas!

Apple Teas: 

Geek+Tea's One Apple a Day Keeps the Dark Lord Away is an apple black chai (left); Dessert by Deb's Cranberry Crabapple Jam herbal tea (right).

DavidsTea's caffeine-free chais: 

Butterscotch rooibos chai (left) and Coco Mango Chai fruit infusion (right).

Cinnamon bun-inspired teas: 

Dessert by Deb's Caramel Apple Cinnamon Bun black tea (left); DavidsTea's Cinnamon Bun Chai (right).

 

 

Some unique dessert teas: 

 

Dessert by Deb's Hojicha (roasted green tea) Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding (left); DavidsTea's Sweet Potato Pie black tea (right).

 

 

In a few weeks, I'll be transitioning to the holiday teas!

Teas in my collection that I will never drink

I cannot tell a lie: I've already started buying holiday teas! 

These holiday teas will be featured in upcoming posts.

Since I didn't stick to my tea buying freeze in October, it's a good thing that I sipped down a lot of teas that month!

Oldest (2018): Spiced Chai Tea by Crabtree & Evelyn

Newest (Oct 2020): Pumpkin Spice Rooibos by Clearview Tea Co.

 

There are some teas in my collection that I'll never open...

I will never drink these Twinings Teas because they were signed by Stephen Twining! He was in town in 2016 to promote the launch of the Twinings Large Tea Leaf Discovery Collection!

Stephen Twining is a 10th generation Twining who has worked in the family business for over 30 years!

 

 

A few years ago, my aunt gave me the Ahmad Tea Britannic Collection which commemorated the birth of Prince George in 2013. The "Best Before" date is 2015 so the teas are wayyyyyy past their prime. The British-themed tins are super cute though!

Do you have "collectible teas" in your stash?

Tea Hauls: DavidsTea

I'm fortunate to still have a DavidsTea store within a 30-minute drive from me, but I'll continue to shop online until I feel comfortable stepping inside a store again. These multiple tea hauls were part of my September tea shopping sprees.

ORDER #1: I used my free rewards towards the pricey ($22.98/50g) Organic Gyokuro Yamashiro, a green tea from Japan; while the tote was a free gift with any purchase. 

I've been stalking the mini tumbler for a while and finally pulled the trigger. I stocked up on the tea-infused lip balms in preparation for the winter season. 

I'm not a huge fan of floral teas, but I bought the Fresh & Floral Bliss Teas set (on sale!) because I wanted the purple spoon. 

To meet the minimum free shipping threshold, I tossed in the Easter eggs which contained samples of S'Mores Chai Pu-Erh and Chocolate Macaron Black Tea.

ORDER #2: I ordered some fall teas: Sweet Potato Pie black tea and Pumpkin Creme Brulee herbal infusions.

I also took advantage of the sale on tropical tea bundles (for next spring/summer!): Playa Peach and Tropic Tango herbal infusions; Bahama Mama and Lychee Bellini black teas.

 

ORDER #3: DavidsTea just wouldn't stop releasing new fall teas: Butterscotch Rooibos; Salted Caramel and Cinnamon Bun Chai Oolongs. How could I resist?

I enjoyed Sweet Potato Pie black tea so much that I ordered another 50g. I used my free rewards towards another pricey tea ($24.98/50g): Phoenix Oolong.

I also bought 2 "last chance" teas: Kashmiri Chai green tea and Coco Mango Chai herbal infusions.

My order also came with 2 free samples: The Buzz and Buddha's Blend (I've already tried both previously).

And yes, I totally bought this sampler of Sweet Tart because of the adorable purple heart tin.

Pink teacups and teapots for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

Sandi's (Rose Chintz Cottage) past pink tea time parties have inspired me to pull out my pink teacups and teapots to raise awareness and recognize those who have been affected by breast cancer.

 

 

 

 

Karen's Cottage and Castle did two amazing posts for Breast Cancer Awareness:

Plenty of Pink Teapots (2014)

Plenty of Pink Teacups (2013)

 

For more info on breast cancer:

National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

Canadian Cancer Society

American Cancer Society 

Pumpkin teas in October

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends!

Every tea company offers their own version of a pumpkin spice tea. Because I'm SUPER picky about my pumpkin teas, I scrutinize the ingredients to confirm that the blend actually includes real pumpkin pieces, and not just the spices for pumpkins.

I managed to restrain myself so I only have six (6) pumpkin blends in my tea collection!

Pumpkin Tea #1: Monarch Tea Co.'s Pumpkin Spice black tea is a classic pumpkin spice blend with nutty undertones. 

 

 

Pumpkin Tea #2: Monarch Tea Co.'s Pumpkin Cream black tea has a sweet taste because it includes real maple syrup!

 

Pumpkin Tea #3 (photos taken in 2019): Geek+Tea's Pumpkin Juice Chai is a black tea with a nice balance of vanilla and spices (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, clove, allspice). I love this tea so much that I stocked up on this back in spring!

Pumpkin Tea #4: DavidsTea's Pumpkin Crème Brûlée intrigued me because: 1) it was a herbal infusion, and 2) it was a rare pumpkin blend that was not spiced! I was happy that I found a caffeine-free pumpkin blend that wasn't a rooibos.

Pumpkin Tea #5: Clearview Tea Co.'s tasty Pumpkin Spice Rooibos was a free sample.

Pumpkin Tea #6: Dessert by Deb's Pumpkin Pie Tart green tea is the only tea in my stash that doesn't contain real pumpkins. This blend actually contains apple so it tasted more like an apple cinnamon tea.

What's your favourite pumpkin tea?