Summer Teas: Melons and Mangoes Edition

I'm mad over melon and mango teas during these sizzling summer days!

 

Left: Monarch Tea Co.'s Summer Fling is a wonderful watermelon oolong.

Right: Davidstea's Melonade is a juicy green tea blend of melon and lemon.

 

DavidsTea has the best melon fruit infusions!

Left to Right: Goji Pop, Watermelon Mint, and Melon Drop (one of my fave summer teas).

 

I've also been enjoyed these cold-brewed mango herbal teas.

Left: DavidsTea's Mango Fruit Punch

Right: Monarch Tea Co.'s Mango Love (top); DavidsTea's Mango No. 5 rooibos (bottom)

Top (L-R): Teamancy's Spicy Mango green tea; DavidsTea's Mango Boost green tea

Bottom (L-R): Dessert by Deb's Lychee Mango Mochi green tea; Clearview Tea Co.'s Summerhill (a mango black tea)

Dollarama and Dollar Tree tea-themed hauls

One of the first things I did after I was fully vaccinated was hit my local dollar stores to buy things that I did not need!

 

 

I first saw this enamel coated mug ($3 CDN) at Dollarama back in 2017(!) I left it behind because I already had too many mugs at home. These garden-themed mugs return every spring, but I always resisted. Back in March 2020, I was hemming and hawing over finally getting one and then we all know what happened...

 

When I spotted the "Tea Tastes Better Outdoors" mug on the shelf last month, I couldn't grab it fast enough!

 

True story: after this outdoor photo shoot, I found a small bug inside the mug. Next time, I'll use the cup lid that a friend gave me.

 

 

Did I need new tea towels? No.

 

But these kitchen towels with teacups came home with me anyway! (I also have the purple version.)

 

Another great Dollarama find: This cute "Keep Calm and Drink Tea" accent rug for $4 CDN.

 

 

I was beyond thrilled when I found these adorable tea-related stickers at Dollar Tree.

 

 

I was also happy to see Dollar Tree carry the mini Tea Time calendars again. Is it 2022 yet?

What are your favourite finds at the dollar store?

Summer Teas: Citrus Fruits Edition

Kicking off a new month with some refreshing cold-brewed citrus tea blends!

 

 Ollia's Jasmine Citrus green tea

 

DavidsTea's Lime Gelato green tea

 

DavidsTea's Banana Grapefruit black tea was an odd combo, but the tea tasted delicious!

 

Dessert by Deb's Orange Creamsicle Mousse rooibos (left) and Orange Ginger Shortbread rooibos (right)

 

 July tea empties

What I've already repurchased:

1) DavidsTea's Maui Madness 

2) DavidsTea's Tropicalia

 

What I may repurchase:

1) DavidsTea's Banana Grapefruit 

2) Dessert by Deb's Blueberry Lavender Angel Food Cake

3) Dessert by Deb's Boba Milk Tea

4) Dessert by Deb's Orange Creamsicle Mousse

5) Dessert by Deb's Orange Ginger Shortbread

6) Dessert by Deb's Strawberry Swiss Jelly Roll

7) Dessert by Deb's Sweet Snickerdoodles

8) Monarch Tea Co.'s Warm Peach Pie

Saying good-bye to Taylor's Tea Room

This month, I was saddened to learn the closure of Taylor's Tea Room, a beloved and long-running (28 years!) tearoom in the community.

Taylor's was one of the first tea rooms that I experienced the traditional English afternoon tea with the bone china teapots and teacups. 

I enjoyed Taylor's afternoon tea so much that I returned with family and friends for afternoon and cream teas, as well as brunch, lunch, and dinner.

 

This photo was taken in 2015 after Taylor's renovations.

Taylor's at Christmas (2015)

 

I loved the whimsical tea cozies and elegant teacups.

Brunch at Taylor's

This pretty teacup became my Blogger profile photo.

Taylor's famous scones.

 

Celebrating Taylor's 25th Anniversary in 2018 with a cream tea.

 

This photo was taken on July 18.

Taylor's held a farewell celebration in their parking lot, where they sold their teawares, etc. I would have loved to have a bone china teacup as a souvenir. But I just couldn't bring myself to brave the crowds, even though I was masked and fully vaxxed. 

I'll always cherish the memories and special tea times at Taylor's. 

Summer Teas: Cherries, Blueberries, and Raspberries Edition

 Summertime and the tea drinking is easy!

 

Cherry Teas (cold brewed)

Top: DavidsTea's Cherry Berry Punch black tea

Bottom: DavidsTea's Cherry Blossom white tea

 

Blueberry Teas

Top (L-R): Dessert by Debl's Blueberry Buttermilk Short Stack Pancakes black tea (hot); Blueberry Lavender Angel Food Cake black tea (hot)

Bottom (L-R): DavidsTea's Blueberry Fields Forever oolong (cold); Clearview Tea Co.'s Blueberry Pancakes black tea (hot)

Raspberry Teas

Top (L-R): Teamancy's Raspberry Meringue green tea (cold); T by Daniel's Rated R black tea (hot)

Bottom (L-R): DavidsTea's Frozen Raspberry fruit infusion (cold); Biofix's Raspberry & Acerola herbal tea (cold)

My first DavidsTea's Nordic Mug

I've been buying teas from DavidsTea for years, and have always admired their famous Nordic mugs. I told myself that I already had too many mugs, so I resisted buying one...

 

...until last fall when this beautiful "Leafy - Teal" colour changing mug went on clearance! It was an older Nordic mug because it came with a stainless steel infuser. This is what the pattern looks like before you add the hot water.

 

When you fill the cup (16oz / 437ml) with hot water, the leaves changed colours and flamingos appeared!

 

Before and after shots

I've been stalking a few more Nordic mugs online, just waiting for them to go on sale...

Summer Teas: Peaches Edition

Gonna drink a lot of of peach teas this summer!

 

Monarch Tea Co.'s Stay Young, Go Dancing is a tasty peach ginger black tea.

 

Ironically, I enjoyed Monarch Tea Co.'s Warm Peach Pie green tea as a cold brewed tea!

 

Tea at the White House's Peaches and Cream Oolong was another delicious cold brewed tea.

 

AM Tea's Creamy Peach fruit infusion

 

DavidsTea's cold-brewed fruit infusions: Peach Zing had strong ginger notes (left), while Playa Peach was an interesting floral-fruity blend (right).

 

 

My favourite peach tea blend: Dessert by Deb's Peach Crumble Cake Black and Rooibos Tea is sweet and with a touch of cinnamon.

What's your favourite peach tea?