Midsummer Night's Dream

I am back to the tealogging after a bit of a holiday break, and even though I have a bunch to catch up on I will start with the tea I am drinking right now.

Wow! I think this might be one of my new favs. I’ve been meaning to try it for a while, but always forget because it is muddled among the many other herbals at Davids. I may get a tin of it since I have some gift cards to use up there. I think it is nice both iced and hot. I will have to see how it holds up since I am making a big jug of it right now. It is minty and citrusy, a really refreshing combo that also works hot for me.

I had this earlier today and was pleasantly surprised. It was quite juicy, but not in a hibiscus sort of way. It was quite fine hot, though I can see how this would be amazing iced. It smells and tastes so refreshing!

2 tsp for 250mL tea @ 90C, steeped 5 minutes, drunk bare.

I feel terrible. I sat down with my family for lunch and nearly hurled at the table. Broke out in a sweat. Got dizzy. All round nastiness.

I knew I needed tea. I’m craving the new Ginseng Oolong from DavidsTea, but I’m in no fit shape to go out. Wuyi Rock is too dark for the moment, and the Tung Ting Vietnam’s buttery notes will just send me right over the edge.

So I made Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Makes no sense to me, either.

I’ve forgotten how much I like this strange, sweet blend. Normally I ice this one, but hot, it’s soothing on the stomach— probably the mint. The odd citrus thing this tisane boasts is distracting me from being nauseous. And the gooseberries give it a note that no other tisane’s got. I’ve been researching Elizabethan England and what they ate and drank; they liked to stew almost anything with fruit and berries. I think they might like this one, pun on the title aside, especially in winter.

This is a weaker tisane. The packet copy recommends 2 tsp for a cup, and yeah, you need at least that much. And a decent steep time. Herbals need a bit of coaxing.

Citrus, creamy, floral, minty and sweet. I’m really enjoying this tonight and am bumping up the rating a bit. I will have to end up getting more and trying it iced.

I was really bummed that this tea wasn’t a permanent part of the Davids collection. I walked in to the store to restock and they were completely out! Then I rushed home and bought two 100g tins online. I was so pleased that i didn’t miss out on restocking this tea, because it is phenomenally good. I can’t get enough of it….. then it turns out it’s permanent. Yay!
My all-time favorite tea is Davids’ Exotica, so I knew I’d like this citrus tea, but holy moley, the mint really makes it pop. It’s like nothing I’ve ever tried/expected before in a tea. It gives the tea that that nice cool sensation at the end of a sip after the sweet citrus taste of a creamsicle almost. Even warm, this tea is refreshing on a hot day. I drank this tea all summer, even in 38 degree weather! It was THAT good. So glad I got the chance to try this and stocked up on a generous amount when I thought it was going to be gone for good.

Hm the scent of this on both dry and steeped makes me think of a carbonated grapefruit beverage.

2 for 2 today. Geez. See what happens when I have to wake up at the crack of dawn and miss my morning tea? Bad choices.

If anyone’s interested in the rest of my 12g sample I picked up, you’re welcome to it.

I received this tea as a sample with one of my latest DT orders. I was really happy to get a sample because I was considering buying a tin of the tea but decided instead to get Coffee Chai. A smart decision because my opinion of this one is a bit hazy.

When I opened the bag, I was hit in the face with a citrusy grapefruit smell. I didn’t think there was grapefruit in this tea so I was a bit surprised by that and grapefruit isn’t my favorite flavor to begin with. I did love the look of the dry tea with all of the little bits and pieces and whole gooseberries. I brewed this tea hot. It probably would be better cold but hot tea is my default. I was a bit surprised by the flavor. I thought it would be more intense than it was but it was a very mellow citrus with some floral notes. It reminds me of an orange creamsicle ice pop. Not exactly my favorite but not bad either.

I like this tea. I don’t know what’s keeping me from loving it but I am not quite there.

This gets a perfect score because not only is it delicious, it never fails to make me ridiculously happy! It’s like a cupful of rainbows and unicorns and glitter.

This is, by far, the “gayest” tea I’ve found, in both meanings of the word. Not only was the play it’s named after full of men dressed as faeries and the like (because at the time it was written, only men were allowed to be in theater), but it’s a cup of supercharged fruity/sweet/tangy/refreshing goodness that just makes me think of my very flamboyant buddy every time I smell it (and even more when I taste it). It also happens to be said friend’s favourite tea, which makes it more meaningful.

I find that the tartness and a slight creaminess are most prominent when it’s hot, but the cool and refreshing quality of the mint makes it an incredibly satisfying iced tea too, complimenting the lovely fruitiness and accentuating the sweetness of the blend.

I enjoy mixing in a bit of Guayusa for a supercharged morning cup of rainbows.

I think next year, I’ll throw a tea party during Pride week, and make Midsummer Nights Dream cocktails!

So the first time I drank this, I made steeped it in hot water, double strong, and then poured over ice. It was not good at all, very floral. It actually reminded me of the way one of my Lush bathbombs smells.
Since it had such good reviews here, I tried again. This time I cold brewed it in the fridge for 12 hours or so and added a little agave. Took it to work and drank it all day, and it was delicious! No floral notes really, just fruity apple and tart berry refreshingness. It was sweet, light, and tasty and I’m so glad I tried it again. I will never drink this one hot or brew it hot again because this one seems to love cold brewing!

Mmmmm….I love this tea, especially a little sweetened and iced.

I have tried this both ways: hot and iced.

When hot, it tastes exactly like it smells as dry. Citrusy, minty, and sweet! MMMM! I believe it’s the safflowers that make the tea have more of a creamy taste to it.

When iced, oh my, this tea is absolutely amazing! The natural sweetness from the ingredients flavour the tea so well that you think you are drinking a sugary drink. There is definitely a lot of sweetness from the citrus oil and freshness from the mint. If I could drink a pitcher of this everyday…I totally would. It’s a really amazing one!