The New Brew

If you are like most parents, nights filled with nursing, teething, bedwetting and nightmares has probably made you a little more than devoted to your daily cups of coffee or (worse) Diet Coke.

But what if you could drink a cup of something that perks you up and delivers a mug full of health benefits like hydration, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals and immunity boosters?

There’s no question that tea is the new brew these days, so it’s time to convert if you haven’t already (and we’re not talking about grandma’s Red Rose). If you want to see how yummy tea can be, you need to stop into one of Toronto’s newest tea houses, Davids Tea.

Why do we love Davids Tea? Because they have 120 different varieties of tea and a staff that is smart enough, helpful enough and friendly enough to find you the perfect fit. The Montreal-based company, which now has three shops in Toronto, knows that ordering a cup of tea can be intimidating (think back to your virgin Starbucks experience ten years ago), so they coach you through the process. Davids Tea will brew you a cup onsite or guide you through how to DIY at home. (We think the Pumpkin Chai Latte might just be fall’s best beverage, make sure to try one while you’re there.)

Tea’s a little complicated at first (then again, we used to feel that way about espresso), so we’ve put together a quick guide to get you started.

Black Tea
Best for: A good morning buzz
Why we love it: Black teas are tea leaves that are oxidized (the reason they are black) and generally contain more caffeine than their non-oxidized cousins (oolong, green and white teas). Unlike coffee, black tea gives you a boost, but also lowers stress, fights bad breath and prevents tooth decay. Plus medical research shows that black teas lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and lower bad cholesterol.
What to try: Cream of Earl Grey. If you like vanilla in your coffee, you’ll like that Davids Tea added this delicious flavour to the classic Earl Grey, which gives it a rich, creamy taste.

Green Tea
Best for: Fighting off that cold
Why we love it: From the same plant as black teas, green teas have undergone minimal oxidation, leaving more of the beneficial antioxidants behind. The antioxidants in green tea have been shown to slow the signs of aging, prevent the flu and raise metabolism.
What to try: Dragon’s Pearls. This delicious tea is hand-rolled into tiny pearls with jasmine blossom petals, which unroll as they brew. Very tasty and it puts on quite a show if you are entertaining!

White Tea
Best for: Replacing your beauty rest
Why we love it: White tea is made from young tea leaves and buds that are untreated and not oxidized at all. These younger leaves actually have higher caffeine levels than their older siblings, so white tea may provide a stronger punch on days when you didn’t get enough sleep. However, the secret reason we love it is that white tea might be even better than green tea in fighting cell damage and the signs of aging and has a gentle taste (if you don’t like the taste of green tea). More and more beauty companies are including extracts of white tea in their products to help keep skin youthful.
What to try: Organic White Tiger. This organic white peony tea is boosted into a delicious superbrew with pomegranate essence and whole blueberries.

Rooibos
Best for: A caffeine-free treat
Why we love it: Not a tea at all, but actually a tisane, Rooibos is pronounced “roy-bos”, which means “red bush” in South Africa. Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free, which makes it ideal for people who don’t want the kick, but still want a cup full of cold-fighting antioxidants and loads of beneficial minerals. Rooibos has also been shown to help relieve stomach problems, aid in digestion and assist in fighting sleep problems.
What to try: Coco Chai Rooibos is a yummy blend of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, coconut and a surprising kick of red peppercorns. This brew makes a killer latte when blended with warm milk.

You see, tea isn’t such a strange brew after all!

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