davids tea

This week we answer your questions! Thank you to everyone who wrote in!!

Season 3 here we go! We start off with 80's nostalgia at its finest with Transformers Generation 1! This classic cartoon from the 80's was the first real miss for us when it came to pairing with a tea, but it did not stop the fun of exploring this most fascinating fandom.

Our round up of the best teas of 2022! Happy New Year and see you shortly for season 3!

And we are back! After an unexpected hiatus, we continue to explore the world of Spiderman, this time with the villain Carnage! Grab your mugs, it's gonna be a good one :)

On this week’s SEASON FINALE, guest Sanaya El Sayad spills all the tea by answering your most asked questions!

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here

About the guest: Sanaya El Sayad

Sanaya has been working at DAVIDsTEA for over 10 years now. She initially started as a seasonal hire in-store while working towards a history degree at McGill University. Although she was passionate about her field of study, tea became somewhat of a calling she just couldn’t ignore. She began working at our Head Office in Montreal, where she eventually became the Senior Director of Buying, Tea & Product. Her passion for tea—and sharing it with others—

made her an integral part of the team. In fact, Sanaya often has the final say on which teas are released into the world. Cool, huh? She’s also traveled with DAVIDsTEA to visit the beautiful tea gardens of Sri Lanka and had the opportunity to work on a water impact project in Kenya. Fun fact: Sanaya’s love of tasting and experiencing new things extends to her love of trying new restaurants and sipping natural wines!

This week, we’re talking to Chantrelle Edwards, founder and CEO of Hella Tea, all about POC representation in the tea community.

Today's episode is brought to you by Glitter & Gold

About the guest: Chantrelle Edwards

 Chantrelle Edwards is the founder and CEO of Hella Tea. While growing up in Oakland, California, drinking tea was always an escape for her when life got tough. From losing her 17-year-old brother to gun violence to becoming a mother at a young age, she was determined to beat the odds. In 2007, Chantrelle decided to start her first tea business, Raised Pinky Teas, whose target market was children and women’s groups. One day, while seeking help from a marketing professional, she was challenged to adjust her branding strategy. After much thought, prayer and reflection on her life experiences and interest, Hella Tea was born. Hella Tea specializes in artisanal tea blends that pay homage to the diverse population of the Bay Area and its hip hop culture. When Chantrelle isn’t sipping tea (or thinking of clever tea puns!), she enjoys skating, attending concerts, family gatherings, giving back through community outreach and taking spontaneous road trips to Napa and Monterey. 

To learn more about Hella Tea click here

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

This week, our guests Celia & Kelly discuss sweetener in tea—from the ones you add before you sip to those already built into your favourite blends.

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here

About the guests: Celia Aceae & Kelly Miller

Celia Aceae
Celia’s obsession with tea began as soon as she could sip. Motivated by her love of plants (and insatiable curiosity), Celia studied conservation and natural resource compliance at Lethbridge College in Alberta. She went on to obtain a Red Seal in horticulture from the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, and currently works as a Tea, Herb & Sustainability Specialist at DAVIDsTEA. But we’re not done yet! Celia has also completed an additional bachelor’s degree of Science in Horticulture, basically proving that her love of tea and plants is no passing fancy. With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and their various impacts on individuals as well as the planet, Celia has committed most of her time to the proliferation of tea and plant knowledge. As a trained Tea Sommelier, she brings joy to those around her by sharing a cup of tea with anyone and everyone, at any time. Fun fact: she lived in Japan for three months studying matcha production and the Japanese tea ceremony, so quiz her, she loves it!


Kelly Miller
Kelly Miller has been tea obsessed for nearly a decade. What is the source of her obsession, you ask? It all started when Kelly visited a DAVIDsTEA store for the first time to buy a gift for a friend. Intrigued by our Birthday Cake tea, she gave it a quick sip. And just like that Kelly, the tea sommelier, was born. THAC (Tea and Herbal Association of Canada) Certified, Kelly currently works as the Research & Development Lead at the DAVIDsTEA headquarters. Her generous and exploratory nature makes her an indispensable member of the team as she continuously pushes for new flavour innovations. Since her first introduction to the world of tea, she has tried over 10,000 teas AND her personal collection exceeds 1,500 unique teas and blends! 

Who says tea is only for drinking? This week, returning guest Nadia De La Vega talks to us about how to integrate tea into your everyday cooking and which ones are the best to cook with!

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here

about the guest: Nadia De La Vega

Nadia De La Vega's tea journey has been anything but linear. Growing up in Mexico, tea was not a common beverage... but luckily for Nadia, her mother would brew black loose leaf tea every morning. She completed her science degree in Montreal, where she developed an affinity for food pairing and recipe development. Joining the DAVIDsTEA family in 2012 (and we are SO glad she did!), she put her superpowers to use to help develop tea-based recipes. As the Director of Tea Sustainability and Content at DAVIDsTEA, Nadia and her team primarily oversee sustainability initiatives and tea knowledge across the brand while ensuring all tea information is authentic, fun and relatable. You can normally find her drinking a cup of Orange Pekoe or Organic Jasmine Black Pearls, while working on impact initiatives and indulging in some serious tea talk!

For many, meditation is key to maintaining a sense of balance in their life. But it’s not as easy as it seems. We talk to yoga and mindfulness instructor—and tea enthusiast—Sara Gallagher Bloom to discuss the benefits of meditation and how tea can fit into your routine.  

 Today's episode is brought to you by Organic Serenity Now

about the guest: Sara Gallagher Bloom

Sara Gallagher Bloom has been teaching yoga, movement and mindful practices for close to 20 years. Her yoga journey began with hot yoga in Montreal, with a group of friends that eventually formed the studio known today as Modo Yoga. She’s certified in Katonah and Kundalini Yoga, has mentored countless new yoga teachers and has led workshops for many styles of practice around the globe. You may know her from her Montreal studio, Morpho Bleu. Today, not only is she a studio owner, she’s also a yoga teacher, a community leader, a mother, a meditation teacher and a spiritual guide. Her mission is to empower humans to develop their mind and body through yoga and meditation practices—no matter where they are on their journey!

To learn more about Sara and her work, click here

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

And the spotlight goes to… mmm matcha! This week, we’re diving deep into the creamy, energizing & traditional world of matcha with none other than our four-time returning guest, Celia.

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here

about the guest: Celia Aceae

Celia’s obsession with tea began as soon as she could sip. Motivated by her love of plants (and insatiable curiosity), Celia studied conservation and natural resource compliance at Lethbridge College in Alberta. She went on to obtain a Red Seal in horticulture from the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, and currently works as a Tea and Sustainability Specialist at DAVIDsTEA. But we’re not done yet! Celia has also completed an additional bachelor’s degree of Science in Horticulture, basically proving that her love of tea and plants is no passing fancy. With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and their various impacts on individuals as well as the planet, Celia has committed most of her time to the proliferation of tea and plant knowledge. As a trained Tea Sommelier, she brings joy to those around her by sharing a cup of tea with anyone and everyone, at any time. Fun fact: she lived in Japan for three months studying matcha production and the Japanese tea ceremony, so quiz her, she loves it!

We have invited Victor Yu, of the Random Cuisine Blog, to walk us through the latest tea flavoured trends brewing all around us. Find out about the latest and greatest in tea beverages, desserts and beyond!

Today's episode is brought to you by Organic Hojicha

about the guest: Victor Yu of @randomcuisine

Victor Yu is the food writer behind the Instagram @randomcuisine. But he has a wide range of interests and creative pursuits. He successfully defended his PhD thesis in 2018 at McGill University in Montreal, where he studied the quantum regime of 2D materials at absolute zero temperature. After an immense contribution to the field of science, Victor closed the chapter of academic research, and now works as a digital and social media strategist for Nourish Food Marketing, a Toronto-based food agency representing some of the largest food brands in Canada. Victor is always on the lookout for the next exciting food and flavour pairing trend and loves learning about food cultures from around the world. In his free time, he gives food tours of Chinatown in Montreal on Airbnb Experiences and helps promote small businesses and local restaurants through his Instagram.


To learn more about Random Cuisine click here

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

In our longest mini episode to date, we take a deep dive—or at least a shallow dip—into all things caffeine in tea. Returning guests Nadia & Celia help unpack the not so simple topic that’s on the minds of many tea lovers.

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here

About the Guests:

Nadia De La Vega

Nadia De La Vega's tea journey has been anything but linear. Growing up in Mexico, tea was not a common beverage... but luckily for Nadia, her mother would brew black loose leaf tea every morning. She completed her science degree in Montreal, where she developed an affinity for food pairing and recipe development. Joining the DAVIDsTEA family in 2012 (and we are SO glad she did!), she put her superpowers to use to help develop tea-based recipes. As the Director of Tea Sustainability and Content at DAVIDsTEA, Nadia and her team primarily oversee sustainability initiatives and tea knowledge across the brand while ensuring all tea information is authentic, fun and relatable. You can normally find her drinking a cup of Orange Pekoe or Organic Jasmine Black Pearls, while working on impact initiatives and indulging in some serious tea talk!

Celia Aceae

Celia’s obsession with tea began as soon as she could sip. Motivated by her love of plants (and insatiable curiosity), Celia studied conservation and natural resource compliance at Lethbridge College in Alberta. She went on to obtain a Red Seal in horticulture from the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, and currently works as a Tea, Herb & Sustainability Specialist at DAVIDsTEA. But we’re not done yet! Celia has also completed an additional bachelor’s degree of Science in Horticulture, basically proving that her love of tea and plants is no passing fancy. With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and their various impacts on individuals as well as the planet, Celia has committed most of her time to the proliferation of tea and plant knowledge. As a trained Tea Sommelier, she brings joy to those around her by sharing a cup of tea with anyone and everyone, at any time. Fun fact: she lived in Japan for three months studying matcha production and the Japanese tea ceremony, so quiz her, she loves it!

We acknowledge that there is no DAVIDsTEA without a healthy planet. So, who better to define what that means to us than Nadia, our Director of Tea Sustainability & Content?


For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

To see what we are doing to promote a sustainable future click here.

To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here. 

About the Guest: Nadia De La Vega

Nadia De La Vega's tea journey has been anything but linear. Growing up in Mexico, tea was not a common beverage... but luckily for Nadia, her mother would brew loose leaf black tea every morning. She completed her science degree in Montreal, where her love for food pairing and recipe development came to be. Joining the DAVIDsTEA team in 2012 (and we are SO glad she did!), she put her superpowers to use to help develop tea-based recipes. As the Director of Tea Sustainability and Content at DAVIDsTEA, Nadia and her team primarily oversee sustainability initiatives and tea knowledge across the brand while ensuring all tea information is authentic, fun and relatable. You can normally find her drinking a cup of Orange Pekoe or Organic Jasmine Black Pearls, while working on impact initiatives and indulging in some serious tea talk!

Carolina Levy, owner of tea company Soy Té, shares insight from her personal experience of bringing tea to Mexico.

Today's Episode is brought to you by Cherry Blossom

Carolina Levy: about the guest

Say hola to Carolina Levy, our first international guest! She started her tea company, Soy Té, 10 years ago after travelling to rural Mexico for work. She was inspired to source local ingredients in an effort to reduce food waste, and to broaden cultural appreciation for tea and herbs in her home country of Mexico.

 Carolina explores tea through rituals and tools such as Gong Fu Cha and tea pets, and uses sensations and emotional cues to educate and interest people in more traditional tea culture. Her secret to connecting with others through tea? Making it accessible! Through TikTok, leading online tea-tasting sessions, and simply sharing conversation over a cup of tea, Carolina invites people to try new things or to experience familiar flavours in different ways. 

From cold brew to frappes and flavoured tea lattes, Carolina's enthusiasm for all things tea (and beyond!) was the inspo behind the name of her company, Soy Té, which translates to "I am tea" in Spanish. How fitting!

To learn more about Soy Té click here

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

Want to sip outside the box? This episode’s for you! We’re exploring all the different ways to make a cup with Freedom, our Social Media Lead and resident rule-breaker.

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here. 

About the Guest: Freedom Taylor

Meet Freedom! He first joined the DAVIDsTEA team back in 2011 with our Spring Collection starring a ton of seriously stellar hits like Goji Pop, Movie Night and Lime Gelato. If you happened to shop in our retail stores between 2011 and 2018, chances are you browsed displays designed by yours truly. This delightful human bleeds teal and can often be found drinking a huge mason jar of iced tea while writing jokes for DAVIDsTEA’s social media accounts (that’s his new gig and he like totally digs it). Obsessed with mixing teas together, nostalgic flavours, colourful iced teapops and experimenting with layered lattes, Free (FYI we call him Free because well, he embodies it oh so well) proves that tea rules are meant to be… adapted? PS. Freedom and the term “fun steeper” are pretty much synonymous because he’s actual living proof that it’s okay to think outside the cup. In fact, here at DAVIDsTEA, we encourage it.

We invited Tao Zrafi, the Traveling Bartender & Mixologist, to share his secrets on the best ways to mix tea with alcohol.

Today's Episode is brought to you by Blood Orange Boost

Tao Zrafi: about the guest

Tao Zrafi is a mixologist, bar program consultant and globetrotter. If you’ve ever been to any of Montreal’s popular cocktail bars, then odds are you’ve probably tasted one of Tao’s concoctions. After moving to Canada from Tunisia at the age of 20, Tao made a life-changing decision to test his luck in the bar industry, something entirely new to him by the way! He never even had a sip of alcohol until he was 23… but he quickly became fascinated by the art of mixology. Tao worked at various restaurants and bars across North America and even entered numerous competitions. He eventually started making a name for himself and found his unique style that resonated with the masses. Unfortunately, restrictions implemented throughout the pandemic put a hold on his plans but that didn’t stop him from making new ones. Instead, Tao focused on consulting, sharing his knowledge, launching pop-up shops, and planning his lifelong goal of creating his own funky bar project. And so, he did! Keep your eyes (and taste buds) open for what Tao has in store next…

To learn more about Tao Zrafi click here

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

Join us as we talk to Tea Horse about their unique take on wild rice and the role that tea plays in bringing people together.

Today's Episode is brought to you by Manoomin Maple

Tea Horse: about the guest

Today we’re sitting down with Tea Horse, a woman-led, Indigenous-owned tea company, to help us get a better understanding of wild rice. Tea Horse was founded by Denise Atkinson, who is Anishinaabe ikwe (meaning Ojibwe woman) and her partner Marc Bohémier. Located on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe Peoples in Northwestern Ontario, Tea Horse focuses on bringing people together through high-quality teas featuring roasted manoomin (wild rice in Ojibwe). So, who better to teach us about this truly unique ancestral grain?

To learn more about Tea Horse click here

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

Join us this week for a deep dive into what seems to be one of our most polarizing ingredients: licorice. With Tea Specialist Celia Aceae

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here 

About the Guest: Celia Aceae

Celia’s obsession with tea began as soon as she could drink. Motivated by her love of plants (and insatiable curiosity), Celia studied conservation and natural resource compliance at Lethbridge College in Alberta. She went on to obtain a Red Seal in horticulture from the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, and currently works as a Tea and Sustainability Specialist at DAVIDsTEA. But we’re not done yet! Celia is also completing an additional bachelor’s degree of Science in Horticulture, basically proving that her love of tea and plants is no passing fancy. With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and their various impacts on individuals as well as the planet, Celia has committed most of her time to the proliferation of tea and plant knowledge. As a trained Tea Sommelier, she brings joy to those around her by sharing a cup of tea with anyone and everyone, at any time. Fun fact: she lived in Japan for three months studying matcha production and the Japanese tea ceremony, so quiz her, she loves it!

On this week’s episode, we sit down with Mamas for Mamas’ founder to explore all the amazing work the organization has accomplished to help moms and caregivers in need.

Today's Episode is brought to you by Organic Mother's Little Helper 

About the guest

Shannon Christensen was born and raised in Kelowna, BC where she currently lives with her husband of 16 years and their two boys. Her passion for working with marginalized populations led her to pursue (and complete) a BA in Psychology and a Master of Counselling Psychology. From there, her desire to make the world a better place manifested itself in the launch of Mamas for Mamas. This project has since become a national non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the negative impact of poverty on low-income mothers and their families. Shannon 

has been recognized as a top 40 under 40 recipient, featured in “Women to Watch,” AND was a top 3 finalist for “Woman of the Year” through The City of Kelowna Civic and Community Awards. Most recently she has co-authored a best-selling book about motherhood and has brought home the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada for her work with Mamas for Mamas. But also… Shannon really likes pickles.

To learn more about Mamas for Mamas click here

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

On this week’s mini episode, we’re delving into the challenging yet welcoming base of white tea, and how to blend it, with our Director of Tea Development Billy Dietz

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

To learn more about white tea click here

To shop our white tea selection click here

About the Guest : Billy Dietz

Billy’s journey into the tea world began at the early age of 15, when he started his formal education at the Specialty Tea Institute. By 17, he became the youngest Certified Tea Specialist in North America (yes, you read that right!). He went on to study at FONA International, where he completed Flavor 101 and Beverage 101 – two comprehensive courses on the science of flavor, and more specifically, beverage flavor. In August 2013, he obtained his Barista certification from the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe at the Better Barista Academy in Singapore. And by 2014, he became a certified instructor for the Specialty Tea Institute. But if there’s one thing you need to know about Billy, it’s that he has quite the adventurous spirit. His passion for flavour has taken him to many parts of North America, Europe, Asia and Africa where he studied how food and drink are integral to each of their cultures. In 2015, Billy joined the DAVIDsTEA family as a Tea Products Developer. Today, he’s the Director of Research and Development. What exactly does that entail? Well, Billy works closely with our Tea Department to research, develop and create innovative tea blends, like the ones you all love SO much!