Toronto’s The Tea Emporium Sells Fine Loose Leaf Teas

During the Christmas holidays, it’s great to take some down time to relax by the fire, hang out with friends or family or read. Nothing goes better with holiday leisure time than a cup of loose leaf tea. I was recently asked to sample and review some of the loose leaf teas from The Tea Emporium. The Tea Emporium has several retail locations throughout Toronto, selling premium loose leaf tea blends. I stopped at the Tea Emporium’s location at Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens.

The Tea Emporium sells a variety of premium loose leaf teas including White, Green, Black, Oolong, Herbal, Chai, Mate, Pu-erh and Rooibos.

My ideal cup of tea is caffeine-free so I was eager to try some of The Tea Emporium’s Rooibos teas. Owner Shabnam Weber suggested I try the Tropicana Green Rooibos Tea ($5.75 for 50g.), one of the company’s bestsellers. Rich in antioxidants, the Tropicana Rooibos tea features unoxidized Green Rooibos with dried strawberry, peach and grapefruit. I love this tea; the dried fruits perfectly complement the mild and grassy taste of the Rooibos for a well-balanced, fruity tea. Green Rooibos contains minerals including magnesium, calcium and manganese and its high level of antioxidants prevent cells from becoming cancerous. Green Rooibos also aids digestion and improves circulation. The Tropicana tea not only has so many health benefits; it also tastes wonderful.

The Candied Almonds Tea, $6.38 for 50g, is like drinking a bowl of granola. This fruity tea contains apple pieces, blanched almonds, red beets and cinnamon. It’s refreshingly sweet and in fact, you could enjoy several cups of the Candied Almonds tea as a dessert tea or when you’re craving a sweet snack. I love the aroma and superb taste of this tea for its spicy and fruity essence.

The Tea Emporium’s Green Tea Kombusha Lime ($7.48 for 50g) is a mild tasting tea with an invigorating citrusy note. Kombusha is another tea with many health benefits. Drinking Bombusha tea can help detoxify the liver while the tea contains glucosamines to prevent arthritis. Kombusha is also a probiotic beverage, fermented with good bacteria, which means it is good for the gut.

The Cream of Avalon loose leaf tea ($5.89 for 50g) contains Ceylon tea, Bergamot oil, caramel and grapefruit for a smooth blend. I didn’t steep it too long, probably for just under two minutes, since I don’t like strong black tea, but this tea from Sri Lanka features citrusy notes that offset the strong flavour of the black tea.

I was impressed with all four samples of premium loose leaf tea that I tried from The Tea Emporium. You can find The Tea Emporium at Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens, 337 Danforth Avenue, 369 Eglinton Avenue West and Loblaws Forest Hill.