DAVIDsTEA

The Macdonald’s of tea. You can drink it, and it tastes good… but you know it’s not good for you what with the artificial flavours and sugars added.

This one is located inside Oakridge Mall. You can tell it’s been a while since I’ve been here when I noticed that the most exciting thing here is David’s Tea. I bought some holiday teas here for the cold weather. They had a special for hot tea to go. Customer service was friendly. It was super busy, therefore, understandable if they were a bit rushed.

Love this store!!! The staff are always very helpful, polite, and friendly!
Thank you guys for always making me happy when I walk out your doors!

Friendly stuff, lovely display and best tea. Its always be comfy to stay there. every
time I back to Van, I always shopping there for myself, family and friends.

Really had no idea what to expect when walking in. I was scared like a lost kid.
Parking is available in the mall parking lot.
The place does sell individual cups of coffee, but most of the customers are there to buy bulk tea. There were so many flavours my head was spinning. Thank goodness for the colour coding of the labels, and the super helpful staff. They even gave me a couple of samples.
The teas I tried smelled quite fragrant. Too bad (and this is with any tea) that the taste often doesn’t reflect the smell. Oh well. I ended up walking around sniffing my cup of tea for half an hour.
One last thing — the tea bag contents are mostly not edible. Yeah I tried. Only bits that passed the edible test were nuts and some bits of chocolate.

First time in this store and I was extremely impressed with the customer service! Samples are a great idea. They also let you smell any flavours. While paying for 2 flavours I loved, the cashier explained the frequent steeper program they have and I am glad she told me about it. You can earn loose leaf tea as well as free tea on your bday. The store is well lit and very clean and organized. So many accessories to choose from. I love tea pots and cute mugs. The only one bad note I must make is that I did purchase a set of mugs with graphics that allow a change in colour with temperature. So cool! Unfortunately, after the first use, the lid graphics already started to come off! That was from just the first hand wash after taking it out of packaging. I am worried that these mugs won’t last very long :(Other than that, I think the customer service is top notch and for that reason, I will definitely be back!

I love the tea but was disappointed with the amount of teas with artificial flavor and so is everyone I talk to. Know your audience, you promote health and should stand by that.

I love Davids tea, but this location is cramped and the staff sort of battle with each other over who is ringing through who next, which is annoying when you’ve been waiting in line in front of the till trying to pay and someone walks up and says «someone will be with you next, I’m ringing this person through.» I ordered drinks and couldn’t get to the sugar etc because they have placed their only two chairs and table in front of it.

The staff was friendly and helpful and the teas were overwhelmingly aromatic, nothing out of the ordinary. However, I’ve got two bones to pick:
1. The quality of the merchandise is surprisingly bad. One of the mugs that I got (the heat sensitive ones that change colour with liquid temperature) was very poor quality. When the salesgirl opened the box in the store to make sure the mug was okay, a whole piece of the graphic fell off! That should have alerted me not to buy the mug, but, as with so much else in my life, I was blinded by the cute graphics. The salesgirl got me a new mug with graphics intact, laughed nervously about the first mug being «a lemon» and «really weird.» So, in my stupidity, I bought the mug and what do you know? After only three washes (by hand and with a soft sponge) parts of the graphics have sloughed off. I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s partly my own fault for not walking away from the purchase after having seen a major defect. But still! Maybe David’s Teas shouldn’t be selling mugs of such terrible quality? I’ve had mugs that I’ve marked up with Sharpies that have kept better than this one.
2. Some of their teas have artificial flavouring. Now, I’m not a tea expert, but that seems kind of… gross? Unnatural? Not the way it should be? I found out after the salesgirl let me sniff one of her favourite teas (a strawberry something or other). The scent of strawberry was like something out of an Herbal Essences shampoo. I asked whether it had artificial flavouring and she admitted that it did «but it smells soooo good!» Right. That’s just not okay with me. When I think of tea I think of natural ingredients — leaves, nuts, berries — not a chemical bath made to «smell sooo good.» I wish the labelling for added artificial or «natural» flavours was clearer. Heck, I wish they didn’t use any kind of artificial flavouring! Because of this and the poor quality of the merchandise I’ll take my tea shopping elsewhere.

Friendly people working!

Oh, DAVIDs TEA, how you keep feeding my loose tea addiction.
This was the first DAVIDs TEA location that I visited and is still my favourite store. The staff here are very friendly and helpful — even if you aren’t sure exactly what you are looking for, give them a couple of clues and they’ll start bringing down suggestions for you to peruse. They have a lot of variety in their teas, from roiboos to mate to pu’erh.
They’re a very clean, well lit store. The teas are store in canisters behind the counter and there is a separate section in the tea canisters with tea for you to sniff the aroma. I like this as I feel it is more hygienic. If there is a tea that they are out of stock, they are kind of enough to take your name & number to call you when the tea is in.
I’ve visited other locations but I always gravitate back here as customer service is always excellent here.

It only took one visit and now I’m a full blown David’s Tea addict. Green & Fruity was my gateway drug, but Buttered Rum, Crème Brûlée, Mango Diablo, and Cream of Earl Grey have since entered the mix. The sweet and spicy Mango Diablo is definitely my favourite though.
Staff at this particular location are oh so helpful and informative, always waiting with a sample of the tea of the day when you walk in.
In addition to tea I’ve also purchased a teapot, bubble tea cups, and the perfect giant tea mug, all in the «eggnog winter tree» pattern. I love everything except the bubble teacups which are adorable but really hot on the fingers (ah well, they were only $ 6 and still look cute on my counter). I also love their little coloured tea tins!
This actual tea is probably on the pricier side (varies on the complexity of the tea and its ingredients, but 100g probably averages around $ 13 or $ 14), but well worth it if you’re a tea enthusiast!

Like any david’s tea I’ve ever walked into, the staff are incredibly friendly & knowledgable. I’m a total addict and the only thing that is making me feel better in my cold is their Super Ginger Rooibos.
The only thing that could make this place better is if it was closer to my apt — I guess right next to my work will have to do until they expand to South Granville.

Favourite Teas:
The Skinny (Oolong/​Puerh)
Pineapple Oolong
Green & Fruity (Green Rooibos)
Crème Brûlée (Green Rooibos)
Pumpkin Chai
Matcha Matsu
Favourite Accessories:
Capresso milk foam maker (I use the non-​foaming heating-​only disk to make tea lattes without any water: much cheaper than buying)
Mugtails mugs
David’s Perfect Teaspoon
The Steeper (set it on top of your mug to pour: no drips)
Canvas Bag (sometimes free with $ 50 purchase)
Favourite Fact:
They’re from Canada (Montréal), which means I can use them as Canadian presents when I go overseas. Much easier to transport than maple syrup! For this reason, I’m so happy they have more gifty tins now.
Davids has been my favourite loose tea seller, not just because they have pop blends, but because «how much leaves, how long to steep, with what temperature water» for each tea is clearly shown on both the label and their website.
They’re opening up in Pacific Centre soon, across from Sephora!

You can walk into DavidsTea and not be a tea drinking and walk out with at least 3 bags!
Each and every location I’ve been to has the same consistent vibe — free samples, a soothing aroma, tons of selection, and amazing customer service! I could go on about the various teas to try out but you just have to go in and try.
Looking for a yummy flavour? Looking for a tea to keep you buzzed? Looking for something to help you sleep (try Mother’s Little Helper!)…just ask one of the staff and they will have all the options. And the prices are not that bad either.

According to folklore, tea culture began in China around 3000 BC. DAVIDsTEA is bringing sexy back.
Here’s my guide for beginners to loose-​leaf teas:
Coffee Pu’erh — for coffee addicts who are transitioning over and don’t want a horrible withdrawal headache. Contains coffee extract.
Guangzhou Milk Oolong — best straight tea that DAVIDsTEA carries. Creamy and addictive. No contest. If you’re not sure about straight oolong, then try Vanilla Oolong or Long Life Oolong first.
Chocolate Chili Chai — one of their most popular seasonal teas, so get it now! Makes for a great gift too.
Green Seduction — the pomegranate in this green tea had me addicted at first sip.
White Peony — good intro to straight white teas, and hydrating for the skin too!
Honey Bee — this maté tea will keep you buzzzzzing all day.
Cocomint Cream — my new fave herbal tea, which I cannot stop drinking over and over!
I keep coming back to this store because of its amazing passionate and knowledgeable staff. They have an unparalleled selection of teas and you can also buy online. If you’re not sure about a tea, the staff can make it for you in store or you can buy one of their sample packs to go. Now why didn’t I come up with this concept first?

Coffee is great, but tea is ever so pleasing. If you want traditional flavours like English breakfast tea, or something off the wall like cotton candy or strawberry rhubarb tea, David’s Tea has you covered. Compared to other tea shops, including other David’s Tea locations, this is my favourite shop due to the staff, as well as this location almost always has the teas I want in stock.
If you’ve never been to a David’s Teas, it can be summarized as a loose leaf tea seller. When you first enter the shop, you’ll almost certainly be offered a taste of a tea they have brewed for the day as a way to entice you to look more in the store. With a wall lined with giant tins of different teas, they will have a flavour to suit any pallet. On your first few visits to David’s tea, you maybe be overwhelmed by the number of options they have. Not to worry! The staff at this location have always been full of energy and ready to provide me with recommendations for myself or a person I’m buying for.
Before you buy your tea, the staff will bring down the tin and let you smell the tea to see if you like the aroma or not. After all, the sense of taste is tied to our sense of smell. If you buy less than 100g of tea, the staff will measure out the package in a little silver, fresh seal bag. However, if you buy 100g or more, they will provide a metal, air tight tin for free. On subsequent visits, if you bring your empty tin back to fill up again with any tea, you get 50 cents off the purchase. Savin’ money and helping out the environment for the win!
On the note of price, the cost of the teas varies, depending on the rarity and complexity of the tea (as some teas are blends of several different flavours). However, in general, 100g usually runs around $ 12 – 16. Depending on how strong you like your tea, this can provide you with about 15 – 20 cups of tea. This may sound a little on the pricey side, but for flavours you won’t get at a grocery store, it’s worth the additional cost in my opinion.
Along with selling loose leaf tea, David’s Teas also will brew a cup of tea (hot or cold) for you to enjoy as you walk around for about $ 2 – 4. This is also great if you want to try a cup of tea before you buy several grams. If you’re trying a cup, I would recommend lime gelato, lady earl grey or forever nuts. In addition to cups of tea, David’s Tea also sells a variety of items for teas such as mugs, infusers, and tea pots. The accessories are on the more expensive side, but they do the job they are intended to do, and they do it well.
If you are a fan of tea, David’s tea in Oakridge Centre is one of the best places to get it. With a knowledgeable, enthusiastic staff, you’ll be sure to find something to tame your tea craving.

A glimpse into my tea cupboard will tell you how much I love David’s Tea. Whatever your tastes, you’re sure to find a tea you like here. The wall of tea may be intimidating at first, but the staff at this David’s Tea location are fantastic. They’re enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and more than willing to give you tons of recommendations. You even get a free sample of tea every time you walk into the store.
You can always smell the tea before you buy, which is great. Unlike other tea shops, they sell their loose leaf tea’s in resealable silver plastic bags or metal tins (which only cost ~$ 1). If you use up all of the loose leaf tea in a tin, you can return it to David’s Tea to get refilled with any tea of your choice, and you get $ 0.50 off! I definitely applaud a company that encourages any sort of recycling. Regardless of your package choice, the sticker gives you all the information you need to know to prevent over-​steeping your tea (although I find you can steep the herbal teas for longer).
The tea is a bit pricey, but you only need 1 tsp for a cup of tea, so any tea you buy lasts for a very long time. If you want to try a small amount of a wide variety of tea, they sell plenty of sample packs which cost roughly ~$ 25 – 30. I highly recommend the tiny tins. They also release sample packs for every season with their brand new tea flavors, which I also recommend if you’re looking at livening up your tea collection.
David’s Tea also sells plenty of tea accessories, such as their perfect tea mug. The accessories are expensive (~$ 20 for the tea mug), but they work wonderfully. I’ve been lusting after a perfect tea mug ever since I used one at my friend’s house. They also sell travel mugs, teapots, infusers, and anything else you could possibly need to enjoy a cup of tea in style.
If you want to try out any tea’s in store, you can buy a cup of tea, either iced or hot, for a few dollars. I personally like fruity tea’s that taste delicious iced, and highly recommend trying Bear Trap, Goji Pop, Tropicalia, or Lime Gelato.
If you like tea, you should really go to David’s Tea. Be warned though, it may lead to an incurable tea addiction.

David, where do you find your staff? They are amazing, friendly, super passionate and know their tea. Wow! I’ve been many times and every time I am blown away at the excellent customer service.
There is a tea for everyone… Caffeinated, non caffeinated, herbal, sweet, creamy, nutty, floral, etc. There are always free tea samples and plenty of the tea to smell before you buy/​taste. If you purchase a tin for $ 1 for your tea, bring it back to buy more tea and save $ 1!
Not much space nor the atmosphere to sit and enjoy your tea, but get it to go so you can get on with your shopping!

What a neat concept. Like I was telling my hubby yesterday, they make Tea fun. It’s not your grandma’s tea anymore.
I went in to purchase few teas and the people working there are nice, professional and really know their stuff. You leave the store feeling great about your purchase and I can’t wait to steep them. Yummy!!!
They aren’t cheap though. 50g of tea will run you anywhere from 5.00 dollars to 10.00 but they last a really long time and they are so aromatic.
I love their Cream Brûlée tea as it smells so wonderful and they taste great too.
I just wish they would open one up in DT but then again, maybe it’s a good thing they aren’t open here otherwise, I would be buying up teas too often.
Definitely check this place out if you are in Oakridge and they are re-​opening their store on 4^th soon. Even if you are not really into tea, they have so many cool selection of tea, you are bound to find one you are going to like.