New white tea in Vancouver

I've read research showing that Turkey is the largest per capita consumer of tea. Canada is ranked 62nd.

However when you live in Vancouver, it seems like tea is fast replacing coffee. There's a buzz about it. And it's not surprising given how mellow and satisfying a cup of tea really is.

Tea, as anyone knows, is all about the leaf and the brew. At DAVIDsTEA, the guides are more than willing to give you a sniff of their loose-leaf teas, which include green, white, and rooibos. I've never been one for flavoured teas until I sampled its gold rush version of white tea. The taste was fragrant and subdued, almost like sitting under a tree in a garden.

The blend is a mix of mulberry, coconut, and white tea. It's a little pricier than the other teas but then white tea is a precious commodity.

What I admired about DAVIDsTEA is that the staff were very enthusiastic and helpful about the products they were selling. And that was on display at two different locations, which says something good about its customer service.

It didn't take me long to try the gold rush and savour it, partially due to two young salesgirls shrieking, "You have to try the gold rush."

They were right. You can have a little bit of gold in a teacup.