Out & About #431 | T by Daniel 2.0 (Bramalea City Centre)

​Some may deem a 50-kilometre round trip to be utterly ridiculous for a cup of tea. Hear me out though: it isn't just any ol' cup of tea.

Recall the time I ventured to Bramalea for the sole sake of Miniso, and then set off to Downtown Brampton afterwards in order to introduce the ever-formidable Lion Chai.
The hype had been intense, as were the feelings of excitement. Consequently, so was the disappointment at observing their temporary closure sign.

​Over the next several weeks, T by Daniel took to keeping fans updated with frequent social media posts. The Grand Re-Opening was eventually announced for Friday March 16th, with an evening launch party taking place at 5pm.

Absolutely delighted at this news, this date was subconsciously noted in my mind. The sane side of me immediately ruled out participation in the official celebratory activities - I need not be stuck in Brampton during rush hour, thank you very much. The willful side was sparked to conduct a morning run to satisfy the previously unfilled void.

​​Ultimately, this ended up a post-errand-running, early-afternoon trip. The mission of the journey was clear: Lion Chai, with a brief detour of Miniso.

To my sheer shock, Bramalea was quite empty given that March Break was still in full swing. Parking was abundant on both the ground level and underground quarters; few mall-walkers stormed the corridors. Should the destination have been Square One, I would have expected quite the opposite.

Not too far from the kitchy gift shop that is Owl Monkeys, T by Daniel stood tall and proud - possibly the only shop to be seen bustling with customers.

​The new installment of the tea-based endeavour featured a loose-leaf tea bar (for the selection of take home varieties) that extended up to ceiling, monogrammed merchandise in the form of reusable cups, a crafting and cashier section, and ample in-store seating.

In addition to being extensive in nature, the menu possessed a high degree of clarity. Whether it be a listing of their signature concoctions or beginner's guide to enjoying their products, all of their offerings were clearly laid out to assist customers in narrowing down their preferred pick.
Sweets and pastries in the form of macarons, biscotti ("Biscotteas"), and tea-infused "Donka" bars were also added to the roster.

​I splurged - I mean, why not, seeing as I had already driven the distance for this sole purpose. Three steaming cups of Lion Chai were requested, along with two Biscotteas and two Donka Bar boxes.

​The bill's total was a tad hefty, though well justified if asked personally. Lion Chai - the shop's sophisticated take on a sweet, spice-laced black tea latte - did not disappoint. Despite being slightly sweeter than remembered, it provided a dose of enjoyment nonetheless.
Each cup was steamy - sorry, scalding - to begin with, but tiny plastic stoppers contributed to increased insulating properties. Should I took to roaming the retail centre, I could have done without one. However, these small specimens were more necessary when taking three beverages back home on a bumpy ride.

​Each ringing in at $2.75, Pistachio-Cranberry and Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotteas were the snacks of choice. Both proved satisfying and, again, on the sweet side. Known to stray from pistachios in most situations, I was suprised to find myself thoroughly enjoying the first variation. The chocolate-dipped version was definitely the more indulgent of the two and would have probably paired better with a straight Oolong (as opposed to a boldly-flavoured tea latte).

The Donka Bars - appropriately named after a supposed collaboration between Daniel himself and Willy Wonka - were available in Matcha, Lion Chai, and Jamaican Me Crazy. Initially I had opted for the first two, though later swapped Matcha for coconut-/green tea-based Jamaican Me Crazy after a very persuading description of the third option.
Not one to favour white chocolate, the Lion Chai actually stunned me. Absent was the typical slickness of cocoa butter-based white chocolate; in its stead was a cloud of comforting aromas. It was Lion Chai, but in a solid, portable form readily accessible by chocolate fiends.
Jamaican Me Crazy has yet to be tasted at this time.

​I'll be joining the royalty program shortly, though my next visit is yet to be scheduled given the distance.
Now if only T by Daniel was a little closer to home...