Gaddzilla Teas

Great selection of teas

Fifteen years ago Gerald and Karin Gadd quit smoking. It was part of a greater move toward healthy living for the couple. They also started drinking a lot of tea. Gerald used to joke that they drank so much tea they should start buying it wholesale. And so Gaddzilla Teas was born.

Gaddzilla is now a thriving business, selling 110 varieties of premium teas and herbs around the province, and from their shop in their Waterford home. From the beginning Gerald and Karin have focused on freshness, buying in small quantities packaged weekly. Perhaps this is why they have so many repeat customers. Another reason is that this couple does their research, sourcing products from the best growing regions. Peppermint and spearmint, for instance, come from Washington State, where conditions allow for the highest available oil content in the leaves. Chamomile comes from Egypt. Any farmer will tell you that specific regions, because of climate and soil factors, create ideal environments for different crops. Like the Pinot Noir of the French Bourgogne. Or how about Norfolk County ginseng and, of course, tobacco?

Green and black teas are no different. Gaddzilla offers a variety, both flavoured and traditional, priced according to grade. They have orange pekoes from Assam, Ceylon and China, and some green teas you’re not likely to find anywhere else. Dragon Pearls, as an example, is a jasmine-scented green tea from China, where the top two leaves of the bud are picked and then rolled into tiny balls that expand in hot water.

My personal favourite is matcha, the Japanese green tea used in the famous tea ceremony of that country. Cha, the suffix you will find at the end of most Japanese varieties, simply means “tea.” This is similar to the Indian chai. In fact, when we say “chai tea” here (as in “I do tai chi, drink chai tea”), we are being redundant. But no matter, back to matcha.

This drink has become very popular in the west in recent years. It is the powdered whole-leaf of the plant, and because of this you receive many times the health benefits of infused tea. In fact, matcha is one of the most nutrient and antioxidant-dense superfoods on the planet, comparable to wheatgrass. The powdered format means you can also use it in smoothies, shakes, ice-cream…you name it. Some find the flavor of this tea quite strong. I suggest you start with half a teaspoon, and go from there.

Want to avoid caffeine completely? How about Organic Rooibos from South Africa, or Yerba Mate, the tonic of Central and South America? Check out Gaddzilla online

Great selection of organic tea. Very nice store, clean , open and well setup. Best part... It is right in my backyard here in Norfolk County, Ontario