Bird & Blend Tea Co.

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Recent Tasting Notes

32

This tea is bizarre. It’s spicy in a way that’s irritating to my throat. I enjoy spicy teas and foods, but this just feels uncomfortable. It’s paired with a weird sourness that’s just tangy and strange. Sweetened with almond milk, it’s drinkable, but one of the least pleasant teas I’ve had in recent memory.

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76

I taste a lot of licorice and also the cardamom. This isn’t bad, but it’s a little simpler than I’d prefer. I might also taste a bit of creaminess. I just wish it were all a bit bolder.

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AJRimmer Advent Day 25

My kitchen smelled AMAZING while this one was brewing…almost like I was baking a late batch of gingerbread a few days after Christmas! Unfortunately, the flavor didn’t live up to the aroma. The ginger was STRONG and drowned out any other cookie flavors that might have been present. I like ginger, so I still enjoyed it, but would have appreciated a bit more complexity to the flavor.

Flavors: Ginger, Gingerbread

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AJRimmer Advent Day 23

I mostly got chocolate and popped rice from this one. Pleasant enough, but not really “cookies & cream” in my opinion.

Flavors: Chocolate, Toasted Rice

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AJRimmer Advent Day 20

Hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! This is my first day home since the holiday craziness, so I have about a week’s worth of tea notes to catch up on. Not going to rate these since I’m writing notes mostly from memory.

This one didn’t stand out for me; it was a fairly brisk, astringent black tea with a bit of a caramel note; probably would have been better as a latte.

Flavors: Astringent, Caramel

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The oolong in this is very creamy and buttery and that taste comes through the flavoring. There is a bit of mint, but it’s subtle. The cacao flavors are even more subtle adding a little depth without popping out as chocolatey to me. This is an overall very mellow tea. I’m enjoying it a lot, but it’s not something I’d restock.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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This has such a nice milky oolong scent in the bag! Once steeped, the peppermint is present, but not overwhelming. I get some of the cocoa notes adding depth. The added flavors don’t knock out or overwhelm the flavors of the oolong. I can still pick out the milky flavor of the tea and the buttery notes behind it. Enjoying this cup, but not feeling the need to keep it stocked permanently.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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72

This was my final tea for the B&B advent calendar. It’s mint, Not much more to say. I like peppermint team and I liked this version of it too. Nothing outstanding, nothing disappointing. Just an ice mint tea.

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89

Tea Pop Sipdown (2531)!

Finished this one off today in the afternoon and it was everything I didn’t know I needed today. Sweet, bright and crisp apple notes – a little more red apple or even that more ethereal “white apple” note with slight floral undertones that I associate with Japanese apple flavoured food products or drinks. Just the right kind of apple. The mint? Not too strong, but added a crisp and cooling element that upped that refreshing feeling of the drink and just made the apple seem so much juicier by contrast.

And it really sparkled as a tea pop. Just so perfectly balanced.

I wasn’t planning on putting in a B&B order any time soon, but now I’m kind of worried that this might sell out before I get a chance to restock. It’s just so fresh and delicious. One of the better matchas I tried this past year.

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89

Adventageddon Day 24 – Tea 1/4

Welp, we did it. As I do every year on the 24th, I’m breathing such a tremendous sigh of relief now that Adventageddon is over. As much as I love it, every year it’s so much to keep up with. I feel so much lighter every year as I wrap things up though; it’s truly just like this massive release of tension. I can’t even imagine how Cameron B feels with her dozen or so advents, haha!

This was a nice matcha to end on, though admittedly not the flavour I would have guessed they’d pick for day twenty four. Granted I’m a overthinker, but I feel like the first and last days in an advent are the most important so the tea selection should match the gravitas of those days. I probably would have put the Gingerbread Chai Matcha here, personally…

Truly, though, every new matcha from this year really impressed me. The apple note here was so fresh, crisp and ripe tasting – very much (if not the same) as what was in the Blackcurrant & Apple matcha from earlier, but much more of a dominant flavour. The mint was cooling and really accented the sweetness of the apple while doubling down on the overall crispness. It was mostly in the finish, and it was very nice. I haven’t always loved the mint flavours B&B incorporates into their matcha but this.. wow.

Just a super solid flavour. I bet it would also be so good iced!

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1QHuq0OvkR/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWxzf9ff6CA

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75

Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 24

What an odd choice for Day 24. I always wonder if companies just don’t think about the ordering of the teas in their advents sometimes, for instance when they put similar teas near each other, or like this when they don’t save a festive or special tea for the end of the advent. I can’t imagine they don’t put a lot of thought into it, but I also can’t imagine why they’d choose a summer matcha for Christmas Eve otherwise. Especially when they had more festive flavors earlier in the month… :P

Anyway, this is probably a weird flavor to make as an iced latte, but I’ve done every other matcha that way and I’m not going to stop now! :P This smells strongly of crisp apple, with just a dash of the mint. As a latte, I also mostly get the apple, and mixed with the oat milk, it sort of reminds me of oatmeal with chopped raw apples mixed in. The mint is more noticeable at the end of the sip, leaving a creamy but refreshing mint finish in my case. Will have to try the remainder of the tin as a sparkling iced matcha at a later date, since it’s probably better suited for that.

As for this advent as a whole, I was really impressed with it. The last time I tried a lot of B&B’s matcha was many years ago, and I’m pleased to see they seem to have moved away from the “tea powders” they used to carry more of, with rooibos or herbal bases, and transitioned to more actual matcha. And their matcha base seems significantly better than what it was originally (I think it had white tea or something?). Definitely considering ordering a few of these flavors, though the price point is a bit high for me. But they have a lot of unique ones, so might be worth a splurge. Would definitely recommend this advent for future years!

Flavors: Apple, Cooling, Crisp, Earthy, Fresh, Grassy, Mint, Peppermint, Smooth, Sweet

Preparation
Iced 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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78

Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 23

Ooooh, I love Jaffa Cakes, and I often buy them at the supermarket!

Really though, this mostly just tastes like orange to me, and I don’t really pick up on the chocolate aspect. There is some cocoa powder in here, but just based on the color of the powder, it must not be that much. Still an enjoyable zesty, slightly pithy orange flavor, but I wouldn’t liked more chocolate for sure.

I will say I’m a bit glad to not be totally in love with it, since this one is no longer available. :P

Flavors: Bitter, Citrus, Cocoa, Earthy, Grassy, Orange, Orange Zest, Smooth, Sweet

Preparation
Iced 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
gmathis

Where can you buy Jaffa Cakes? I’ve never seen them around here!

Cameron B.

Our supermarket has them in the import section! Along with digestives and jammy dodgers and a few other British delicacies ha ha. I guess I’m lucky! But I would think you would be able to find them at World Market as well if you have those in your area. If not, let me know and I can send you some! :D

gmathis

There’s not a World Market locally, but there is one near my mom-in-law when we visit. Will just have to add it to the “hunt it down” list!

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74

This was in my caffeine free advent calendar last night. I was surprised I liked it. Chamomile is not a fave. It brewed up very pale, so much so that I let it steep a minute longer than I normally would. The flavor was oddly sweet, but not fake sweet like from stevia. I don’t have a sense of smell, so I don’t taste much, but I could swear that sweetness tasted like black licorice. There is no list of ingredients with this advent calendar, only a brief description. I come here and see it was previously named Liquor-licious. Ah-ha!
I don’t plan on ordering 50 grams of this, but I am quite happy with it. And quite pleased with myself for identifying an actual flavor!

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68

Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 22

Ah, finally a rooibos. I expected more of them, to be honest, but it seems like B&B has gotten out of the habit of making “tea powders” that don’t contain any matcha, which I’m glad about. This one has rooibos, but it also has actual matcha as well.

It’s okay. Honestly, I don’t taste the matcha at all, mostly I get earthy ginger, licorice root, and hints of other spices on a rooibos-y base. It doesn’t taste at all like gingerbread to me (but neither does their Gingerbread Chai), more of a strong gingery chai since there is no cookie or molasses element here.

Not bad, but certainly not one I would purchase.

Flavors: Earthy, Ginger, Licorice Root, Spices, Woody

Preparation
Iced 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 21

So I expected this one to be similar to Raspberry Ripple, but actually I find it reminds me of Nordic Berry? There’s something a touch medicinal about it that I don’t love, and almost an herbaceous minty note? I must be crazy lol, because that makes no sense for a strawberries & cream matcha…

I guess I’ll have to see how I feel about it when I try the other serving. :P

Flavors: Berry, Herbaceous, Medicinal, Mint, Sweet

Preparation
Iced 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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Adventageddon Day 19 – Tea 4/4

Probably my favourite of the day. In general I’m a sucker for a good banana tea, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad banana flavoured matcha. This one has a very natural banana taste to it with less creaminess than I taste in the banana flavours from 3 Leaf Tea or DT. I almost just made it iced, but in the end I went the iced latte route and I found it made for a deliciously thick and frothy taffy-like taste.

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1DQq6tu9xP/?img_index=1

The penguin cup I drank this in was my Christmas gift from my manager, and it’s so fucking cute. She knows me so well.

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjPKGh22uDg

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75

Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 19

Ooh banana. This is nice, but doesn’t have a strong enough banana flavor for me. As an iced latte it’s very yummy and creamy, but the banana is a bit subtle and I would like it to be at the forefront. For what it’s worth, it does taste quite natural though.

But that’s okay, I already have a favorite banana matcha from 3 Leaf, he he… :3

Flavors: Banana, Creamy, Grassy, Smooth, Sweet

Preparation
Iced 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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51

There’s something off-putting about this one. There’s a peppery flavor in the base or something. With milk it’s okay, but it’s really not too appealing. There’s nothing about it that makes me think of cookies. The last time I had this, I drank it cold without milk and still I find it okay, but it’s mostly just murky rooibos with a bit of something else maybe. I’ll pass on the rest.

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72

Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 18

To be honest… I don’t really taste the pineapple or the coconut here? I made this as an iced latte (as always), and honestly if I were guessing the flavor, I would guess lemon. It’s quite creamy and sweet, but the only discernable flavoring I’m getting is lemon, and it must be from the peel? Perhaps a hint of piña colada in the finish?

I mean it’s still good, I’m just surprised not to taste more pineapple, and certainly more coconut.

Flavors: Citrus, Creamy, Fruity, Lemon, Smooth, Sweet

Preparation
Iced 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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45

AJRimmer Advent Day 18

I was quite surprised when this green tea brewed up pink! My first sip revealed the culprit: my old enemy hibiscus. I do understand why they would include it here, as it lends a pink color as well as a tart flavor that is appropriate to a grapefruit. But for me personally, it overwhelms the citrus flavor that I can faintly taste in the background and leaves me feeling like I’m pretty much drinking a hibiscus tea.

Flavors: Citrus, Floral, Grapefruit, Hibiscus, Tart

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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82

Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 17

I feel like I’ve already two almost birthday cake-esque matcha with Mermaid and Ice Cream, but here we go ha ha.

This is definitely more cakey than the others IMO – a rich yellow cake flavor with swirls of sugary frosting on top. It has an even more buttery flavor than the ice cream version as well.

So really, it does taste like cake! Obviously birthday cake doesn’t really mean anything, but this definitely brings to mind a yellow or white cake with sweet buttercream frosting. Not sure they really need this in their lineup with those other two I mentioned are quite similar, but still tasty!

Flavors: Butter, Cake, Frosting, Grassy, Icing, Rich, Smooth, Sweet, Vanilla

Preparation
Iced 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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Adventageddon Day 15 – Tea 1/4

I’ve been looking forward to this one! In my head it was a real coin flip whether this would be unpleasant and medicinal tasting or not, and in the end I was really pleasantly surprised by how rich and jammy the currant and apple notes were. It reminded me a little of Ribena and a little of the apple fruit jellies I enjoy eating around the holidays. Plus, it’s always super fun when you get to match the flavour of your tea to your teaware!

I can 100% see this not being a flavour for everyone. I totally agree with Cameron that this is more of a currant forward profile and even though I enjoyed the currant flavour a great deal I think there’s still a very realistic world in which most people interpret it as medicinal. I’d definitely buy this though, if it sticks around on the B&B website long enough to still be there by the time I finish off all these mini matcha tins…

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C049M5QuHNI/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnQUiGJES1E

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82

Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 15

Ooooh, another of their newer matcha that I’ve been wanting to try!

This one is lovely. The blackcurrant is the stronger of the two flavors, giving that classic syrupy dark berry sort of taste. Then the apple helps to lift the flavor a bit, and similar to the pear matcha, it’s quite crisp and refreshing.

Really nice pairing, and another one I would consider buying. It’s just that their matcha is quite pricey compared to my usual (3 Leaf) and I tend to fall out of the habit of drinking matcha quite often, and I wouldn’t want it to go to waste… :P

Flavors: Apple, Berry, Bitter, Black Currant, Candy, Crisp, Fruity, Grassy, Sweet, Syrupy

Preparation
Iced 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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What even is this?! There is some hibiscus in it, but not an obnoxious level. It’s sweetened with stevia, but doesn’t have the weird stevia taste that I find so distracting. It really does taste like a cherry cola! The lime leaves are an uncommon addition to a blend. I think I’ve only ever had them in an Arthur Dove tea, Fairytale of New York. This blend is so weird and I love it!

I bought this on a whim and I’m really glad I did. I wish I had gotten a bigger size. I haven’t found many tea blends from this company that I really dug, but they seem to be really good at tisanes. I hope they offer it for a while because I’m not ordering again until I go through the massive bag of Baby Spice that I got and I want more of this.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec
AJRimmer

Ha I recently made an order to acquire a giant bag of baby spice as well :P

Dustin

It’s the best pumpkin tea ever! When I’m sick I add some chili in my cup for a warming kick.

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