Bird & Blend Tea Co.

Sipdown (2319)!

Definitely my least favourite of the zodiac teas I’ve tried while here in Saskatchewan, and maybe in general? It’s very floral and perfume-y in much of the same way that I found Bird & Blend’s “Campfires and Vampires” blend to be when it was fresh – kind of has a unfortunately cosmetic ‘baby wipes’ quality with the rose notes in particular. The only difference is that it’s ALSO cloying because of the licorice root inclusion (boo!) and doesn’t have the cinnamon, which was for sure the best part of Campfires and Vampfires.

So hard pass for me on this one.

Sipdown (2320)!

This one reminds me a lot of a now discontinued DT blend called Sunshine Chai, which was basically a turmeric chai (on a rooibos base) with the addition of coconut. Similar turmeric notes here, though maybe a little less intensely earthy, with a few other warming spices (namely ginger) and the fatty creaminess of coconut. It’s totally fine, just not really my thing at all.

Sipdown (2321)!

I brought the rest of these Zodiac blends with to Saskatchewan to finish off while on vacation, and this is the first one I steeped up when I got home from the airport. It was a rough two flights – lots of screaming children. I had a splitting headache by the time I got off my first flight, and by the end of the second I was just so miserable.

This was a welcome bit of comfort after what amounted to about twelve hours total either in airports or in the air – even though it was my first time trying it. For a rather long ingredient list, the flavour was pretty simple. Just bright, sweet and straight forward lemon. Pretty delicious and classic, even with the green tea base (not my fav). Not sure I’d order this again since lemon teas are so easy to come by – though finding a good one is a little like finding a needle in a haystack, so it’s nice as an option!

Free sample from an order. I super wouldn’t call this a breakfast tea. However, cold and sweetened, this was quite the lovely cup of tea. It tasted almost like plain rooibos (in a good way) but with a little extra magic. I’ve been looking for a tea like this, so I’d consider buying more. This is definitely advertised incorrectly though. The resteep was a bit murky for me.

Adventageddon Day 9 – Tea 3/4

Another one that I already own! It’s okay though, I absolutely knew this was going to happen when I picked up this advent…

I remember that the last time I tried this I was very confused by the presence of orange in the blend and I couldn’t really decide if I liked it or not. This time around I knew the orange would be there and I still can’t decide what I think of this tea. It’s a very weird carrot cake ingredient. A shame, too, since the mix of spices is so nice and that frosting type of note is really spot on and delicious.

WHY ORANGE!?

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0pgjjIuitc/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNmHGdKAW6c

Finally decided to try this one as part of yesterday’s ‘teas I drink in a day’ IG round up. The rainy day seemed as good as any to take this seemingly very cozy matcha profile for a spin. It was actually my first tea of the day, and I got to whisk it up in a new matcha bowl that I picked up from O5 when I was in Vancouver!

This matcha was simultaneously immediate satisfaction and immediate frustration. As soon as the water hit the matcha powder I was hit with this highly aromatic wave of perfect carrot cake spices. Exactly the right spices in the right ratios for how I picture the perfect carrot cake in my head; cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice. Divine. However, I was ALSO hit with orange zest. The same kind of orange as Bird & Blend’s Jaffa Cake matcha. It’s a perfectly fine orange on its own, but it’s PAINFULLY OUT OF PLACE in a carrot cake. I mean, who the hell puts orange zest in their carrot cake??? I’ve heard of pineapple or raisins, which I will begrudgingly accept but the inclusion of orange here is a crime.

Amazingly and tragically, the steeped taste is very similar to the aroma. A little more allspice than I’d picked up in scent, but otherwise great spice balance with a lovely note of slightly tangy vanilla frosting that I hadn’t got in the nose. It’s not carrot cake without the frosting, so I was tickled pink to taste in in the blend after all. Also orange. Fuck the orange. Just… why???

Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuiALRCOC3G/ (Fifth Photo)

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2LpL4dLGZk

Sipdown (2323)!

So far this has been my favourite of the zodiac blends. Like Scorpio, it’s very straightforward with a full bodied, brisk and malty black tea base with additions of fresh, aromatic cardamom and just a bit of cream. There’s just enough natural sweetness present, and the flavour is rich which not overwhelming the base. I could see it being so phenomenal with a splash of milk. I am, for sure, a bit of a sucker for cardamom but it does feel a little more rare to see it in such a pure play way that just honors the flavour so entirely.

I would definitely buy this one again.

Sipdown (2324)!

I’m not really sure what’s going on with this tea, but I think I sort of liked it? At the same time, it was strange and I felt a tad bit unsatisfied by the end of the cup, and I really can’t explain to myself why?? It tastes mostly like berry, but in a more thin and surface level way. Elderberry is one of those berries that can get pretty gnarly the more you use in a blend though, so I do think I prefer a less full bodied berry note over something sickly sweet or medicinal, which would be easy to accidentally do…

The base choice is strange. It’s gunpowder green tea and milk oolong!? Mostly it just tastes of the milk oolong, thankfully, but that sort of artificial butter note doesn’t seem all too cohesive with the berry notes and slight tartness. I think this is a case of “all the individual components are nice” but together they’re unorganized and messy…

Sipdown (2325)!

I’m certainly no expert on the zodiac, but I do know that Aries is a fire sign and, well, I felt the fire with this blend. I actually liked this one much more than I thought I would given the ingredients list, but the rooibos was pleasantly smooth and woody and the chili had a very real kick to it that crawled down the the throat and left a lingering warmth in the back of my chest. The mouthfeel was a little thicker than I expected too, which i believe was from the coconut. I didn’t taste a ton of coconut, but I did get a nice subtle orange note which was a fun offset to the chili, ginger, and cinnamon.

I don’t usually find myself drawn to teas like this one that are basically just spice profiles, but if Bird and Blend offered this in a smaller size than the 100g tin I would definitely consider getting more of this. Zodiac aside, this would be killer for clearing out a stuffed up nose when you’re sick – especially with some honey!

Sipdown (2326)!

So, the main reason I ended up placing this past Bird and Blend order was because of their new zodiac collection. I definitely didn’t want to blindly commit to 100g tins of everything, but I did want to try them all so I picked up the sachet sampler, which has a single tea bag of each one. I’ve been enjoying casually sipping through them all this past week – in no particular order.

This is one of the few that, based on the ingredients list, I might have been tempted to order for myself. Ultimately I’m glad I didn’t, but I did think it was a nice enough tea. It’s a black tea base with a light addition of tropical passionfruit. Definitely not nearly as much passionfruit as I’d have liked though, and what I did taste was a little bit on the flatter side and not the lively, tangy passionfruit I might have hoped for.

However, fans of the Mariage Freres or Dammann Freres style black tea blends with subtle fruit additions may have better luck with this – it’s basically a breakfast blend with that subtle tropical nod.

Teas like this confuse me so much. This one uses beets, I assume mostly to turn the tea red, but they also make it taste 100% like beets. It overpowers everything and is just really frustrating. It’s so savory and not fun to drink. I wanted to give it another chance, so I steeped it for a shorter time and am drinking it cold and sweetened. It isn’t quite so savory/offensive, but it’s just sweet beets.

The dry leaf aroma is starting to get really weird with this tea so I was super nervous to brew it up, but the cup was actually totally fine. No funk to it at all, so not sure why the leaf smells so peculiar. It’s still learning towards more of that chocolate liqueur/chocolate flavouring direction than actual chocolate, and the popped rice toastiness is also still stronger than the cream notes. So, sticking with my original “chocolate genmaicha” assessment. Still tasty, though!

Definitely over steeped this one since i always forget just how fickle Bird & Blend’s black teas can be – they get bitter and tannic quicker than most black blends I own. That said, it was still drinkable with some pleasant chocolate notes – just a little biting. I’m reserving judgement until I try this with a better steep time, and maybe some milk – but for now it doesn’t particularly taste like Cookies & Cream to me. Definitely lacking the cream component, and the taste of toasted rice is very apparent. Almost more of a chocolate genmaicha vibe, but with a black tea base…

Adventageddon Day 23 – Tea 4/4

Is this the first chocolate orange profile to show up in my advents this year!? I feel like it is, and that’s kind of surprisingly because this is one of those flavours that has historically shown up a lot in past years.

Anyway, I’ve had this particular matcha before and found it sort of so-so tasting. I don’t know what the difference was today, but I really enjoyed it. Definitely more orange tasting than chocolate, but so smooth and well balanced with the umami of the matcha itself. Though it was just a hint, the cocoa note was also very nice with the overall profile. I did feel like I was getting that iconic jaffa cake profile.

I also paired this matcha with an assortment of little treats for myself. Christmas oranges, brownies, and a very interesting and unique chocolate orange flavoured Wensleydale cheese which, if you’re not familiar, is a sweet and crumby cheese that almost had cheesecake sorta vibes to it. Definitely made the experience more festive, and just worked wonderfully as a doubled down complimentary pairing.

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Nib5IOsB3/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9mqfGpwowc

Iced Oat Milk Latte!

Immediately digging into my recent Bird and Blend order with a refreshing Jaffa Cake iced matcha latte!! Though I would have loved a little more chocolate and a little less orange, this was a refreshing afternoon pick-me-up. A bit of a drying mouthfeel – I think from the ground up orange peel – but it’s not a deal breaker. It’s seriously a real shame that Jaffa Cakes aren’t nearly as popular in North America as they are across the seas in the UK, so I always try to pick up a Jaffa Cake inspired tea blend whenever I come across one.

I also picked up all of the biscuit collection and a sampler of the recently announced Zodiac collection, so I’m seeing some delicious iced lattes in my near future. I know a lot of people get really into iced and cold brewed fruity teas this time of year, and honestly so do I …but I think I drink just as many iced teas too!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuATo2JujkR/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G09Qx-UGQLQ

TTB
Chocolatey and cookie-like, this blend did not disappoint! There is a flavor here like a chocolate dipped waffle cone. There is a black base underneath somewhere, but I only tasted the chocolate cookie. Thanks for putting it in the box!

TTB
I didn’t know this was supposed to be a chocolate blend, mostly I got cream, floral violet and an ok black base underneath. Glad I got to try, but it’s not for me.

Though I didn’t love the last sticky chai I bought, I was still fascinated to give this one a try. It tastes sort of squashy or fruity. I also taste a pretty pleasant combination of spices. I would definitely call this a spiced tea and not a chai. It’s not spicy at all. Still, I don’t love the combination of spices with the fruity aspect. They clash a little for me.

Grabbed a little sample of this from the TTB and made it into an iced latte this afternoon! It’s very refreshing, although the grapefruit flavor is a little less pronounced than I would’ve expected — I’d love it to be a little brighter and crisper. The pink is gorgeous, though!

TeaTiff Traveling Tea Box | No. 4

There is something really comforting about the smell and taste of this blend. I think it must be the coconut. I don’t smell any banana, and the coconut is very light. It does remind me, as coconut tends to do, of lounging at the beach. Not on the beach – my body doesn’t like sun or heat unfortunately – but maybe on a shaded balcony with a book in hand. The taste isn’t exactly remarkable, but I think there must be a nostalgia here that is making this one feel special. It’s hard to describe really, because I drink coconut teas often and this one feels different somehow. I do wish there was more banana since I think that is meant to be the dominant flavor.

TeaTiff Traveling Tea Box | No. 1

Ever since Amanda introduced me to violet tea and candies a few years back, I’ve been on the lookout for anything violet-flavored to add to my cupboard, cart, or wishlist. Violet Cream has been on my wishlist for a while now since I haven’t made a Bird & Blend order for quite some time. Only once have I been able to bring myself to spend enough there to qualify for free shipping. One day I’ll try it again! I’m glad to see a few Bird & Blend teas in the TTB this time around, so I’ll be able to try some new-to-me blends. I was a little surprised that the first aroma I noticed when I opened the bag of Violet Cream was chocolate followed closely, of course, by the violet. I hadn’t realized this was a chocolate tea and wouldn’t have expected those two flavors to go well together but they really do. It’s a seamless combination. Thanks to Skysamurai for including it!