681 Tasting Notes

80

I’m back! I have had the best week and really enjoyed my much needed holiday, but I did miss my tea while I was away. Still, sightseeing around London, seeing 10 shows in 6 days and meeting some very cool celebrities (including David Tennant and George Takei, who was an absolute sweetheart) didn’t leave me much time to drink tea! I have laughed, I have cried, I have gasped in amazement, and I have spent a lot of money that was not necessarily in the budget for the trip.

Soooo… about my no-buy. Here’s the thing. I have been buying tea from Bird & Blend since their infancy, when they were a new company with a small online presence, no physical stores you could go to, and the orders were hand-packed by the founders/owners of the company themselves and sent out with little hand-written notes and hand-written stickers on the packets. You get the idea. It’s been nearly a decade since I placed my first order. Well… the company is doing fantastically well. Going from strength to strength, creating many new blends, employing a large staff and opening several brick and mortar stores. It’s fantastic to see! But being from the North East, there are none near me, and I haven’t had the chance to visit a store in person yet. So when I saw there was one only a single tube stop away from my hotel, I had to visit! I dragged my friends along and I was like a kid in a candy store, chatting to the staff and accidentally becoming a sales advisor and enabling other customers to pick up some of my favourites. My friend initially picked up 1 box of tea bags, and ended up leaving with a strainer and 10 small packets of loose leaf tea instead! So, it’s safe to say, I did some damage… My cupboard is now up 24 teas, but I don’t mind because I’m just so happy to have restocked on some old favourites and to have picked up some wishlist teas to try, including this one. I’m definitely going to have to work hard on my sipdowns now, though!

This was the first tea I made myself this afternoon when I arrived back home, picked at random from the pile of new teas, and it was a good choice! The scent of the dry leaf reminded my instantly of Parma Violets, a favourite childhood sweet of mine, and I was happy to find that this carried through to the sip. The front is all sweet powdery violet, and the creamy chocolate comes through at the back of the sip. I drank this cup plain, and found it sweet enough, but I bet with a pinch of sugar it would be very reminiscent of a violet cream chocolate. Yum.

Now to shamefully update my cupboard…

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 15 sec 1 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML
ashmanra

Whaaaaaaaat?!? That sounds like an amazing trip!

Kelmishka

Sounds like a lovely holiday — so many shows, wow!

Nattie

It was a great trip, I didn’t want to come home! I am a bit of a theatre nerd haha so was planning the next trip on the train home :’)

Martin Bednář

Well, that sounds like an awesome trip! I couldn’t stop myself and get some teas as well. Actually, I bought at least a pouch or a box when coming from a trip. Even I have a loads of tea at home.

Jen vB

That sounds like a fabulous trip! Shows, David Tennent and George Takei, and tea!

vallhallow

That sounds like such an amazing trip!! Did they try to recruit afterwards as sales advisor? ;)

Nattie

Martin – it’s really hard to resist, isn’t it?! I think it doesn’t count when you’re on holiday haha

Nattie

It was amazing, and I miss it already!!
Haha valhallow – I am genuinely considering it as a valid career move! :’)

Martin Bednář

It counts Nattie, I am sitting next to boxes of tea (as my cupboard is actually small), and I have no space left!
But how I could pass Basil&Lime tea in Romania?

Nattie

Oh dear! My new purchases don’t fit in my tea cupboard (which is actually a decorative suitcase) either. I think I’m going to have to instate a 1-in-1-out policy. That basil and lime tea does sound intriguing, though!

Martin Bednář

It is very aromatic; it’s sitting net to me on table, as the box is a bit creased and can’t be closed properly and I don’t want to ruin other teas with it.

Nattie

I guess you better drink it before it contaminates the rest, then! ;)

tea-sipper

Awesome trip, I’m glad you were able to visit a B&B store! I have also been a huge B&B fan since the days of their hand-sewn-with-thread samples! I have asked them if they would ever have a shop based in the US, but no, I think that is wishful thinking. I’m glad they are doing well enough in the UK anyway!

Nattie

tea-sipper – I was talking to the sales associate in the shop and she did say they have big expansion plans, so fingers crossed for you! I’m hoping they’ll open one up in the North East (where I live, at the total opposite end of the country to London) too.

tea-sipper

oooo expansion plans! I doubt it will be to the US but I’m hoping a B&B shop opens up in your area!

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I’m on holiday!!! Sitting in The Theatre Café in London with two of my best friends, waiting to go and see Zachary Quinto on the West End. I have needed this. The tea selection isn’t the best, so I’m drinking a weak Earl Grey from a brand called Libertea that I can’t seem to find on Steepster and don’t have enough information on to create an entry for, but I don’t care, because I’M ON HOLIDAY!!!!

Martin Bednář

Enjoy your holiday!

ashmanra

Nice! Enjoy!!

gmathis

Can’t wait to hear about your adventures!

Kelmishka

Hooray! Enjoy your holiday!

Nattie

Thanks everyone! I’ve just gotten back and have a touch of the post-holiday blues, but I’m glad to get back to my tea stash!

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84
drank Wuthering Heights by LiteraTea
681 tasting notes

London fog! Since the Caramel Creme tea latte was a flop, I decided to make another. This one is much better! Robust base which can stand up to the milk (and sugar, this time) which I added, this makes for a delicious London Fog! Since it’s the last day of my Christmas break before I go back to work tomorrow, I decided to treat myself, and added a teeeeeny splash of Bailey’s Irish Cream. Yum!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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76
drank Caramel Creme by Della Terra Teas
681 tasting notes

I got this tea aaaaaaaages ago from MissB and I’m shocked I’ve never written a note on it! The caramel is very tasty and quite pronounced, but is fading with time (my own fault, not the tea’s). My only complaint is that the base used is a bit thin, and doesn’t add a whole lot to the experience. This flavouring on a really nice black base, maybe something with natural chocolate or honey notes, would be absolutely killer. As it stands, it’s a bit meh. I tried making a tea latte with this, thinking the caramel would be perfect for it, but the base wouldn’t hold up to the milk so the whole thing just kind of flopped. Oh well. I only have a little of this left so I’ll have to drink it plain next time and hopefully will have a better experience. Rating a little kindly based on this cup, because I remember really enjoying it when it was fresh.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 30 sec 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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84
drank Wuthering Heights by LiteraTea
681 tasting notes

Merry belated Christmas to those who celebrate(d), and Happy Holidays to all! I’m a couple of days behind on the holiday wishes, because I was working a 12 hour shift on Christmas day and was just incredibly busy trying to squeeze in an hour here and there with my family where I could. I’ve had a couple of days off now though, and am finally settling into the holiday spirit of eating too much food (and plenty of chocolate), watching a lot of TV and drinking festive drinks.

This was a gift I received in my stocking this year – Santa definitely knows me well! It combines a few of my favourite things in tea and books, but also it’s an Earl Grey creme, and based on one of my favourite novels!! I love Earl Grey cremes, and have been sorely missing having one in my cupboard while I try to sip down some of my collection, so this feels sort of like a get-out-of-jail free card in adding one to my collection without buying any new teas. I am a very happy Nattie. The icing on the cake was finding out when adding it to the database that this tea comes from a small business based in Ann Arbor Michigan (I have no idea how Santa came across this one), somewhere I’ve never been but would love to visit as the spiritual home of yet another interest of mine. I know it was a coincidence, but I really feel like this tea was the perfect gift for me.

The scent of the dry leaf is incredible, the bergamot is present but it’s very creamy and intoxicating. Steeped, the malty black tea and bergamot come through the strongest but there’s a definite creamy scent there too. The instructions on the tin said to steep for 5-10 minutes, but that seemed like overkill so I went with a pretty standard 4-minute steep. In the sip the base is quite brisk, but not astringent, and perfect for breakfast time. The bergamot is bright and fresh, and the vanilla and cream flavours round it out really, really nicely. The cream is very present at the back of the sip when hot, but as my cup cools it’s becoming less noticeable, and more like a regular EG. I added a splash of milk, just to test it out really, and it’s equally good either way. This might not be the number one best EG creme I’ve tried, but it’s pretty dang tasty and I would be more than happy to keep this in my collection!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
Jen vB

This sounds like it needs to be in my cart! BTW, it’s National Chocolate Candy Day, so definitely indulge.

Nattie

Do it! I am a big proponent for the Earl Grey creme. This one cold brews really well, too (:
I didn’t know that! Thanks for the go-ahead to indulge, haha.

derk

Merry Christmas, Nattie :)

Nattie

Thanks derk ! Hope you enjoyed your holidays too.

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74
drank Witches' Brew Chai by 52teas
681 tasting notes

I know this doesn’t seem the most obvious choice for this time of the year, but I chose it for several reasons. Number 1, it was actually a part of Frank’s last (I think?) ‘12 teas of Christmas’ at 52teas before he handed over the reins to Anne (who I believe was a creative collaborator on this tea even before she was official owner?). Number 2, this is tasting note 666 for me, and it just seemed wrong writing up a Christmas-themed tea and wishing happy holidays on this note… and number 3, I really wanted a tea latte, and this seemed like a good choice. Originally I was going to use the tea I got for Christmas (more on that shortly), but I decided I should probably drink that straight for my first note before I add a bunch of milk and syrup to it.

Unfortunately the first pouch of this I grabbed was the Christmas reblend rather than the original, and while I do think this fits the brief of a smoky, savoury chai blend, I much preferred the original which was much sweeter with the cola-forward ginger note I find in a lot of Frank’s chai blends. This reblend is heavy on the cumin, and heavy on the smoke. I thought it might work well as a latte as I really enjoy the Adagio Sherlock blend (a similar lapsang chai) in latte form, but unfortunately this missed the mark. It has a strange sourness to it which I can only assume comes from the cumin, which there was a lot of in my spoons this evening. It’s followed up by a lot of clove and a stubborn lingering smoke. It’s not awful – just not quite what I was after this evening.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
tea-sipper

oh gosh, I still have some of this too. I think we have the same tea stash. haha. Hard to believe this was in the Christmas box!

Nattie

Lol, it sounds like it, doesn’t it?!
Yep, I thought that at the time, too. It kinda took me out of the Christmas mood a bit when I first saw what it was.

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98
drank Hello Sweetie by Butiki Teas
681 tasting notes

I have maybe two cups of this left, and I’m going to be so sad when it’s gone. But I know it won’t last forever, and I want to appreciate it while I can. This is hands down my favourite banana tea, and I am so happy Stacy convinced me to pick up some to try despite my bananaphobia. I only wish I’d trusted her more and gotten a bigger bag! Never mind. I love the PTA base, it’s pretty much my ideal black tea, along with the Sansia. Malty but rounded, and not at all astringent. The rest of the flavours are beautifully blended. The coconut is most prominent (and has aged pretty well for a coconut blend), and the nutty, caramel and banana notes all follow closely behind in a gorgeous coming together of dessert-y goodness. This is such a unique tea, but it means it will be hard to find a replacement for (even more so that the rest of Butiki’s irreplaceable blends). I recently added another tea to my wishlist because it was getting compared to this one, and I could kick myself because I haven’t the foggiest what it was! I’ll have to do some research and have a little look through my wishlist and see if I can figure it out.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML
Inkling

It was Banana Pudding by 52Teas! :)

Nattie

Ah, thank you! :D

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93
drank Lime Marshmallow by Butiki Teas
681 tasting notes

This is still a huge love! I am still yet to drink this with additives, it’s too perfect as it is. I adore lime, and anything creamy or marshmallow in tea, so it’s no big surprise that I adore this one. What is a surprise is how well it has held up! Powdered sugar-covered lime, with marshmallow at the end of the sip. Yum!

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 30 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML
Dustin

I don’t recall ever seeing this tea before!

Nattie

I think it was a part of their closing-down, last-hurrah release.

tea-sipper

Yep, I still really love this one and the flavor is still so good.

Dustin

I’m sorry I missed it. I keep hoping that Stacy will get the band back together for a greatest hits reunion tour or something!

Nattie

@Dustin – one can only hope!

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67

I can’t believe I’ve never left a note for this tea! The packet I have still has the ‘Bluebird Tea Co’ branding, so that should tell you something…

It’s a decent herbal blend, but not my favourite. I love Turkish delight, and this is not that. It’s more a floral, herbaceous lemongrass blend, with a hint of cocoa at the end of the sip. There’s also strangely a black pepper note which I get fairly strongly in the scent, and it’s there at the front of the sip too. It’s not in the ingredients, and I would think I was picking up on it wrong, but I made a mug for my younger brother too and although he couldn’t smell the pepper like I did, he said he could definitely taste it. It’s not offensive, but not particularly exciting, apart from the appearance of the dry leaf, which is absolutely gorgeous (as per usual for B&B) and full of beautiful whole rosebuds. Points for that at least!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML
Mastress Alita

I always get that peppery note from lots of rose petals/buds.

Nattie

Ahhh, that could be it! Thanks!

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86

Another old tea which is still going strong! Just as yummy, creamy and strawberry-y (?) as I remember. As it cools the smokiness of the base comes through more, so I prefer it hot. Sweet, creamy, syrupy strawberry goodness, with a nice thick custardy mouthfeel which complements the whole thing. I know this was originally a black tea, but I honestly think the green base suits it better! I’m not much of a green tea kind of girl as a general rule, but it’s hard to picture this on a black tea base when the green just complements the strawberry and the creamy vanilla so well. There’s a touch of astringency, but I don’t mind it.

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 3 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML

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Profile

Bio

I first got into loose leaf teas when a friend of mine showed me Cara McGee’s Sherlock fandom blends on Adagio a good few years back, but they weren’t on sale in the UK so I started trying other kinds instead and have been hooked for almost three years (and have purchased several fandom tea sets including the Sherlock one I lusted over for so long).

Flavoured teas make up the majority of my collection, but I’m growing increasingly fond of unflavoured teas too. I usually reach for a black, oolong or white tea base over a pu’erh or green tea, though I do have my exceptions. I will update my likes and dislikes as I discover more about my palate, but for now:

Tea-likes: I’m generally easily pleased and will enjoy most flavours, but my absolute favourites are maple, caramel, chestnut, pecan, raspberry, coconut, blueberry, lemon, pumpkin, rose, hazelnut and peach

Tea-dislikes: vanilla (on its own), ginger, coriander/cilantro, cardamom, liquorice, pineapple and chocolate

I am a 25 year old bartender, English Literature sort-of-graduate and current student working towards finishing my degree. I am hoping to one day complete a masters degree in Mental Health Social Work and get a job working in care. Other than drinking, hoarding and reviewing tea, my hobbies include reading, doing quizzes and puzzles, TV watching, football/soccer (Sunderland AFC supporter and employee of my local football club), music, artsy weird makeup, and learning new things (currently British Sign Language).

I should probably also mention my tea-rating system, which seems to be much harsher than others I’ve seen on here. It’s not always concrete, but I’ll try to define it:

• 50 is the base-line which all teas start at. A normal, nothing-special industrial-type black teabag of regular old fannings would be a 50.

• 0 – 49 is bad, and varying degrees of bad. This is probably the least concrete as I hardly ever find something I don’t like.

• I have never given below a 20, and will not unless that tea is SO bad that I have to wash my mouth out after one sip. Any teas rated as such are unquestionably awful.

• This means most teas I don’t enjoy will be in the 30 – 50 range. This might just mean the tea is not to my own personal taste.

• 51+ are teas I enjoy. A good cup of tea will be in the 50 – 70 range.

• If I rate a tea at 70+, it means I really, really like it. Here’s where the system gets a little more concrete, and I can probably define this part, as it’s rarer for a tea to get there.

• 71- 80: I really enjoyed this tea, enough to tell somebody about, and will probably hang onto it for a little longer than I perhaps should because I don’t want to lose it.

• 81 – 90: I will power through this tea before I even know it’s gone, and will re-order the next time the mood takes me.

• 91 – 100: This is one of the best teas I’ve ever tasted, and I will re-order while I still have a good few cups left, so that I never have to run out. This is the crème de la crème, the Ivy League of teas.

I never rate a tea down, and my ratings are always based on my best experience of a tea if I drink it multiple times. I feel that this is fairest as many factors could affect the experience of one particular cup.

I am always happy to trade and share my teas with others, so feel free to look through my cupboard and message me if you’re interested in doing a swap. I keep it up-to-date, although this doesn’t mean I will definitely have enough to swap, as I also include my small samples.
Currently unable to swap as I’ve returned after a long hiatus to a cupboard of mostly-stale teas I’m trying to work through before I let myself purchase anything fresh

I also tend to ramble on a bit.

Location

South Shields, UK

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