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I treated myself to the Bird & Blend Advent calendar and threw in a few other packets of tea when I made the purchase; the brand is new to me and I was excited to try a few things. My order arrived today (yay!), and although I’m obviously waiting until December to open the calendar, I steeped the Birthday Cake blend for my afternoon cuppa.

Color me disappointed. Although the dry leaf smells powerfully (and impressively!) like a rich vanilla cake, the tea itself is just… rooibos and not much else. I truly don’t understand how others taste vanilla, marzipan, almond, etc. Smell, yes; taste, no. If you served me this tea and told me it was plain rooibos, I’d 100% believe you. It’s a shame, too, because it’s such a cute concept, and I love that the sprinkles are vegan—that’s rare! I maaaybe get a little vanilla creaminess as it cools, but that’s pretty much it. :(

(Note: I rated this tea a 60 on my first go-round, but I’ve upped it to a 70 after figuring out a better method for brewing it.)

Sipdown!

Low Country is the one blend I repurchased when I ordered from August a second time. I dig the malty-sugary scent, although I’m glad the steeped cup has more bitter notes to cut through the sweetness. I don’t get much smoke, interestingly, and I’m not sure I’d pinpoint the flavor inspiration as bourbon if the label didn’t tell me to do so. In general, though, it’s a solid breakfast brew.

Unfortunately, I think I’ve ruined this tea for myself by drinking an over-steeped and too-strong cup while feeling sick after getting my covid booster. Now the smell (and thought!) of Low Country makes me faintly nauseated. Good thing I finished the packet this morning. So long, Low Country, and thanks for all the sips.

A friend gifted me four Lord of the Rings-themed loose-leaf blends a couple years back, from a company that no longer seems to offer teas. Ranger Brew (named for Aragorn, of course) features hōjicha blended with whole juniper berries and white pine needles. I suppose the concept is that Strider, during his rambles throughout Middle Earth, might forage for tea ingredients and enjoy a cuppa over a campfire? Sure! Why not.

I think Strider would’ve been better off crushing his juniper berries rather than leaving them whole, because I didn’t get any juniper notes in this cup. Pine? Maaaybe a tiny bit, but the hōjicha is really the dominant flavor. It’s light, earthy, and very smooth, with a back of the throat aftertaste that bizarrely reminds me of pickles?! Not in a strong vinegary way, but more like pickling spices. Maybe it’s the juniper? It’s odd but not unwelcome, and it at least brings a little interest to the cup.

Can I envision Aragorn sipping this tea? Umm… sure? Maybe while hanging out with his beloved in Rivendell.

This is a fine, inoffensive tea, but I’m not sure it really delivers on its flavor promises.

I can’t really decide how I feel about this tea! I got suckered into a purchase thanks in large part to the write-up on the August Uncommon site. (AU hires some fab copywriters!) It’s probably just my pandemic-induced wanderlust exerting its influence, but the description of a gilded café in turn-of-the-century Vienna won me over. Plus, chocolate and cherry! What’s not to love!?

The thing is, I don’t really get much of the cherry flavor. Chocolate, yes, and it’s not a bad chocolate, either — it’s rich and slightly bitter. But the cherry gets a bit lost for me, other than a whiff in the dry leaf. Like many AU teas, this one has almost overwhelmingly powerful scent before steeping, to the point where it’s almost off-putting. Thankfully, the flavor is more subdued.

Hmm… as it cools, the cherry is maybe coming out a little more. But I don’t think I’d identify it as such if I didn’t know it was in there. It’s just a round fruitiness backing up the chocolate and the slightly astringent base.

I’m definitely digging it more as it cools; the flavors come together and make this a satisfying cup. I bet it would make a good nighttime dessert tea if I weren’t sensitive to late-night caffeine.

Worth a try, I’d say, though I don’t imagine I’ll repurchase.

Sipdown!

This tea was included in a Tea for Everyone sampler I was gifted a few years ago; I’m trying to finish up some teas to justify a few online orders for the holidays, so I used the last of this one this morning.

Dry, this tea does smell pleasant (if generically) fruity — I’m not sure I’d identify the fruitiness as passionfruit; I might guess peach? Steeped, the fruitiness isn’t terribly strong, but nor is the green tea — the whole cup is a bit weak and underwhelming, and I don’t get the passionfruit at all. I wouldn’t really mind, but there’s an odd aftertaste that shows up after each swallow, something plasticky and unpleasant. On the plus side, I don’t taste the stevia, which I typically notice and dislike in blends like this!

Anyway… not a big fan; won’t restock.