Back in January I treated myself to a huge Bluebird Tea Co order and like so many other companies my package arrived with a couple of extra samples to try. One of those samples happened to be this tea, a teabag of Earl Grey Creme (EGC). This is not one I would have picked for myself in light of my tumultuous relationship with bergamot but it arrived and I am happy to give it a try.
Alas it seems this has fallen victim to the astringency that often accompanies bergamot. Between the black base tea and the crisp citrus, this tea is a touch too brisk for my personal tastes. Often with ECGs, this astringency is drowned out by the vanilla or “creme” component but that is not the case here. With that said, there is a vanilla creaminess lingering beneath the bitter that is trying to break through.
In an effort to drown out the sharpness of the bergamot, I added a splash of half and half cream, which I do not like to do. However, even that isn’t toning down the briskness so ultimately I would say this tea just isn’t for me.
I should note that I brewed this not using my usual variable temperature kettle or mugs which might seem like it doesn’t matter but I have found that such things can impact the flavor of a tea. Moreover, I am in a different country on vacation and something as simple as a different composition of the water could be at play. So in fairness to this particular tea, which happens to be a winner of the 2013 Great Taste Award, my dislike could be because of my preference against bergamot or because of the different elements at play rather than a fault with the tea itself.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Bluebird Tea Co.
Description
Don’t we wish prime ministers today were as good as the ones in the good old days? Take PM Earl Grey, he was the cream of the crop. Not only did he help abolish slavery and reform the House of Commons, he also invented the legendary Earl Grey tea! So we’ve created this creamy tribute just for you old chap!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Candied Yams from Bluebird Tea
There’s something supremely fun about unusual seasonal blends that only come out at the most festive times of year. When I heard about the blend, Candied Yams from Bluebird Tea, I had to get a taste.
So, Candied Yams? I’ve had my fair share of mashed sweet potatoes (yams) and squash with butter and brown sugar, and the sweet, earthy, orange mash is a delicious side to any holiday dinner. (We’ve even forgotten to put the sweet potatoes out during dinner one year, and ate it with spice cookies during dessert, and they were still a winner). No wonder I like the cinnamon and nutmeg alongside the yams in this tea blend.
This tea blend is going for an even sweeter version of sweet potatoes; the kind that were baked in a casserole and topped with marshmallows. Cooking with marshmallows seems like the most nostalgic, American ideal, like putting marshmallows in ambrosia salad. All you need to know is that this tea also has mini marshmallows, and plenty of them to make the tea leaves look festive and the blend taste sugary-sweet.
Beyond the carrot-like yam sweetness, this brew also has a fair bit of tartness, like red cranberry, which comes from the small dash of hibiscus in the blend. This red-berry flavor adds a touch of mulled wine flavor alongside the sweet earthiness and light spice. I figure that if my family can put orange flavored dried cranberries in their Thanksgiving stuffing then this flavor profile makes some sense in this tea.
Don’t worry if you’re more excited about the yams than the cranberries, the yams are the driving force of this blend, most noticeable in the scent and aftertaste. After each sip, I get the sweet and starchy potato flavors, reminding me a bit of carrot cake with walnuts. As the initial sweetness fades on my tongue, the brew has a great, mellow, nutty, taste.
If you’re a fan of weird holiday brews, I’d recommend you pick up a sample of Candied Yams before the sweet-potato-yam season passes. And if you get super inspired, you can even bake a marshmallow-yam casserole to accompany your cup of tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Bluebird Tea Co.
Description:
Always looking forward to those sweet candied yams at Thanksgiving? Wish you had an excuse to enjoy ’em all year round? We hear you! Now you can get into the festive spirit with this Limited Edition holiday tea – it’s Thanksgiving in a cup!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Enjoying A Pumpkin Tea. . . .Out of Season! #bluebirdteaco.
There is literally no “wrong” time of year for pumpkin spice. I will never let such trivialities come in the way of a delicious taste or a review thereof.
Feel free to pat me on the back for journalistic integrity. I boogey to the beat of my own drummer.
Go ahead. Incorporate this into your own life. Drink tea “out of season.” Wear white after labor day. Wear black in the summer. Have visible panty lines. Go to a water park in the winter. Celebrate Halloween with a Gothy holiday tree. Adopt a squirrel and wear it as a hat.
Just kidding. I was checking to see if you were paying attention.
This tea totally nails the buttery, creamy, slightly-spicy nature of pumpkin pie. There’s even a caramel note that I am going to declare as “crust.”
The sweet night be a little bit too strong for it to taste exactly like pumpkin pie, but the tea does still retain that spirit.The tea’s flavor has the warmth of a chai with additional sweet milky smoothness, even consumed black. (I drink almost all teas black.) There’s that playful spicy moxie here that I typically associate with chai.
This tea isn’t available at the moment because, well… it’s out of season. That’s really the only downside of reviewing things “whenever” — things disappear! But that’s all right: keep an eye on Bluebird. Those spunky kids are always releasing new goodies, and one like this might be in their fall lineup!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Bluebird Tea Co.
Description
This tea is not available right now but click below to see the new teas they have to offer.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Gingernut Matcha from Bluebird Tea Co. . . . .
Whether you are a Matcha Maniac or the more adventurous type of Matcha fan today’s featured Matcha may just rock your world! Gingernut Matcha from Bluebird Tea Co. The company calls it the Detox Warrior. The Energizing Elixir. The Slimming Superhero. The Hangover Destroyer. Well, I personally, haven’t put any of these claims to the test but what I CAN tell you is that Gingernut Matcha from Bluebird Tea Co is an impressive flavored matcha that is certainly worth a taste!
Gingernut Matcha from Bluebird Tea Co seems to be ideal for autumn/fall/winter. It’s a limited edition matcha so be sure to get it before it’s gone! It’s also something that would appeal to those who enjoy ginger and spicier notes with even a little tingle in the sip.
The flavor of Gingernut Matcha from Bluebird Tea Co was potent and intense. It had an incredible ginger flavor, a nuttiness to it, and even a chili kick, too! The flavor lingered long after the sip was complete. I sampled this straight-up with nothing added but I’m looking forward to a Matcha Latte of sorts to see and taste how this steps up! I’m sure it will continue to shock and amaze!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Matcha (Green Tea)
Where to Buy: Bluebird Tea Co.
Description
Our limited edition Gingernut biscuit matcha blend is so moreish with milk! Get your matcha kicks with a ginger tingle this Autumn – Winter season!
Our expert Tea Mixologists have created the UK’s first flavoured Matcha Collection in some of their favourite flavours using organic, natural ingredients and all hand blended at our HQ in Brighton.
The Detox Warrior. The Energising Elixir. The Slimming Superhero. The Hangover Destroyer. These are some of our nicknames for the Superhero Superfood – Matcha!
Matcha is a traditional Japanese powdered green tea with up to 10 x the benefits of regular green tea, 7 x the vitamin C as orange juice and 3 x the energy boost as an espresso shot! It’s packed full of antioxidants, minerals and nutrients and is said to aid weight loss, lowering blood pressure and increasing concentration levels and clarity of mind.
Bluebird’s Mixology Matcha contains rare and unique white matcha, grown at higher elevations to ensure an antioxidant boosted, even more nutrient rich cup.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Holiday Blend Alert! Snowball from Bluebird Tea Co.
I love Hostess Sno-Ball cakes. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, the Sno-Ball was a chocolate cake, filled with cream, covered in marshmallow, and crusted in coconut. Yeah, I know, it’s a lot to take in. Not to mention the cakes were dyed different colors for the holidays (orange for Halloween, red and green for Christmas, pink for whatever). As a kid, these cakes were the nectar of the gods. Into adulthood, we entered the dark ages when Hostess filed for bankruptcy and the snacks were no longer being manufactured. To help me cope with the loss, I took a stab at designing my own chocolate-coconut tea blend (it turned out pretty good). Since then, the Hostess recipes have been acquired by new companies and I can now find those tasty marshmallow cakes back on the shelves.
With all this in mind, it was an easy choice to order up a bag of Snowball tea from Bluebird Tea Co. I love this blend, it is no surprise to me that it has even won awards for its taste. Rich coconut and sweet chocolate are really pushed over the top with mini marshmallows. There’s a hot-chocolate coziness to this tea, made all the more decadent by the creamy coconut and cocoa shells. I take my tea black, without sugar or milk, but this is just the kind of tea that would make a fantastic dessert late with milk and whipped cream. I look forward to ordering more of Snowball tea from Bluebird Tea Co. to drink and to share before the season is over.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Bluebird Tea Co.
Description:
The chocolatey, marshmallow, coconut goodness of a gooey Snowball is one of the best sweet treats of Christmas and this year it is award-winning too! Our most famous Christmas tea blend scooped a Great Taste Award this year for it’s chocolate chips in plenty, coconut flakes in tons and a sprinkle of mini marshmallows to finish it off- The perfect Christmas Snowball.
This tea is no longer on the site but click below for what teas are
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!