There’s something about a tea being themed to one of your favorite interests, that just makes the whole experience so much more fun. Having spent some time battling my way through the fantasy landscape of the Skyrim video game, I was more than ready to brew up a cup of Daedra tea from Grimoire on Etsy.
This herbal tea is bold and bloody. Big chunks of blood orange are paired with dark berry pieces to help sweeten its tart citrus bite. There’s a dose of snappy hibiscus to add its fruity notes and turn the brew a deep, pink magenta. Hot or cold, this blend brews up dark and powerful and makes you feel like you’re drinking sour orange magma, or tart, ruby blood, or even enchanted berry wine.
There’s a lot to be said about the Daedra in Skyrim video game lore, so I’ll spare the details and talk about my favorite bits. The Dremora are a type of Daedra that can be summoned to fight for you. These bulked up warriors are clad in red and black scales of armor and are satisfying allies to have on the battlefield. Their gravely voices call out the best lines when spotting an enemy (“I smell weakness!”) or when gloating over that enemy’s defeat (“No match at all!”). Trust me, it’s worth upgrading your conjuration magic to have one of these guys on your side. The colors and feeling of Grimoire’s Daedra tea blend match their aesthetic exactly!
I’d be curious to try some of Grimoire’s other fantasy-themed teas in their Etsy shop. Some of the other Skyrim flavors include a jasmine green tea for the city of Whiterun, or a cherry oolong for the town of Falkreath. These blends look like they will be the perfect, magical cup of tea to accompany me on my fantasy adventures.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Grimoire Tea on Etsy
Description:
A blend fit for any Daedric Lord. Rich in berry flavors. **This tea is not available right now but click below for the teas that are.**
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
TARDIS Eleven – Geronimo! from Tea and Absinthe. . . . . .
“TARDIS Eleven – Geronimo!” is a classic black with a sweet vanilla kick. I drank this “vanilla cream custard” flavored tea iced, which totally hyped up its sweetness.
It’s got a gentle tastiness that I can readily identify with the Matt Smith Doctor Who.
Classic black tea = the formality of the bow tie. Vanilla = the charm of the fez.
Is that what they were going for? I’m not sure. But I’m going to go ahead and make those associations.
I took notes on this, because I was drinking it away from the computer. Though this IS a Dr Who themed tea, my notes for this don’t say anything about that.
My notes about this say — and I’m not joking — “big and deep and sweet like a Berenstein Bear.” My note has the E, not the A. (The “stein” vs “stain” thing is a long-running Internet conversation about parallel universes: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/the-berensteain-bears-conspiracy-theory-that-has-convinced-the-internet-there-are-parallel-universes )
If I were naming this, I think I’d name it Sister Bear. She was my jam. Her quest to get her ears pierced (does anyone else remember this?) was totally mine. Sister Bear and I were basically the same person. Like her, I just wanted to be cool. I was a big, overthinking doof with a soft underbelly, just like Sister Bear, and just like this tea. And maybe also Doctor Eleven.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Tea and Absinthe
Description
A delicious black tea with vanilla cream custard flavor. Fish fingers not included. Goes well with TARDIS Self-Destruct Buttons (aka Jammie Dodgers)
Ingredients: black tea -Assam, -China, flavor, vanilla bits
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Starlight and Crime Scenes from Adagio Teas. . .A Sherlock Inspired Brew
Who didn’t love the last Sherlock season? So good! I loved each episode and can’t wait for the next season. . .if there is a next season.
Sherlock is one of those shows that my stepsons even enjoy. We actually love this show so much that we (and I really should say I) decided to name our dog Benedict, after Benedict Cumberbatch-who plays Sherlock in the series. The show is clever and cunning, always keeps you wondering what is coming next.
So it goes without saying that when I saw that there were several Sherlock inspired teas offered in the Fandom Blend section of Adagio Teas, I had to find one that fit my tastebuds. Most of the blends were either smoky or heavy into earl greys so to find one that had a fruity tart twist, I was giddy.
Starlight and Crime Scenes is a mix of green gunpowder tea, blood orange herbal inclusions, earl grey moonlight, and hibiscus. The earl grey moonlight is a creamy version of an earl grey and to me- doesn’t seem to have those heavy bergamot oil flavors.
Since this is a combination of green tea, black tea and herbals, I decided to keep my brewing parameters to 190F and allowed the tea to steep for 4 minutes. Within just a minute or two, my water turned into this lovely orange-red brew that reminded me there was hibiscus in the blend. But I’m quite happy to report that the hibiscus flavors work so well with this tea.
With this being a twist on earl grey, the first flavors you do get are creamy vanilla bergamot but they have a tart citrus twist. One of those teas that the more you drink it, the more you find you like it. At first I thought for sure this tea would get heavy but that hasn’t happened this steeping at all. The fruity flavors with the creamy notes really deliver a welcomed contrast to the strong beramot flavors that I’m not a huge fan of.
I will say, drink this tea hot or cold brew. As the tea cools, the tartness does start to overwhelm just a tad. But with a touch of honey, you are back in business!
For me this tea delivers a spot on Sherlock inspired blend. Perfectly balanced with the fruity tones and a more creamy sophisticated earl grey flavor. This is one of those teas that I’m going to crave more of and one that I could definitely see picking up the bigger size bag of.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green/Black Tea
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
Based off The Paradox Series by wordstrings – The cup is full of Sherlock’s grey moods, blood and gunpowder from crime scenes, and some starlight. What else are we to live on? It’s the only tea you’ll ever want anymore.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
The Brew Is Out There from Geeky Teas. . . . .
This green tea is just the right thing for a person with Election Recovery jitters. I spent the night of the United States’ election getting progressively sicker as the tides turned against my candidate of choice. I mean literally sick. Like, throwing up. I have “no chill,” as the kids these days say. No poker face. My body betrays my true feelings every time.
I am a tender, fragile flower.
This tea is the perfect flavor and softness for such faint-of-heart, delicate creatures as myself. It’s a light vanilla citrus (orange/lemon) taste on a springy green base.
The flavor is savory without being over-the-top. It’s a gentle tea for a quiet and thoughtful day.
I would liken this tea to a favorite blanket fresh out of the dryer. Soft, warm, aromatic, and comforting.
This tea is named “The Brew Is Out There,” which is an X-Files reference.
I don’t associate this tea with the X-Files. Unless you count the fact that I’m sort of hoping to be abducted by aliens before our new president comes into power
What does one do to encourage an abduction? Stand in the middle of a farm and wait?
Come for me, aliens. I’m ready.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Teas
Where to Buy: Geeky Teas
Description
Green tea with vanilla, orange peels, natural lemon and orange flavor and sunflower petals, goes great with honey from hybridized bees. Brews up a lovely green color.
I want to believe
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
TARDIS Ten – Allonsy! from Tea & Absinthe. . . .
I STILL haven’t gotten into Doctor Who…I know…I know…shame on me! But one day – not too long ago – I was feeling adventurous and decided to jump into TARDIS Ten – Allonsy! from Tea & Absinthe. Why was I being adventurous just by drinking this tea? Because of the banana, of course! Some of you already know my hate-hate relationship with bananas. I want to like them – I do – but thus far it just hasn’t happened!
I will say for an ingredient I dread so much this was a mighty fine flavored tea! Ingredients include: black tea, flavor, coconut rasps, coconut chips (coconut, coconut fat, sugar), banana bits, cornflower blossoms.
They didn’t skimp on the chunky ingredients! That scored points with me! I think with the deeper, darker black tea taste with the addition of coconut is what counteracted the banana for me – and nicely! Everything meshed well flavor-wise. I wouldn’t change the ratios at all! There was a good amount of sweetness, nuttiness, and black tea taste and I have to say I’m a fan!
This tea PROVES that just because you aren’t fond of ONE ingredient – doesn’t mean you should avoid the tea. If I did avoid it – I would be missing out on a gem of a flavored black tea and fan/themed tea! CHEERS to a tasty cuppa!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Tea & Absinthe
Description
One should always take a banana to a party. Especially if you’re going to invent the banana daiquiri two centuries too early. Bananas are good. Tea is good. Banana and coconut flavored black tea? Brilliant!
Ingredients: black tea, flavor, coconut rasps, coconut chips (coconut, coconut fat, sugar), banana bits, cornflower blossoms
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
