T2

I think this blend is around a year and a half old, but I got a couple of sample sachets in a swap (a REAL LIFE swap!) with my friend the other day and I’ll be darned if I’m going to do a sipdown without actually getting to add the tea to my cupboard and then remove it again.

So the all-caps isn’t just gibberish and stands for Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings Extra Special. Sure. OK. Googling seems to show it was ranked an 80 (“Very Good: a tea with superior characteristics”) in the US tea championship 2013? Good for it…

It smells like delicious chocolate. Tastes pretty chocolatey for a plain black tea, too! Yum. I think this is what you’d call a single origin tea? Hahaha.

Had this quite a few times over the past few days. I really wish there was more chocolate in this. The tea is nice, it’s just… lacking choco. Phooey.

This is the tea that exploded ALL over my kitchen, and the one I made the order for initially. Bah!

It’s more mint than chocolate, and while the peppermint is quite lovely with little red rooibos taste at all (and zero itchy throat as I find I get of late with red rooibos), the chocolate needs amping up a whole lot for it to be a go-to. It’s still tasty, and I have a feeling it would be an excellent latte and cold brew.

Eh… not enjoying this today. All I’m getting are cigarette ashes. There had better not be maté in this… (Keeping the rating the same, just in case it’s me tonight with an issue).

Woot! My T2 order arrived today, and I’m over the moon. This is the most I’ve ever paid for tea (due to shipping) even with the massive BF orders for multiple people last year. So this is the first tea I’m trying, because I’m craving some tulsi right now.

First, the packaging: amazing! All of the teas came in a black box, kept together with a magnet. Everything, including the paper packaging to keep things from shifting during transit, had T2 written on it in black on black. Super classy. Then the tea came in boxes with T2 prominently displayed, all lined up in a pretty row. Inside however, the tea came in basic, clear plastic wrap, with zero way to zip it back up again. Not cool, and the brittle plastic broke already with one of the teas, making a huge mess with a lot of expensive tea. Boo. Note for next time (if I order again): buy the tea in tins.

On to the tea! It’s an odd yet comforting blend. Herbal cream with some faint cacao/chocolate in there is what I’m getting. Something dry at the end, which I’m attributing to the tulsi. Yep, for what this is, it’s quite excellent.

Got this as a sample with my latest T2 online order. It’s fine for a flavoured green, I just don’t care much for flavoured greens. Sipdown done and dusted.

This tea is an interesting one. Of all the three limited edition blends released for T2’s #gentea campaign, this was the one I wanted to try the most, all of the ingredients looked like they would appeal to me immensely. I bought all three on a whim at T2 today, and this is the first one I’ve opened (naturally, since I wanted to try it so bad). It wasn’t on tasting in store, so I had no idea what to expect.

I opened the box (which is beautiful, by the way, I would buy them for the boxes alone, but that’s just me), and took a whiff. I almost fainted. And not in a good way. The first thing that hit me was this scent of chocolaty cream, which the first thing I was reminded of was Baileys Irish Cream. And I am NOT a drinker. It could be an olfactory response triggered in my system somewhere but this made me almost feel sick. Not a good start for poor Bree.

However, if YOU love Baileys, and other creamy sweet related liqueurs, this scent will be right up your alley. Unfortunately I couldn’t smell much else, as going in with the nose seemed like I was daring somebody to make me puke, so I decided the trial would be in the tasting.

My best description of the brew colour is a gorgeous caramel-ey orangey red, unlike anything I have ever seen before. I love my fruit infusions, but this was something different, looking into it you can’t quite figure out what it is. But it IS pretty.

The Bailey’s scent has died down a tad now. I’m brave enough for a proper smell, and I can smell rose, chocolate and strawberry. Quite pleasant.

This was brewed quite strongly, for the amount of water there was, but I wanted to try get as much out of my first taste as possible. First sips I immediately could note rose petals, strawberry, tartness from the apple pieces, sweet chocolate flavour and a hit of beetroot. The apple flavour lingers in the back of your mouth after swallowing, which is quite nice if you’re an apple fan like me. All other florals mentioned in the tea description seemed lost, to me, but then again my palette might not be quite trained enough to sense them yet.

It was nice. Drinkable. Sweet, naturally. For a name such as Rose, I wish the rose and florals were more prominent. The chocolate and fruit flavours working together is a welcome surprise though, for so long I have longed to taste chocolate and strawberry together in a drink, and I got my wish with this one.

This is definitely a fruit tea to me and I think more than anything the other florals were included to bulk up the volume and add a range of colours to the dry leaf to make it look enticing. Which is totally does. It’s just a shame I can’t smell the damned dry leaf without wanting to rush for a bucket.

As I said all along, this tea is interesting. I’ve never encountered something which was so horrible (IMHO) in some elements, and downright delightful in others. The taste is lovely, only thing would be certain elements get drowned out, and are probably there for show. Smell, well, you know. And the liquor itself is the prettiest thing I have seen in a long time.

I can honestly say I’m glad I bought it and gave it a go. And I will definitely be finishing the box. But is it worth stocking up before limited time is up? No. I don’t think. Not for me anyway. Having my cupboard smell like Baileys would probably kill me.

A very nice, relaxing tea that settles the nerves, and calms the body. It also has excellent nutrition value.

I agree with memilly this Red Choc Mint has a great flavor…..added with soymilk makes it a delicious cup of tea you will want time and time again.

To celebrate T2 opening up their London store I thought it was about time for another tea review, and one of my favourites in the whole T2 collection.

Although the classic Early Grey bergamot is definitely there, for me it’s the hibiscus that comes through and what makes it so delicious. It gives the tea the floral and fruity hit that makes it a more gentle early grey than others. Sometimes I can find bergamot too overpowering so for me, this one is balanced just perfectly.

I have this with milk and find it light enough to be a perfect afternoon tea. Its refreshing and more-ish and it’s become my most ordered tea from T2 so far.

thank you missB! this is another delight that was sent my way. This is a tasty sugar, nougatty tea. I think i’d prefer this as a black base tea but on the whole it’s a delicious tasting tea that was really nice with dinner + fringe.

Oh man..also…i had the best lemon bluberry cake today with our lunch out…i’m still dreaming about it..lemon custard thingy on top…blueberry layers…fluffy white cake..meringue on the top sorta…soooooo good.

Final Count: 156 (at least 6 teas in tomorrow’s sipdown!)

On my first taste of T2 Gyokuro, I found the sharp taste overwhelming and a little too bitter. However, after brewing at home and taking care with brew time and temperature, I found this tea to be delightful. It has a rich, robust flavour with a slightly sweet aftertaste and hints of roasted rice in the aroma. If you are not a fan of strong flavours or green tea this is certainly one to miss; if you enjoy a strong green tea without bitterness, this is an ideal candidate. Brew time is essential to the flavour of this tea, however, as it becomes bitter very quickly.

i enjoy a black tea with rich flavours in it such as the melbourne breakfast tea by t2. the first aroma on brewing the tea is a delicate honey vanilla which isn’t as overpowering as the madagascan vanilla tea by t2 (striclty vanilla flavoured) . It is strong enought to start your day off with or enjoy after a long day at work. i prefer taking my tea with a hint of milk and a pinch of sugar. i found this tea to be very similar to the creme brulee tea by T2 except that it lacks the nuttiness and toffee flavouring of the creme brule. all i all a terrific tea,which i regularly stock in my kitchen.

Aroma: Big hit of wood, smoke and pine needles. Bold but complex, and ever so slightly acrid. Hints of ginger and tropical fruit. Second steeping is still full of flavour.

Palate: Pine cones and forrest floor. There is a certain ‘dankness’ to this tea which is earthy and alluring. Light smoke and burnt sugar are in there. This tea is somehow deep yet light without being overpowering. Second steeping is just as good. All in all, quite delicious.

Overall: A great dark oolong – a variety that is really growing on me lately. I’ll be back for more!

Late last year I sent a tea care package to a friend in Australia, and just yesterday I received a package in return from her. Imagine my surprise when I found a bunch of T2 teas in it, some of which I’ve coveted, yet haven’t been able to purchase as they only ship within Australia. So, thanks Helen! You rock.

I was expecting licorice like the Dutch licorice I had the other day, or even So Long and Thanks for All the Licorice from Butiki. Nope… this is anise, fennel and peppermint tea. and I’d imagine this would settle even the most upset of stomachs. Word of advice though: leave it unsweetened. It’s surprisingly sweet on it’s own.