Butterbeer

I was stoked when I opened today’s 12 days of tea packet and saw Butterbeer. I’ve been curious about this one for a while. Sadly, my sinuses are still not cooperating, so I’m not getting the full taste- booo to my stuffy nose! I feel like Sneezy from Snow White and the 7 dwarves. I’d much rather feel like “Happy” instead.

I gave my Dad a cup and he said it was good. I like what I can taste of it, which is a good sign because I’m pretty choosy when it comes to black tea (I’m caffeine sensitive). I’ll have to hold off on finishing the rest of this tea until I’m feeling better. This one might make the rare black tea reorder list, but I’ll be a better judge of that when I can smell again. I foresee a rating will likely increase the next time I have this, but so far, I’m happy with it.

♪All I want for Christmas is my sense of smell♫
♪my sense of smell ♫
♪my sense of smell ♫

I came home from yoga this morning to find my very first 52teas order in my mailbox! I just about squee’d right in the lobby of my building. I was expecting a longer wait to ship to Canada, but I think it was only about a week ago that I ordered. Tea surprises are the best surprises!

Of course this was the first one I wanted to get my hands on. Ever since I first read the Harry Potter series (and every time I’ve read it since then!) I’ve been dyyying to try some butterbeer. Anyone who has read the books knows how incredible the characters all make the drink sound. Found a few recipes online to make my own, but they all called for butterscotch of some sort. Blech!! I hate butterscotch and I don’t think it has any place in butterbeer, thankyouverymuch. So when I saw that Frank had come up with his own flavour concoction to try to imitate the legendary beverage, and had combined it with TEA no less, I knew I had to try some. And from what I’d read in reviews, it didn’t sound like this one would scream butterscotch.

When I first opened the packet my heart sunk a little. It smelled just like root beer. I love root beer, but I wanted it to be a note in the blend, rather than the dominant flavour. I had no reason to worry though, because once it’s steeped up, it is so perfect! I get the root beerish taste, but also the lovely creamy butteriness that everyone has been raving about. It’s so warming and complex and just delicious that I imagine this is the closest I’ll come to butterbeer heaven.

In conclusion, I’m SO glad this lived up to the hype, or else I’m pretty sure I would’ve been heartbroken :P I can’t wait to sip on this in the fall (my favourite season!) with a cozy scarf and a good book. It’s just that kind of tea!

Yum! This tastes very much like a slightly buttery rootbeer.

I was in the mood for a somewhat butterier version of this, so I added a bit of Buttered Rum from DavidsTea this time around.

I can’t wait for winter to come so I can drink this and watch the snow fall!

Got my 52teas in today. Sadly, I ordered three teas, and one was missing :( I sent an SOS out, so hopefully I hear back soon!

As soon as I got this, I had to go make some. It smells so good when steeping, nice and creamy. I took a sip while it was still pretty hot, I just couldn’t wait! And…nothing. Just a normal black tea flavor. Hmm, ok. It’s probably one of those teas that needs to cool a bit for the flavors to come out.

I read everyone else’s updates while I waited for it to cool, the whole time the delicious scent teasing me. Ok, time for sip number two. And still nothing. I was getting worried, thinking it was butterbeer only in smell, not in flavor. I did something I normally don’t, I added sugar. Another sip, now and…. BAM. There is was! THIS was the flavor I’ve been looking for, this sweet root beer deliciousness. I decided to add in some milk, and that made it nice and creamy. Milk and sugar makes this tea into what I imagine butterbeer to taste like. I can imagine spending a day in the Hogwarts library, researching Nicolas Flamel with a cup of this to keep me going, or sitting in the Hog’s Head Pub with my friends.

I was a bit apprehensive about this tea due to the addition of licorice root, but being a big fan of Harry Potter I had to order a pouch. Besides, if anyone could make a somewhat strange flavor combo work, it is going to be Frank! This tea is really, really good. I drank some last night while watching a Harry Potter movie and it was a cool experience. I woke up wanting this tea again! I think this pouch is going to go fast. I appreciate that this tea is good for at least 2 infusions also. There is a root beer flavor that is backed up with a buttery taste and texture. I don’t really notice the licorice root or chicory – I think they just add to the general texture and smooth flavor profile. I am loving this!

I’m another steepster that got their paws on Butterbeer when it was re-blended. I eyed it when it first came out, but hesitated, then it sold out and I was angry at myself. Minutes from Frank’s tweet saying Butterbeer was back I was buying it. MIINNEEE!

Harry Potter fan? Yes but my dad is a bigger fan though. He announces all the spells when he watches the movies (no joke). I’m totally a Syltherin, my husband is probably Ravenclaw and my dad is a Syltherin lackey.

DRY: Rootbeery (with no bubbles going up my nose), creamy and sweet.

STEEPED: Very strong rooty buttery smell. Steeps up very dark brown red.

TASTE: Quick blip of black tea with a bite of bitterness (maybe I steeped it for too long?) then a pronounced root beer taste. With a couple lumps of rock sugar the bitterness reduced and theres butteryness at the initial sip. As the tea cools the rootbeer and butteryness comes out more.

WHO’D “ACCIO BUTTERBEER!” THIS: Black tea lovers and adventurous types.

COMMENTS: I know I messed up this steeping. Either too long or too hot as I’m sure the bitterness is not supposed to be there, so I need to try again.
Overall pretty unique and tasty.

I probably have to share this with my dad, darn!

Steeping this up with a touch of stevia. I’m craving sweets and am wanting this to curb it!
It’s way better with a touch of sweetener! It tastes like flat dr.pepper almost. But then a burst of butteriness fills my mouth. I wish it was somehow cold and bubbly slightly.

Not too shabby

Sipdown! I tried a cup of this over the holidays from the 12 Days of Tea and I remember liking it. Today I finished off the pack and made the boy and I two cups of tea. I love the way this one smells – very buttery and lightly of rootbeer. My fiancee claims it smells like butterscotch, but I smell more of a licorice and creamy vanilla. I’m obsessed with this flavor – it’s not like the strong, overwhelming rootbeer flavor of a soda, but a nice, soft taste with a smooth and creamy texture, and no artificialness. I’m sad to see this one go!

-Dry leaves are medium sized.
-Dry leaves smell softly of butter and licorice. Tea liquor aroma is of licorice and vanilla.
-Tea liquor is a clear orange brown color.
-Smooth licorice flavor with a creamy butter finish.
-Best with sweetener. Milk optional.
-Excellent tea. Light natural creamy rootbeer flavor.

I have had this tea for a few months now and left it untried for too long, even when it appeared in the 12 days of Christmas box I failed to try any. Well not today, now is the time to brew, sip and review.

My house is a royal mess thanks to my lazy days over Christmas and my hangover has left me with holiday belly today so after washing a marathon of pots I have sat down to rest with a cup of butterbeer. Strange really since the last thing I want after this hangover is beer.

Raw the tea reminded me of dandelion and burdock pop which I adore and get delivered each week from my milk man so I hope it tastes similar. I think it’s the licorice that put me off initially as I have gone right off the taste of it which may be why it has taken me to long to try this.

I have no idea what the reference is with Harry Potter either, not a Potter fan. As a child I was a LOTR fanatic, of course that was when there were only the books. I think someone should make a LOTR tea. Anyway I’m stalling…I must sip.

It smells sweet and malty with strong licorice notes. It’s a familiar smell but I just cannot think what it reminds me of (which is no help). The maltyness in flavour I like which may be the chicory aiding the black tea but the licorice is sweet and well..very licorice. It’s chai like but without the spices.

It’s no where near as bad as I was expecting but it’s not something I could drink much of. Going to see if I can trade away my unopened pouch. Sorry this one just isn’t for me.

This is tea #11 from the sampler. I’m sitting on the couch sipping it while I relax from a crazy day of work at the bookstore. I’m back on Boxing Day too, blah.

I’m not sure what butterbeer is meant to taste like as I’ve never tried any of the fan-made recipes floating around the internet and I don’t think it was ever described in the books. I’m going to assume a similarity with rootbeer as this is what this blend tastes like to me – and that’s totally okay as I love rootbeer. There’s a bit of something more in there that’s harder to define – it’s smooth and slightly creamy with a bit of natural sweetness. Very yummy!

I used 1 tablespoon of dry leaf for 375 ml of water.

In the aroma of the brewed tea I am detecting buttery and root beer notes. Black tea scent is present and smells a little bitter however it does not take over the other scents.

The black tea is a tad bitter and the bitterness slightly overpowers the other flavous. Otherwise, I’m getting a very buttery taste along with the root beer flavour in the background. It’s almost like a bakey-toffee type flavour. The black tea taste is present closer to the end of the sip. I’m not detecting any licorice root flavour. The brewed tea does not taste as sweet as the dry leaf scent.

As the tea cools, the astringency isn’t as noticeable. The root beer flavour seems to have been toned down but is still present. I’m getting mostly the buttery flavoured tones.

As the tea cools further, I’m getting a fizzy mouth feel. I think that this might be from the chicory root.

I received this one in a random sample swap from Ze_Teamaker! So thank you :D It smells so good! I didn’t really know what to expect flavor wise from this tea. It reminds me of a chinese soda(kind of like rootbeer but A LOT different) I get from the Southeast Market with a scoop of ice cream or vanilla in it. MM :] I’m happy I got to try this one! Thank you again Ze_Teamaker!

It’s here! And I’ve already set some aside for ozli as I’m sure she’ll want some too.

It does taste root beer-ish, and there are some odd flavours lurking underneath. I guess that’s the licorice etc. But it works! And there’s something sweet – vanilla, maybe?

Yep, while I wouldn’t want this all the time, I’d sneak out of Hogwarts for this. :)

So, after a bad weekend of candy and such, I’ve decided to do my “vegan” diet thing today and tomorrow if I can (eh, we will see). That means only whole fruit and vegetables, as well as no sugar added and natural juice, and tea and water.(bananas, avocados, and perhaps one potato are my friend. Don’t worry, I’m not going to starve myself.) After complaining how hard it was to my boyfriend, he told me it couldn’t be “that” hard, so after a bit of a spat (don’t worry, we made up later) he is going to be doing the diet too tomorrow, to prove that its not so hard, and to provide moral support. (Good boyfriend). :) We’ll see if either of us breaks, right?

Now on to the tea. I decided I shouldn’t put sweetener in my tea while I do this thing, since that IS food, in a way….so I tried to drink a tea that would taste good even WITHOUT sweetener, a hard task for me. (I love my tea a bit sweet; brings out the flavor.)

This tea stands up to the task, one of the only ones that did. Its natural licorice flavor (which I happen to LOVE, lol….maybe had to do with all the black licorice candy my dad kept around the house when I was growing up) is sweet on its own and comes out nicely without any help.

When I had drank this tea before with a bit of sweetener, it tasted remarkably like not-fizzy, and slightly watered down root beer. I don’t taste much “butter” flavor in this, and I would like it if it did. That is probably my only complaint; this is a good tea. Would I buy it again? Well I want to try Davids tea version first and see the differences before I say which is better, but yes I would like to keep some root beer inspired tea in my cupboard. Cheers!

I’m afraid to go to the 52Teas website after I write this note. I’m afraid that the Butterbeer will be all gone and I won’t be able to order say dozens more packages, for me, and to force upon all my friends and family: SEE?? TEA IS AWESOME! I’M NOT CRAZY! TRY THIS!!

Ahem. Sorry.

I’m reading the other tasting notes and seeing that I was supposed to be getting a root beer flavor and yes, in the beginning, I suppose I did. But towards the middle and end of the cup, it was creamy dreamy butterscotch candy that I was tasting. And I want more and more and more. I’m scaring myself a little; I know this tasting note is a bit on the manic side…

Blame it on the Butterbeer.

Off to check that website! Wish me luck!

My school ran a butterbeer shake special a while back that was just a butterscotch shake with cayenne pepper in it for some reason. This is much better than that. But why did it take me so long to realize this smelled like rootbeer? Haha, I’m silly. I don’t really drink root beer unless it is accompanied by vanilla ice cream. I have a friend who is a root beer connoisseur and has tried like, 200 kinds. Anyway, I adore cream soda, and now I recognize that this tea reminds me of a cream soda/rootbeer hybrid! It’s very exciting how spot on it is…dunno how Frank does it. I wonder what it would be like iced…

Being a huge Harry Potter fanatic I had been dreaming of trying this tea since I learned of its existence. When I got my 12 days sampler for Christmas, I cheated and opened this one to try immediately.

I didn’t account for the fact that I HATE rootbeer. One day, I will get to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and see if their butterbeer can tickle my pallet. And this is probably the best rootbeer flavored thing I have ever had, but I just don’t like that flavour. I’ve tried it now as a latte, straight hot, and iced. I think iced was the best. But still too close to rootbeer.

omg i haven’t really drank tea all day! what’s with that!?
i did have a pot of peppermint tea at the museum bar after seeing the Chihuly exhibit with my sister.
but that didn’t really count in my mind.
though it did feel good in my tummy.

I impulse bought this when I saw a post saying that it was back. I don’t know what kind of packed Frank made with the postal service that allows my tea to get shipped to me so quick; cause after 3 days it was here.

When I opened the pouch it kind smelled like dried root-beer(which is now possible). I was glad that I didn’t smell a lot of licorice though. The first time I brewed this I was concerned. It just tasted like regular black tea. I decided to make another pot and combine the two and sweeten till taste. It seems that a higher water to leaf is best if you want to get the butter beer taste, and less of the tea leaves. Another thing is that more sweeter is better.

The flavor of this is awesome. It taste like if root-beer and cream soda had a baby. It definitely tastes better cooler then hotter. I don’t know how Frank puts these together. He must be some kind of wizard…

I went and took some to my co-workes as well, and they all loved it!

Specifics

Water: Two 28oz batches combined
Amount: 2 tsp
Steep: 2:45 each
Sweetener: 4-5 big kitchen spoonfuls of light agave
Pot: Glass

Overall I would recommend this to someone who likes cream/rootbeer soda or who is a big Harry Potter fan

Well, I’m sick. Which is why this review is late and very short. It’s perfect timing since I leave for Japan on the 27th :(

This smells and tastes almost exactly like the butterbeer at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Delicious!!