The Mind and The Heart (Blend)

Kind of like a breakfast tea for someone who doesn’t like breakfast teas. My issue with most of them is that they’re labelled the same sort of generic “Indian Black Blend” and there really isn’t anything special to them.

I’m partial to Irish Breakfasts, probably because the first time I really started drinking any sort of tea regularly was on my trip to Ireland in the spring of 2012. It was incredible. I learned SO much. I’m going back one day, I will, I will.

So I like that this is in there! And the chai gives it just a bit of cinnamony kick – I’m able to drink it without milk, and it’s not overwhelmingly strong, maybe because the berry gives it a little bit of sweetness. This is the first time I’m trying it with milk and sugar, and it reminds me a bit of a sassy breakfast tea. Now I see why my friend Jackie likes it so much!

i forget that this tea is actually two herbals mixed with an irish breakfast. for some reason i always assume it’s 3 black teas and so i don’t drink it as often. but when i do decide to open the tin i’m always thrilled with the sweet vibrant scent. note to self: drink this more.

the irish breakfast is a blend of a hearty black tea from Ceylon that has citrusy notes and a malty Assam. it’s a nice nice base and compliments the other teas in a manly sort of what you see is what you get kind of way. i can see watson slumped in a chair now.

the berry blues tea is made of blueberries and apple pieces and a tiny bit of hibiscus. but since this hibiscus is only a small part of one third of this overall blend it’s barely there. it’s mostly just appley if you ask me. down with hibiscus! sherlock agrees with me, i asked.

the rooibos vanilla chai is a strong vanilla component with ginger, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon pieces, and orange peels. i do so like orange peels in my tea blends. and this is where the spice comes in. i kinda wish there was a tiny bit more spice. like a small smooth bite of ginger. perhaps if i steep it longer at a lower temperature……. !!!oh damn i just remembered that i should steep the adagio blends at a lower temp for 2 min. see THIS is why i need a tea journal of some sort. dangit. (i’d make another cup right now but i only brought one scoop with me to work whomp whomp)

i think this tea has slightly more heart than mind going on. and that’s more than fine with me. it’s what keeps us sane.

sherlock + watson = BFFs4Evah

How have I not done a note on this? I’ve had it at least 3 other times, silly me. This was sent to me by the lovely Michelle.

So, right in the middle of a move to our new apartment. It’s got a lovely balcony that goes all along the back of the place and I can’t wait to get a nice outdoor couch so I can have lovely tea out there in the morning. It’s also got these lovely built in glass shelves as you enter the kitchen and I’ve already told the fiancé that that is for my tea, and when I’m done he can have whatever space is left. ;) His hobbies are not food related so I should be safe. Stopped at my parents house right now while I wait a few days to get the keys and of course my tea came with me. Top priority!

I do love this tea. It’s such a nice blend of spicy and sweet flavors (see description of “spicy and jammy”). They mingle perfectly, love the berry notes and hint of vanilla. The chai is not too strong so nothing needs to be added to make it drinkable (again, I have trouble with masala chai like teas). Will definitely have to add honey to the next cup and see how it does, also maybe steeping a bit longer for the herbals in there. I would definite get more of this.

How have I not written a review of this yet?! I got this awhile ago and I’ve pretty much enjoyed it, but I often put it off for other blends. I was thinking about why it barely misses the mark for me and I realized is that it is a little sharp. This is likely due to the blend being mostly comprised of the Irish Breakfast and chai tea blends. I think that to really have a well balanced cup this should be taken with milk or should have another creamy tea mixed in with it. I think that the jammy side of it is really great and I find myself drinking this the most when I’ve woken up too early and I want to let off some steam. I find this closer to a unflavored black than many of the other blends and flavored teas that I’ve tried. I would suggest this to someone who wanted a tea where the flavoring blended into a more dominant background black tea. A really great blend!

Normally, I am not a fan of Irish Breakfast tea, and Roobios gives me heartburn. This tea still does, but it is so tasty, I’m willing to risk it on occasion. Lots of milk needed, though. The berries just sneak up and present a lovely little burst of flavor, and the chai spices are not overpowering (unlike most Chai blends).

Spicy and jammy is the best description of this tea. When you open up the bag it smells immediately like berries with a bit of a sharp edge. Once brewed, it’s amazing. It smells warm and sweet and doesn’t lose the sharp spicy bite. Adding in a spoonful of honey sweetens it up just enough to make it into a dessert tea. However if you pass on the honey, the chai spices blend with the berries beautifully and create a flavour that works for early morning with a blueberry muffin.