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242/365

Not a lot to say about this one, since it’s a fairly ordinary breakfast-style blend. It’s quite distinctive compared to those I usually drink, being less malty and more citrussy. It’s pretty strong; it really feels like you’re drinking something substantial, and (fortunately!) it is helping me to wake up this morning. It’s a slightly unusual blend – Ugandan, Tanzanian, and Kenyan – but I suppose that’s what you’d expect from CafeDirect.

I’m not sure whether this is even something I can purchase, since I think it’s largely used for catering, but if I did find it in a supermarket then I’d happily pick up a box. It’s bold, refreshing, and pleasantly different from the usual run of things.

241/365

Another from my Variateas box, and a seemingly perfect pre-bedtime blend! I’m not sure exactly what’s in this one, because the wrapper doesn’t say, but a quick peruse on their website reveals that it’s actually a black tea, with rose, date, lotus, liquorice, and lavender. That quickly put to rest my presumption that it was a herbal blend, but for a black tea I’d say it’s extremely light. There’s a sweetness from the liqourice, but it’s not overpowering, and that’s welcome. I wouldn’t know the rose and lavender were there if I hadn’t been told, because they’re so much in the background that they’re pretty much invisible.

I can’t say I like this one, but it’s hard to dislike either. There’s so little flavour, it’s really just kind of meh. I imagine this is a blend you’d drink for its purported effect or health benefit (they produce a whole range of this kind of thing…), but I’d be wary of a “sleep” tea with a black base on the whole. Their take on it is that lotus root can help to prevent night sweats and vivid dreams – a specific example from their website are dreams (nightmares?) which feature “an affair with your very unattractive boss.” Their site is worth a read just for the lols, I’d suggest.

I’d probably not purchase this one, given that it’s pretty pricey and fairly tasteless. An interesting experience, nonetheless. I’ll let you know about the dreams.

240/365

Bird & Blend describe this one as the strongest breakfast blend in their range, but I’m finding it suits my morning tastes pretty much perfectly. I wouldn’t say it’s really strong, but it’s certainly satisfying – pretty bold, malty, and excellent with milk. It reminds me a little of their Great British Cuppa, in that it has a kind of baked white potato flavour kicking around in the background. In fact, the only difference I can see is that this one’s a CTC, and that one wasn’t. Not usually a go-to for me, but it gets points for speed and convenience. I really wanted my tea this morning!

This one came as a sample with my last Bird & Blend order, but it’s one I’d consider buying in future. They certainly know how to do a good breakfast tea!

239/365

This is the last of the T2 samples I have in my cupboard, and since it needs milk and I’m not at work, it made sense to finally get around to it. It’s inspired by gingernut biscuits, which I quite like, so I have high hopes for this one!

In practice, it’s maybe not quite what I expected. Gingernut biscuits, to me, are a relatively sweet thing, and I know T2 can do sweet flavoured teas pretty well. This blend is much more on the savoury side of things; less gingernut, and more chai. There’s plenty of cardamon and clove (which I enjoy) plus a hefty kick of ginger (which I’m not so keen on). I can also taste orange, which I wasn’t expecting; there’s a little juciness, but it’s more pithy than fruity on the whole. As it cools, I can detect a little liquorice root – not enough to be obnoxious, but a little all the same. It feels fairly redundant, really, since for the most part it’s drowned out by the spices.

This isn’t one I’m particularly keen on, so I’m not too sad that it was limited edition. Most of the samples I tried lived up to their names pretty well, but this one fell a bit short. It’s not bad as a chai blend, but I was expecting something more.

238/365

This one also came as a free sample with my last Leaves of the World order – they were pretty generous with them! I think it’s only the third hop-based tea I’ve tried, but since I’m a fairly big beer drinker the idea really appeals to me. I think the idea is that this is a bedtime blend, but I’m drinking it first thing at work because why not? I figure I need soothing right now, rather than when I’m happy and content at home!

Anyway, this is a very yellow, very sweet blend. Just looking at it makes me think of chamomile, and that is indeed the main flavour. I’d say the hop flower is second in terms of prominence, and it adds a touch of floral and an oily bitterness that’s characteristic of hops in my experience. “Oily bitterness” sounds terrible, but it’s actually not – the oiliness is more a mouthfeel than anything; smooth, but somehow more than smooth. There’s no residue or scrim, or anything like that. Bitterness is relative, too; there’s definitely an edge to it, but it’s a pleasing contrast with the very sweet chamomile. I’m thinking the clover may also be adding its shoulder to the sweet wheel at this point, although I don’t think I actually know what clover tastes like, so it’s hard to say. It’s chamomile plus a bit more – and it’s not the lemon balm or the anise, which I can’t taste at all.

I like this one. It’s one of those soothing, meditative blends that’s both easy to drink and relaxing. It’s herbal, for sure, but not in a medicinal kind of way. It’s probably best suited as a bedtime blend, although I’d be happy to drink it any time I feel I need a slow moment.

237/365

This is the first of the Leaves of the World summer collection I’ve tried, and the one that intrigued me most. I’m drinking today’s cup hot, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be trying it as a cold brew at some point in the very near future.

This one is trying to replicate a blackberry mojito, which is apparently how Hemingway liked to drink them. It’s supposed to have the normal combination of lime and mint, but I’m actually struggling to taste either of those, which is a little odd. The lime is there, if I concentrate, but no mint (and I feel like that’s quite strong/distinctive, so I’m sure I’d notice…) What I do get is lots of blackberry, and something kind of approaching rum. It’s subtle, though.

While I like the flavour of this one, I’m a little disappointed that it doesn’t quite live up to its billing. I was imagining something like Bird & Blend’s MojiTEA, but with added blackberry, and sadly it’s really not like that at all. I’ve only myself to blame for building it up in my head, I suppose, but it falls considerably short of “mojito” in my estimation. What it is, is a nicely sweet blackberry green, with a hint of lime and maybe the faintest whiff of rum. Fair warning, though – the rum could be wishful thinking.

236/365

Home again! I travelled for at least 9 hours today, so when I got home I really just wanted something straightforward; caffeinated, but simple. Earl Grey seemed to fit the bill pretty perfectly, and so I pulled this one from my Varieteas box.

It’s not a brand I’m familiar with, or one that I’ve come across before. It claims to be 99% ceylon and 1% bergamot, and I’d go along with that. It’s perhaps a little more floral than I’m used to in an Earl Grey, but the base is smooth, bright, and a touch lemony. The bergamot isn’t too strong, but it doesn’t disappear either. A nice balance!

There’s many an Earl Grey in the world, though, and this one isn’t particularly different when you really get down to it. It’s pleasant, drinkable, decent, and I’d drink it again if I came across it, but I don’t think I’d actively seek it out. It’s an Earl Grey. Even though it’s a good one, you know how it goes.

235/365

Another Scottish-themed tea, and another I’ve tried before. It’s one I’m developing a particular taste for, though, since it combines a decent, malty black base with a twist of the unusual. I find thistle rather like nettle – kind of piquant, a little peppery, just a touch floral. The aftertaste is lightly herbal, reminiscent of sage and perhaps rosemary – not strong, but distinctively herbaceous and “green” tasting. It’s heading towards chlorophyll, but not quite there.

I like this one. It makes a change from a plain breakfast-style black, while retaining the qualities I most enjoy in those. The thistle adds an extra flavour dimension that’s distinctive without being too in-your-face or over strong. A good balance, well struck.

234/265

Continuing the Scottish theme! I usually try and stop drinking black teas around 7pm, but it’s light so late here that I’m finding that time creeping backwards. It was still light at 11.20pm last night, and I’m finding I’m tempted to drink black tea as late as 10pm as a consequence. It just doesn’t feel like bedtime! Of course I’m going to blame the long daylight hours, though. What else could it be?

Anyway, this is another black breakfast-style tea. It doesn’t say exactly what the blend is, but I’m willing to bet it includes Assam, Darjeeling, and possibly (probably) Ceylon also. It’s malty, for sure, and fairly hearty, but it has a floral-ish background flavour and a hint of something that reminds me of whisky. Maybe oak? Peat? Something resonant and “heavy” tasting – deep, dark, and a nice contrast with the sweet, malty backbone of this blend.

It’s a pleasing breakfast tea, a little different from the usual run of things. I’d buy it again if I ever came across it, although I think things at Jenier have changed a bit since I last ordered from them. It does make me wonder how old some of the teas from my Varieteas box are, although they’re mostly all foil-sealed so I’m not too worried.

This one was a good one, and would be just the thing on a cold winter night. Particularly if you were sitting by a log fire…

233/365

Since I’m in Scotland at the moment, it feels only appropriate to drink some Scottish teas. This is one I’ve tried before (last year?), but I don’t have the clearest recollection of it. I drank a couple of cups today – the first in my Timolino (with milk), and the second back at the hotel (without).

It’s a smooth black tea, breakfast-style, although on the lighter side. I’d say Ceylon was the main constituent, but there’s clearly some Assam in there, too. It’s malty and sweet, but without being too heavy. The heather isn’t particularly strong, but contributes a pleasantly floral-herbal note. That really helps to set this apart from your average bagged black. It reminds me a little of flower honey; while obviously not as sweet, it has the same heady wildflower richness that makes that so distinctive.

I’d like the heather to be a bit more prominent, I think, because at the moment it feels like this is mostly about the black tea base and I feel like that maybe shouldn’t be the case. It would be a more unique tea for it…

I like this one for an occasional cup, but it’s probably not something I need to keep around.