The Burglar Brew (Formerly Bilbo Brew)

Tea type
Black Tea
Ingredients
Assam Tea, Black Tea, Cardamom, Ceylon Sonata, Cinnamon, Cloves, Ginger, Green Tea, Marigold, Natural Pumpkin Spice Flavor, Natural Vanilla Flavor
Flavors
Pumpkin, Pumpkin Spice, Bread, Cinnamon
Sold in
Loose Leaf
Caffeine
High
Certification
Not available
Edit tea info Last updated by Mastress Alita
Average preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 g 10 oz / 295 ml

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33 Tasting Notes View all

  • “Both of the boys unanimously picked this as our breakfast tea, & it was perfect, with it’s essence of sweet potato, cinnamon, & vanilla layered over an Irish Breakfast base. Our tin of this...” Read full tasting note
  • “Goodbye Bilbo Brew! (150) This was so amazing. I’m basically having it for lunch as it’s so rich and wonderful. If I’d had it earlier I could have called it Elevensies. Also, that’s a real thing:...” Read full tasting note
    81
  • “SIPDOWN! (228) Bumping the rating up a bit on this one. Today this is a much nicer blend,though it’s still largely a cinnamon blend with a bit of substance to it with the addition of the sweet...” Read full tasting note
    69
  • “I’ve had this one in my swap drawer for ages. Terri Harplady sent it my way back in the early days of our tealationship :-) She has written about this a lot, but for some reason I haven’t tried it....” Read full tasting note

From Adagio Custom Blends, Cara McGee

A deep, warming blend of traditional Tea flavors, rich, and perfect for the living in a hole in the ground, but with just enough of a spicy edge to get you ready for a great adventure.

Previously blended with Sweet Potato instead of Pumpkin Spice, until Sweet Potato tea was discontinued.

Tea inspired by and for all great adventurers.

Created by: Cara McGee

Ingredients: green tea, black tea, assam melody tea, ceylon sonata tea, natural pumpkin spice flavor, natural vanilla flavor, cinnamon bark, cloves, ginger root, marigold flowers, cardamom pods

Steeping Instructions: Steep at 205° for 3 mins

About Adagio Custom Blends, Cara McGee View company

Company description not available.

33 Tasting Notes

3294 tasting notes

Both of the boys unanimously picked this as our breakfast tea, & it was perfect, with it’s essence of sweet potato, cinnamon, & vanilla layered over an Irish Breakfast base. Our tin of this is getting closer & closer to a sipdown. While we ate our frittata & raspberry muffins (gluten free, made with homegrown black raspberries), & sipped our tea, we discussed making our own Bilbo Brew. One of the things I told the boys is we don’t HAVE to use Adagio teas. I’d like the brew to be a little more stout, for example, so maybe a more potent Irish Breakfast/Assam might be in order.
Next topic: sweet potato…I’m actually thinking of baking a sweet potato to it’s fully caramelized glory, liquidating it in my blender, & then dehydrating & turning it into a powder, or at least slicing it into little slivers…
cinnamon chips: those are easily acquired
Vanilla: same

So…we may just order an oz each of irish breakfast, vanilla black (instead of green), sweet potato black, & then add some cinnamon chips, or we may try some crazy experiments. To be continued…

JustJames

okay, now i’m hungry and considering bilbo brew, lol. how close are we to the middle of july?

TeaLady441

That sounds like fun! I didn’t realize it was being discontinued when I drank my precious sample, but I re-steeped it and enjoyed every drop of it.

I hope your version works out as well. Is there any way to contact the original blender to see what proportions they used etc?

Terri HarpLady

I keep hoping they will re-release it, as we LOVE it.
Cara McGee is the person who came up with it, & I did send her an message on Adagio, but haven’t heard back. I think I’m just gonna do my own experimenting. If I come up with something worthy, I’ll let you all know & send samples. I’ll give it a different name too…

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81
1598 tasting notes

Goodbye Bilbo Brew! (150)

This was so amazing. I’m basically having it for lunch as it’s so rich and wonderful. If I’d had it earlier I could have called it Elevensies.

Also, that’s a real thing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevenses I thought that was just made up for the Hobbit! #themoreyouknow

JustJames

love the alternative name! lol.

Shmiracles

and don’t forget second breakfast!

Shmiracles

(oh i see it is included in the wiki entry) (we refer to elevensies and second breakfast all the time in my house)

TeaLady441

That’s awesome. We don’t, but we should.

Fuzzy_Peachkin

I am rather fond of second breakfast! :-)

Terri HarpLady

We’re big fans of 2nd breakfast here. We’re also fans of breakfast for dinner. Every person in my entire family will agree that breakfast is the most awesome meal, any time of day!
I’m glad you enjoyed the Bilbo Brew. It is my favorite adagio blend, even though it’s no longer available. I’ll probably buy the separate ingredients & blend my own.

TeaRunner

Add Poland to the list of countries that officially have second breakfast as a meal.
I so like the idea of a late morning whiskey break that Wikipedia mentions. Just what we need on stressful mornings at work!

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69
15006 tasting notes

SIPDOWN! (228) Bumping the rating up a bit on this one. Today this is a much nicer blend,though it’s still largely a cinnamon blend with a bit of substance to it with the addition of the sweet potatoes.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 2 min, 30 sec

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361 tasting notes

I’ve had this one in my swap drawer for ages. Terri Harplady sent it my way back in the early days of our tealationship :-)

She has written about this a lot, but for some reason I haven’t tried it. I think because it’s an adagio tea and I don’t often love those. But I need to make some space in my swap drawer for a swap coming from yyz, so time to get to work!

This is actually really nice. Not at all what I expected. Very smooth and drinkable. I can’t see myself reordering, but I will very much enjoy this mug! Thanks Terri!

ETA: As this cooled and I continued with my day while sipping on it, I liked it more and more. Very sad to hear it’s no longer available, would have seriously considered an adagio purchase! But, I can wait for a version from Stacy.

Terri HarpLady

Sadly, this tea was discontinued for legal reasons. :(
However, I’m planning on having Ms Stacy make me an even better version. I need to get on with that! It will be my precious, my birthday present! LOL

TastyBrew

Really? Why? That seems strange. Not just the name but the blend itself?

TastyBrew

I’d love to try a version made by Stacy!

Terri HarpLady

There was some legal issue having to do with the artwork, or the tea’s names, or something, like a copyright issue, so Adagio discontinued the entire line. Luckily, I purchased the last commemorative tin! If you decide to do an Adagio order, I highly recommend Cara McGee’s fandom blends. I’ve enjoyed quite a few of them, & this one was the best. Who knows, maybe she’s reformulated it under a different name? I’m still gonna have Ms Stacy make me something similar, only even better because the quality of the tea will be better to start with!

Plunkybug

I really love this one too, and have thought about using the same combination for a new blend (maybe for a different fandom…maybe for a Molly Weasley blend?)….but I’d love for Stacy to do this too.

Terri HarpLady

I told Stacy I want to get the ball rolling, so I’ll keep you girls posted!

Nattie

Just came across this, and I’m sure you already know, but they’re now back on sale after Cara changed the names to get around the copyright issues ^^

Like I said, you probably already know, but just in case you didn’t!

Terri HarpLady

What??? I didn’t know that!

Plunkybug

Oh, excellent! This one is really fantastic.

Nattie

Glad I could help, then! (: it’s on the adagio fandom blends page under ‘Tea for Travellers’ I think (:

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812 tasting notes

HOBBITY GOODNESS!
the scent of this tea really let loose as i began to steep it. first it had a sweet tone that hadn’t been there before. then a cinnamon kick started to rise from the cup as the sweet tones slightly dissipated.
i only steeped this for 2.5 min, but i did steep it with water that was probably definitely too hot (because i am at work and distracted and only think of these details after the fact)
now don’t get me wrong, it is still DEFINITELY an irish breakfast tea first and foremost. i guess i look at several of the adagio fandom teas as just really good staple teas to have in my collection. nothing too fancy. but with a little something warm and special added. it’s that little flourish that brings each it’s own personality.
a tea for the hobbiTEAest of hobbits.

Shmiracles

i will say that even though i steeped this hard (so the taste is too astringent), the scent of the tea has a unique charm that is kinda tickling me as i sit at my desk. cuddly.
(i’m definitely gonna do a more gentle steep of this tomorrow morning for breakfast.)

Bee

This is definitely one of the teas that’s on my “Will buy when I can justify paying $20+ for shipping”. I’m really curious to see how sweet potato works in a tea!

Shmiracles

i’m gonna try to make my own private blend of this! why the hell not :)
i’ll let you know how it goes …

Shmiracles

OMG DUDES Cara’s hobbity-type-beings-but-not-hobbits-especially-not-hobbits-from-that-book teas are back and they are ALL wearing sunglasses!
they are incognito!! cuz they aren’t Hobbits or Dwarves shhh nope.
also they have black censoring tape to take care of some editing. and the names of the teas have changed into ridiculous & simple caricatures. and the whole thing is just a little bit angsty and a ton playful and super great. amazeballs. awesomesauce. boomerangs.
i completely love it so much i wanna puke.

TeaLady441

Really? This hilarious and awesome! Hahahah

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98
761 tasting notes

Yes, yes, and YES!!!

(thanks for sending this shmiracles)

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95
726 tasting notes

Dude. This will always and forever be one of my favourite Adagio blends.
It’s a perfect Bilbo! It as a nice warm touch of home that tastes like just baked cinnamon bread.
OH DARN IT. I just looked at Adagio because I was pretty sure that the Sweet Potato Pie was discontinued and yep, now it’s Pumpkin Spice.
Dang. Now I don’t know if it’d be worth to purchase a full 3oz of this? I loooved the Sweet Potato Pie in this tea. It gives that nice unique rustic taste that I don’t think Pumpkin Spice will be able to pull off? Ahh well, I think I’m just loving the original tea and I want the original Bilbo to last as long as it can.

Just a touch of milk and agave makes a perfect cuppa. Sad that the original ingredients aren’t available anymore.

Flavors: Bread, Cinnamon

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 30 sec 3 g 10 OZ / 295 ML
awoogah

[[dances]] AGAVVEEEE HECK YEAH!

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75
75 tasting notes

A creamy pumpkin spicey sort.

Flavors: Pumpkin, Pumpkin Spice

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6444 tasting notes

This is definitely my favorite of the bunch. It is like a big cup of pumpkin pie and it is delicious! Warm and comforting and oh-so-tasty. Thank you so much for sharing, Roswell Strange. I would certainly consider getting this one again to experiment with or simply to enjoy another hot cup. 170.

Terri HarpLady

This one is, without a doubt, my fav adagio blend. I haven’t had it in awhile

VariaTEA

I can see why. It is a really nice tea.

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73
15575 tasting notes

Sipdown (113)!

Made in my timolino yesterday to sipdown because it’s a Pumpkin Tea now instead of Sweet Potato, and with Halloween fast approaching I liked the idea of a “themed” tea flavour wise, but not so far as the namesake goes. I didn’t drink it until about 10 hours after making it though (WELL into my work shift) because after my dental work my mouth was SUPER frozen for HOURS. And then, I was in a fair bit of pain when it finally “thawed” as my mouth “adjusted”.

You all know that feeling when you almost have to “relearn” to chew because of fillings that feel like they’re not totally right…

Work was crazy too; we SMASHED the records for both total netsales in a day AND total number of customers. Customer count was 1126 (previous record was about 900) and the netsales were just over $9000 – previous record for that was $8000. And trust me, you could FEEL the difference in how busy it was. We never stopped moving (and I never stopped drooling, it felt like) and a lot of stuff didn’t get done or was done sloppy. For just two people working in the evening (me and one other girl) we were terribly overwhelmed.

Tea wise – softer, less distinct cinnamon/pumpkin spice flavour with muted vanilla and a faint “bread” taste to it. Good, drinkable but not exciting and not worth seeking out any time soon. But a fun blend regardless!

Cheri

I’m glad to hear that you finally got that dental work taken care of. I hope it starts feeling better.

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