At the beginning of this pouch I didn’t like gunpowder tea, and now I do! Largely this is due to improvements in my brewing method (stop using boiling water you animal). Still! I’m just not a green girl, at least not without sweetening flavour additions.

I’ve had more of this specific tea in my life, other than English breakfast, because I was obsessed with it as a teenager and also they have it at catered lunches at my work. That’s why I have this. I pinched it. It’s fine! I like the juiciness and tanginess; this is no anonymous red fruit!

Bird & Blend Dozy Girl - I am a rose hater (genuinely the only food flavour I dislike) so I was so sad when I clocked this was 20% rose petals after already opening it, but it’s quite subtle and almost reads as ginger? I didn’t steep long though as I’m a coward.

This is a herbal-only chai so I mixed half and half with a loose leaf black tea (F&M Royal Blend). 8/10, subtly spicy, I’ll do ⅔ next time!

Best served with all the little bits that made it through your strainer in, filtering them out with your teeth like a baleen whale as you go, and Colin faces, to complete the flavour experience.

I’m also having Bird & Blend’s Birthday Cake tea. Their targeted ads for this are what put me on this journey to start with. This stuff smells so nice, like jam sponge, and is so pretty I decanted it into a jar to admire it. I don’t have a lot, as we dropped said jar and it spilled everywhere.

My wife’s best friend used to work at Char! My first exposure to rare and unusual teas (purchased, yet to be opened). This Masala chai is super spicy on the nose, in a sweet way that doesn’t carry across too much. I don’t like sugar in tea but I’m going to add honey for a gentle sweetness.

I’m getting into loose leaf tea so here begins my sharing my Tea Thoughts, in a segment of likely relative infrequency as I don’t want to waste fully acquire a dozen open packets of tea leaves.