Peach Cobbler

I bought this in the Boxing Day sale. It’s one of those blends that I was happy to see pop up in the sale. Usually they have some limited time blends appear for the sale, which I certainly appreciate. I wouldn’t say this is cobbler exactly — it’s peaches and cream all the way. It’s mostly a black tea base with tiny peach pieces and lovely pink flowers. I went with a teaspoon and half but that many leaves are a bit bitey, so I don’t think it really needs that many leaves. But that means the black tea base isn’t weak, which I wouldn’t prefer either. Both steeps have an equal amount of peach and cream flavor, which I can appreciate. I love it. It’s a GREAT peach flavor too, as some can be very artificial tasting. Not this one. Another unique and lovely cup from B&B.
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Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 20 minutes after boiling // 2-3 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 4 minute steep
2019 sipdowns: 38 (Angry Tea Room – Amazing Apricot)

My god, this smells divine – like thickly layered peaches and cream. Surprisingly enough, the creamy peach mouthfeel actually comes across really well, even without added dairy or sweetener.

It’s a super mellow, gently fruity and a delightfully well-executed example of peach as a flavor.

Huh, well despite some initial ordering confusion, I think this might be my favorite B&B so far. I was not really hyped about it, because I really don’t like those supermarket peach flavored bottled ice teas (I mean I don’t like those anyway, but the peach ones fall more under “comprehensively loathe”) but I ordered this … I guess. For some reason. Why? I don’t even remember, to be perfectly honest. In fact, I was a little confused when I opened the package (expecting Christmas Cake, a different B&B order I’ve been waiting (and waiting and waiting) for. I thought it was a mistake, but no, here’s the “Bears Like Marmalade” that I also definitely did order, and yes, whaddya know, I ordered this, too. Hm. Well, okay then, let’s drink this thing!

And … YUM. This absolutely tastes like peach cobbler. I’m having mine sweetened with milk, and will also go all the way latte with this and maybe some maple syrup too very soon, but wowzer it’s is really warm baked peachy and pastry-like. I don’t know if B&B tweaked their recipe since earlier reviews, but my packet definitely does not go light on the flavor. Yet I still taste the tea, which is essential to me. Nice! My only issue is that I think I steeped it a bit too long as I washed up some stray dishes while waiting for it to brew — about 4 minutes, and I’m getting definite tannin bitterness.

Welp, there’s nothing for it but to immediately make another cup now that I’ve finished (read “gulped down my gullet like an animal”) this one. While we’re waiting for it to steep (only 3 minutes or less!) I’ll mention that the other thing I finally got in the mail today (after the package going astray for a month) are a couple of mugs to match my dishes: https://imgur.com/a/G09w7wQ. This is a jolly, cheery great cup: nice, ergonomically comfy handle, good stable bottom, stoneware for holding the heat, just the right size, a lovely round belly for warming cold hands if you want to go there, and thank the Gord, finally, white on the inside so I can see the color of my tea! Very pleased! (Denby Craftsman, if anyone’s curious.)

Okay, so second cup! Yes, 2.5-3 minutes steep sorted the bitterness issue, and this time I did add some maple syrup … and ohhhh yes. Beauty. I can’t help it. I do love my flavored dessert teas when in the mood (like this cold, rainy, grey afternoon), and surprise Peach Cobbler is hitting the spot so hard. I’m so glad I apparently sleep-ordered this one!

(Actually, now I see that 4 minutes is the suggested steep time, but I use a lot of leaf, so maybe that was the issue. I think I love it my style though: lotta leafy, less steepy.)

ETA: This might be a good place to mention that my measure for this is 2 of B&B’s “Perfect Tea Spoon” spoons, which upon receiving, I found turned out to be the exact same size as the spoon I had dug out of my own stuff that was working perfectly for me — a half-tablespoon size from my measuring spoons. So, basically, I’m using a tablespoon of most of my black teas for 300-350 ml of water, which usually ends up weighing about 5-6 grams, so usually about 2 grams tea per 100 ml of water, or a little under. This probably sounds like a lot of BRAINZ effort for a pretty simple thing, but I cannot adequately express my frustration with trying to figure out how much a “teaspoon” and a “cup” were actually supposed to be when I began this voyage. I’m still not clear on that, and when I veer out of my lane (with greens and oolongs, etc.), I still feel like I’m kind of grasping in the dark to figure out proper measures.

This tea smells AMAZING! Unfortunately the black tea overwhelms the peach flavor. If I take a deep inhale of scent after each sip I get a bit more of the sweetness, but the overwhelming taste is black tea. It does leave a nice peach aftertaste in my mouth, however, the lack of peach during drinking makes this a bit too disappointing.

142/365

This is the first tea I’ve tried from Bluebird’s 2018 spring collection. I waited to order until their Easter teas were in stock, and I’d hoped to get to those first (i.e. drink them over Easter weekend) but the parcel didn’t arrive until today, so…

I also don’t have any honey in the cupboard, so making a latte is a bit of a struggle. The recipe for this one didn’t need any, though, which is primarily why I chose it. I wanted a latte, and I didn’t want to go out. Figures.

This one smells delicious. It’s absolutely, definitely peach, with a background sweetness that reminds me a lot of crumble topping. To taste, it’s very similar. The peach is the main flavour (as you might expect), and it’s pretty natural and flavour-accurate. There’s also a really prominent butteriness that’s actually a little distracting, but I imagine that’s the “cobbler” element. It’s creamy and fairly sweet, definitely a dessert tea (at least, as a latte). I plan to try it straight at some point over the next couple of weeks, and I imagine it might be quite different like that. Today was latte day, though, and nothing else would do.

I like this one. It’s definitely a spring-appropriate flavour, and it’s brightened up what proves to me another wintery morning. It’s April now. WHEN is spring going to get here properly?