My latest Bluebird order arrived today and I’ve already tried all of them! Apart from the sample, which was of a tea that I already have so I suppose it doesn’t count. This was the last one I tried, as my bedtime drink to replace the Berry Blues from Adagio that I finished last week.
The dry mix is overwhelming strawberry. It smells very strong, and reminds me of a block of jelly/jello before you add the hot water to it. This tea looks AMAZING in the bag, it’s so pretty with huge chunks of strawberry and other fruits, and sunflower petals. I’m kinda sad that I bought this so early in the year, it just makes me wish it was summer already to look at it. It also makes it kinda difficult to get an equal amount of ingredients in each spoonful though, so that could be a downside. It could also be a plus, though, as I can’t really get bored of a tea which is slightly different each time. Steeped, it turns a deep reddish colour, which I was a little surprised at, thinking it was going to be a pale infusion. On second thoughts, the colour is probably down to the hibiscus. The smell is also insane – exactly like jelly once you’ve added the hot water! Which is very fitting considering the smell beforehand. Still so so strawberry.
I have read a couple of reviews of this tea that noted a lack of strawberry flavour, but I honestly have no idea where they got that from! Maybe Bluebird changed their recipe? Whatever the reason, my first sip is pure strawberry jam. Like, it’s as if I have just dipped a spoon in strawberry jam and shoved it right in my mouth. A little tart, but nowhere near as much as I had expected considering the lemonade aspect, and actually I can’t taste or smell the lemons at all. Regardless, it is a lovely hot fruity tea.
I added a spoon of sugar to compare with the berry blues tea I used to drink (which needed two, because hibiscus) and it instantly becomes super sweet. Now, it actually tastes like strawberry jelly! But hot, and liquid… Still no sign of the citrus aspect, which is disappointing, but this is an amazing strawberry tea. I have a feeling it would also be great iced in the summer, and that this might bring out the ‘lemonade’ more. Maybe I just got a disproportionate amount of strawberry in this cup? I’ll have to wait and see.
Not my favourite fruit tea – Berry Blues is a tough act to follow – but a close second, and one which I will be happy to drink as a replacement.
