288/365
This one is part of Bird & Blend’s recent Fairytale collection, which I basically ignored until I was placing an order for the new Store Blends collection – who knows why? It wasn’t lack of interest, that’s for sure! Anyway, I got there eventually.
I made this one up as a latte, because butter beer. I don’t think there are any other options. I used 3 tsp of leaf, and gave it 4 minutes in 250ml boiling water. I topped it off with 150ml hot milk, frothed.
This one’s good. The last blend I tried that could be considered remotely similar was Adagio’s Beer Butter, and that one had it’s strengths, but this one is probably more in line with my own personal thoughts about Butter Beer. It’s deliciously caramelly, very smooth and creamy (the milk probably helps…), and the frothiness (again, the milk…) is just perfection. The base is a blend of Assam and Sri Lankan black teas, so pretty sweet and malty to begin with; the addition of the caramel flavouring just takes things to another level.
In terms of uniqueness, it’s probably doesn’t really have massive amounts to offer. There are some seriously great caramel black teas out there – some by Butiki and Mariage Freres spring to mind, for example. The thing about this one is the fandom connection – so basically the name – which give it a little something that help it to step beyond being just another caramel black. I mean, it is just another caramel black, when you really get down to it, but I guess that’s marketing for you! I’d have bought this one for its name regardless.
It’s good, though. Really good…and there’s always a place for a decent caramel tea in my cupboard. If it comes with a HP connection, then so much the better.
I can’t wait to read what you have to say about their new Store Blends collection…. :D