Bampot Bohemian House of Tea

This is officially the best blend to drink as a winter pick-me-up. I need to buy loads more, it’s so delicious. I think it’s probably my new favourite chai (if it can be called a chai?).

Basically it’s a Lapsang Souchong base with cardamom, turmeric, chillies, peppermint, and blue pea flowers. The liquor ends up a putrid green colour from the turmeric and pea flowers mixing, so that visual combined with the thick spicy-smoke profile really does make it seem like a brew of dragon’s blood. So fun! I added maple syrup to balance everything out a bit and it turned out so well. I’ve been getting a good number of infusions too, it just keeps giving and giving.

My first time adding a tea to the database! Very exciting :P Unfortunately there was an off-putting disagreement between me and the local tea shop I was buying from all last year, so I’ve had to find other suppliers. Very happily discovered that a cosy tea house I used to frequent pre-pandemic started selling their blends and imports. They unfortunately don’t specify ingredients on their website, but I’m finding it fun deciphering what could be in this blend.

As far as memory serves me, I have never tried a watermelon scented tea. Why have I never tried a watermlon tea?!?! Wowzers, how delightfully heady and juicy smelling this is. It’s a welcome profile that’s transporting me out of this cold winter and straight into summer. The initial brews taste similar to hubba bubba gum actually, but there’s definitely something more complex slowly revealing itself as the oolong opens up more and the scent tapers off. There’s actually some woody smokiness and some floral notes that’s remind me of barbecue-roasted watermelon. I wonder if the base oolong is a Da Hong Pao? There are bits of flowers (and I think some fruit?) in the blend though, so I can’t really tell if the oolong itself is floral or not. Very juicy mouthfeel and just the best aftertaste. LOVE. Will have to give this a go as iced tea when the weather turns.