T2

362/365

Yet another sleep blend! This one’s a blend of chamomile, lavender, spearmint, passionflower, rose, linden, and lemon balm. It reminds me a little of Twinings Superblends Sleep, but it’s just not as flavourful. It actually tastes quite “flat” to me – mostly lavender, but with a background of chamomile. There’s not much of anything else. I was looking forward to the spearmint, but it’s not really there; maybe there’s a tiny hint of background sweetness, but it’s just as likely I’m imagining it.

I’ve tried this one once before, I think, although some years ago now. I remember really liking it, so I’m not sure if something’s changed between now and then. Unless my tastes have changed more than I thought they had…

I found the passionflower effective in the Twinings, but it did give me weird dreams so I’m hoping to avoid that here if I can. I’m drinking it a good couple of hours ahead of bedtime to try and help me relax, with the intention of avoiding the worst excesses. I did find it a little drying, which isn’t excellent in a pre-bedtime tea. I find I get thirsty during the night anyway. It’s not astringent, as such, just…very herbal?

I can’t say I really like this one for it’s flavour; it needs something to brighten it up. Lemon, maybe? A decent quantity of spearmint might have helped. Maybe my bag just needs a good shake! I’ll be trying this one again, so I’m not going to alter my previous raring for now. There’s time for it to prove itself yet!

A sample from Memily, and my final cup of the evening last night. I’m usually not a fan of floral teas, but this one actually works for me pretty well. I gave 1 tsp of leaf 4 minutes in boiling water, and the scent when I returned to the kitchen was just beautiful. Sweet, honeyed chamomile, and floral lavender and rose. Like a cottage garden on a summer evening!

To taste, the main flavour is chamomile. It’s as honeyed to taste as it smells, almost thick tasting, sweet, and a little hay-like. The lavender and rose work perfectly in combination, without being too heavily floral or tasting like perfume. They just add an edge to the flavour that prevents the chamomile being overwhelming. I can taste a hint of apple, too. A sort of fresh, sharp undertone. I wasn’t expecting to like this one as much as I did, but it’s actually a very calming, relaxing pre-bedtime blend. I slept so well last night — almost unbelievably well – and I think this tea may have helped in part. A delicious sleepytime herbal, and another T2 I’ll be loathe to part with. Thanks again to Memily for sharing this with me!

333/365

I’ve tried this one before, but a long, long time ago. I don’t really remember it that well, so I’m happy to have the chance to revisit. I say that like it happened by accident, but it didn’t…I bought a box with my last T2 order, knowing that my Dad would love it even if I didn’t. He’s all about the grapefruit.

It was a little more bitter than I was expecting, but very grapefruity…and grapefruit is bitter, so I guess it’s actually perfect. It’s really clean and refreshing; an excellent morning or palate cleansing blend. I meant to try this one back in the summer, but I totally forgot – I can imagine it would be seriously good cold brewed with lots of ice!

It’s perhaps a little one dimensional, but I’m feeling it…sometimes it’s best not to over-complicate, and this is a really solid grapefruit blend. Also, no hibi! Always a bonus.

I’d happily drink this one again, which is reassuring given that I have an entire cube. It’s good stuff, and pretty unique amongst the fruit blends in my cupboard. I feel like grapefruit isn’t often a candidate for these kind of things, which is a shame.

A sample from Memily! I LOVE this. I knew from the scent while it brewed that I would love it, and I absolutely do. It’s grapefruit! An actual accurate-tasting grapefruit tea, which is slightly sour and slightly bitter and slightly sweet all at once. I’d say white grapefruit, with a hint of lemon, and it’s a combination that works really well. The hibiscus adds a tiny tart sweetness, which takes the edge off just a little, and probably stops this one from tipping over into the realm of too sharp. As it is, it’s perfect.

I gave 1 tsp of leaf 5 minutes in boiling water, no additions. I could add a piece of crystal sugar to this one, I suppose, but it honestly doesn’t need it. It’s perfect just as it is. Very fresh tasting, juicy, and absolutely refreshing. It’s one of the nicest fruit/herbal blends I’ve tried in a long, long time. I may have to hoard the rest of my sample. Thanks again to Memily for sharing this with me! It’s an amazingly gorgeous wonder-tea!

Reading all the ingredients in this blend, I expected more flavor tbh. I am picking up on the blackberry and I am getting a sort grape/wine type flavor. It is not bad but I hoped for more. Nonetheless, I am grateful for the chance to try it so thank you Memily!

Sample sipdown!

First tried this instore when it was a half-and-half blend with a chai mix and it was delicious. I was intrigued about how this tasted on its own so I asked for a sample and I’ve come to the conclusion that it seems to be better as a mixer with another blend, or by itself if you add a good dose of milk and honey. Reason being that on its own, I can’t really taste the tea much and so it’s almost kind of chilli and cinnamon water.

Having added the milk and honey, it is still an enjoyable cup but since it’s only okay when I have it straight, I won’t be purchasing this. Will see how this compares to Harney & Sons’ Cinnamon Spice.

Sample sipdown!

Many years ago I visited the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. They had this quaint little ice-cream shop with Aussie bush tucker flavours like wattleseed, quandong, lemon myrtle and even emu.
Wasn’t game enough for emu ice-cream but I happily tried the wattleseed and haven’t had a frozen dessert so lovely since.

This is such an underrated T2 blend. Didn’t even know it existed until it popped up on Steepster. It tastes like waffles and sweet cinnamon and of course, wattleseed, which has that specific nuttiness unique to the Australian wattle tree. This will be a definite purchase.

Heading back to the Blue Mountains in a couple of weeks. Maybe this time I’ll be brave enough for the emu ice-cream.

Sami Kelsh put this on my radar and I’m so grateful—I grabbed a sample of it last time I was in store thanks to her rave tasting note, and I’ve had it with a dollop of milk for dessert twice.

Yum.

With a bit of choc chip shortbread, this was dreamy. A lovely black flavoured tea that I’ve managed to overlook in all my years of T2 drinking, huh!

Sipdown (122)!

Hot in my timolino; I actually am really enjoying this one so thank you VariaTEA for sending me a sample of it – it’s very sweet and rich. Actually, it’s reminding me of DT’s Cookie Dough blend quite a bit. Strong coconut and chocolate notes; lighter nondescript nutty notes. Not really any distinct caramel notes to it – but maybe they’re hiding by just contributing to the overall sweetness.

But yeah; this is a good dessert white.

First thing, for all London-based tea lovers – apparently, T2 opened a shop in Shoreditch a few months ago. Great!

So I looked at what Steepsterites had to say and found this lovely tea, and the lovely shop girl brewed some up for me (they actually very happily brew any tea you’d like for you, on the spot! I tried this and Melbourne Breakfast), and it was very tasty so I got some. And now I made it at home and it’s still very very tasty.

It’s an unusual combination. I tend to associate cocoa with black teas, and I haven’t had much luck with green teas with coconut even though I love coconut. But this combination with white tea somehow works wonders. I was a bit sceptical at first because cocoa tea just begs for milk and sugar in my head, but this is beautifully… dessert-y, while also somehow being quite light. If you get the chance to stop by a T2 shop, do have a taste. It’s a keeper.

Oh, and it’s also one of the prettiest teas I’ve seen. The tea itself has all these different shades of white-ish and green and even almost brown. And then the cocoa husks come in with some coconut flakes. I just kept staring at it for about a minute, admiring the sheer prettiness. It looks like fall.

Personally, I find that bergamot teas can be somewhat divided into two categories; the refreshing, sweet kind or the mature, stuffy type. I love them both equally.

This one falls into the latter category. It utilizes T2’s Yunnan blend, which is smokey, leathery and complex, paired with a noticeable dash of the classic Earl Grey flavour. I do take a tiny bit of issue with ‘flavour’ being an ingredient, as opposed to ‘bergamot’, which is listed in other T2 blends but I wouldn’t really have noticed the difference anyway.

This reminds me a lot of Harney & Sons’ Earl Grey Supreme, which I do think is slightly superior to this one. I won’t be purchasing T2’s Earl Grey Royale, but I will buy the plain Yunnan blend, having thoroughly enjoyed the samples.

OK so every time I have this, I get loads of hay. Maybe sweet, but mostly hay. Not like the dark, creamy hay of a pu erh, though: it’s lighter in body but definitely hay. Maybe I should experiment with brewing times to bring forward the fruitcake and chocolate?

Hay. So much hay.

Okay, not a TON of hay, but hay is the predominant note I’ve gotten out of this twice now. Go figure. Fruity a bit when it cools down a little, but wow. Totally hay.

Also, now working in an office where I’m not supposed to drink tea at my desk because it doesn’t “look professional”. It’s a nightmare. I hate it. I am so the wrong person to be working there. Thank Gosh it’s only a week and a half.

Sipdown (134)!

Sample comes to me via VariaTEA! Here’s what I wrote when I had it:

- Cold Brewed
- A little weak
- Has floral notes to it
- The cherry is present but rather artificial/fake
- Reminds me of “high end” Cherry Candy Perfume or Soap
- Not terrible; but just not great

But honestly I think this was pretty forgettable since I can’t remember enough about drinking it to really expand on any of the things I jotted down when I had it. Usually that’s not a great sign…

This was a LE tea that I pray to the tea gods everyday, becomes part of their T2 all star lineup! It’s a luxe flavoured tea that isn’t overly fragrant despite what one might think, but a flirty first cousin in the Earl Grey range that adds uber class with its sophisticated and true (not perfumey) rosy notes! I find that a short brew suits me best as it can get a bit bitter if left for a second more than 2 minutes at 100 degrees C. I love the smell of this beauty too, it translates directly into the taste as well, which is not only uncommon, but a refreshing change.

What a surprise packet! I adore this tea and it always seems to be the best pick me up! The amount and quality of cinnamon is perfect. It’s not sharp or acrid, but adds the perfect comforting warmth. Enter the chilli…Love this! This is a spicy little number. Not hot enough to make you forget your name, but hot enough to give you a spicy little kiss at the end of each sumptuous mouthful. I often have it with a splash of milk which adds to the depth of the tea. Also if I’m feeling like amping it up even more, I will add this to Organic Chai or with a full scoop of Chocolate tea. Yes, Chilli Kiss is a versatile little number that I can totally recommend. Love!

Ughhhhhh.

Ok, so I got an email from my colleague basically chewing me out for not yet having entered a bunch of stuff into our new database, which I’d planned on catching up with today. Email’s from Friday afternoon, when I’m not in the office. GREAT. Spent most of today freaking out about how my team will think I’m incompetent and want to fire me and all that scary jazz and stress that OH MY GOD my perma-fatigued, brain-foggy, suddenly-overweight self does not need in my life.

Like, I’ve been working here for a few months now and I swear to Gosh I can’t afford to be fired from the university because it’s basically the only employer in town, and nobody’s paying me to write.

But this tea is one of my favourites. It’s all pleasantly almondy cinnamony warm Australian goodness.

Man, this is one of my favourites ever. The base shines through as a solid, smooth black tea, and it’s got all that lovely warm, nutty, cinnamony sweet awesomeness that is apparently what wattleseed tastes like. I spent all day attempting to complete a new software training course while also still having to do the usual amount of work, and writing three articles for Cultbox. So I’m just going to sit here and drink this forever until I’m no longer exhausted and sore. It’s like a big cozy hug.

I got this tea when lovely Gentleman actually suggested we go all the way out to Shoreditch just to visit the T2 shop when we were in London last weekend. Bless his beautiful heart.

I also got it because I knew basically nothing about wattleseed except that I’d never tried it before, and it was an Australian thing. T2 being an Australian company, I thought it’d be appropriate to give this one a go. And I’m so glad I did. Straight out of the bag I get a scent of malty, sweet tea, redolent with cinnamon, chocolate, and almond. Then I went and forgot I was making it and sort of let it steep for 9 minutes.

And you know something? Still delicious! A little tannic, but that’s to be expected with such an overbrew. It’s, like, my ultimate comfort flavour combination. The cinnamon is sweet and warming, lightened by the roasty, toasty presence of almond with hints of cocoa, bolstered by robust black tea that I’m quite sure would be nice and smooth if you brew it for 3-4 minutes instead of like ten. It’s a keeper, that’s for sure. Highly recommended!

In my first tasting note of this tea, I mentioned I thought this would be good iced thus when I brewed up my cup today, I made sure to pour it over ice. Unfortunately, I think I was a bit misguided because despite the strong flavors in the hot cup, I am finding them drowned out in this one. Honestly this is like rose water. Where is the chocolate and candy notes from the hot cup? I miss them. Well, now I know if I ever get this again, it is best hot, though I won’t be seeking it out anytime soon. Still, I am grateful for the chance to try it so thank you Memily for the share. 170.

Thank you Memily for sharing! This tea smells amazing. Alas, there is something a touch off in the taste. I get a bit of chocolate and a fair amount of apple but there is one prominent note that I am not loving yet I can’t quite place it. Weirdly enough, for a tea called “Rose” this isn’t an overly floral tea which is good. All in all its alright but not something I would seek out. However, I think it could be nice iced so I will definitely have to try it that way next.