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.
Preparation
Comments
That’s funny, my purchases arrived in a strange order too. I got my Candy Cane order from Friday of the “ghosts” week before I got my Christmas Cake from the Monday. Apparently the Christmas Cake is just a slacker, LOL.
A slacker and “high maintenance” since it could only be ordered on the one day, and none of the email links I got from B&B worked, so I had to tinker with a url Mastress Alita gave me for the US version to get to the EU version, and now waiting every day for it to decide to eventually show up. Apparently this is my commitment-phobic “trophy girlfriend” tea: she made a lot of promises, but gave me the wrong number, abandoned me for the holidays, and is probably kicking back on the French Riviera somewhere while I pine away. But never mind, I’m thinking I could have something deep and lasting and beautiful with Peach Cobbler.
I’m dying over here… XD
I ordered Peach Cobbler, too. Can’t wait for it to show its beautiful face now!
I am glad I’m not ordering tea right now, I don’t need any high maintenance girlfriend teas. Me and Christmas Cake had a nice fling while I sipped down the sampler I had from a past cupboard sale from tea-sipper, and then it was time for us to part ways, diva that she is. ;-)
I do have some Peach Cobbler in my stash I haven’t tried yet, though…
I don’t use much leaf when I make blacks, maybe it’s just my preference? But like you, I just don’t do the whole “teaspoon/tablespoon” thing… it means nothing to me as a unit of measurement. I do everything by weighing in grams on a scale now. For 350ml I use 2.5g of black tea (at least for full leaf rather than CTC) and steep 3 minutes. I’m an absolute tannin wuss and rarely add milk or sweetener, hahaha. If I am planning on adding milk or sweetener (like I want to make a tea latte) I will add more leaf, though.
That’s funny, my purchases arrived in a strange order too. I got my Candy Cane order from Friday of the “ghosts” week before I got my Christmas Cake from the Monday. Apparently the Christmas Cake is just a slacker, LOL.
A slacker and “high maintenance” since it could only be ordered on the one day, and none of the email links I got from B&B worked, so I had to tinker with a url Mastress Alita gave me for the US version to get to the EU version, and now waiting every day for it to decide to eventually show up. Apparently this is my commitment-phobic “trophy girlfriend” tea: she made a lot of promises, but gave me the wrong number, abandoned me for the holidays, and is probably kicking back on the French Riviera somewhere while I pine away. But never mind, I’m thinking I could have something deep and lasting and beautiful with Peach Cobbler.
I’m dying over here… XD
I ordered Peach Cobbler, too. Can’t wait for it to show its beautiful face now!
haha. Yes, thanks for your early hype. I ALMOST tried this tea for the first time today!
Oh my goodness! You make it sound sooo good! I need to check if they ship to the US now!
I am glad I’m not ordering tea right now, I don’t need any high maintenance girlfriend teas. Me and Christmas Cake had a nice fling while I sipped down the sampler I had from a past cupboard sale from tea-sipper, and then it was time for us to part ways, diva that she is. ;-)
I do have some Peach Cobbler in my stash I haven’t tried yet, though…
I don’t use much leaf when I make blacks, maybe it’s just my preference? But like you, I just don’t do the whole “teaspoon/tablespoon” thing… it means nothing to me as a unit of measurement. I do everything by weighing in grams on a scale now. For 350ml I use 2.5g of black tea (at least for full leaf rather than CTC) and steep 3 minutes. I’m an absolute tannin wuss and rarely add milk or sweetener, hahaha. If I am planning on adding milk or sweetener (like I want to make a tea latte) I will add more leaf, though.