I am making good progress through the Autumn Sampler pack that I got from Bird & Blend (between this and the Tea Crane samples I got, I am seriously falling in love with tea samples – such a good way to have a variety of tea!) and I opened this!
Eton Mess is one of those desserts that I haven’t tried many times but which I like in theory because it has all my favourite things. This is how the Bird and Blend website describes the tisane:
“This blend will put the meringue in your mug… We thought it was about time to pay homage to everyone’s favourite British summer dessert. This blend is bursting with smashed strawberries and creamy flavours. Try me cold-brewed with freshly cut chunks of fruit!”
Since I had a 20g sample, I decided to try it straight and cold-brewed with milk, since it apparently tastes like a milkshake when you brew it that way!
First Impressions
This is clearly a tisane, not a tea. Some parts of the tisane clumping together and I think that it’s because apple pieces are used. It’s not a bad thing, just means that I probably won’t buy a huge bag at one go because if it can clump, it has a higher water content and will be more prone to mold/have a shorter shelf life than regular teas. With all the fruit inside, it’s no wonder that this smells sweet and fruity.
Tasting Notes
I tried this two ways: straight and cold brew in milk. Brewing this tea straight (hot or cold) resulted in a sweet, slightly tart and fruity tisane. It was definitely an enjoyable drink.
The second time I made this, I used about half the packet and cold brewed it in milk for over twelve hours. The website describes it as a milkshake and they are right! The milk tisane was a light purple colour and drinking it felt like drinking a milkshake. It wasn’t too sweet (if you want a fruity milkshake, you should just blend fruits with milk/ice cream) and I enjoyed it far more than I had when it was brewed straight.
Overall thoughts
This was a fun drink! I’m not sure if I would buy this again, but that’s mostly because I’m more of tea than a tisane person. I think my biggest takeaway from this tisane is that if I’ve got anything fruity, I could brew it in milk for an amazing drink.
Oh wow I never thought about brewing in milk to make a milkshake like drink!
Or for a levelled up milk tea!!! And this brand is local to you… hint hint 😉
Okay I know you just meant that they’re in the UK but for one second I thought you meant the NE of England and got very excited haha. Not quite! But still British!
At any rate, I think shipping within England would be a lot cheaper than shipping to Singapore! Hope you get time to try it!
Very true!
First, that first cup and saucer is incredible! I love the autumn colors. Second, I don’t think I would have ever thought to cold steep a fruity tisane in milk! I now have to rummage through my cupboards to see if I can find one that won’t curdle milk…
I hope you find a blend that works! Or maybe something like oatmilk would work for the tart blends?