Although I have never been fanatical about tea and its many different kinds of formation, I have always loved a good English cuppa, probably averaging at least three brews a day, from a very young age (thanks to my Granny). As for herbal, fruit and green tea, I was very much a girl of simple tastes and tea pleasures – a peppermint here for digestion, a green tea there for a good detox and perhaps a fruity or floral if I felt like it. As for matcha – I had no idea. Little did I know, I was about to embark on a journey that would change all of that forever and make a tea expert, advocate and lover out of me yet. With the promise of bottomless ‘tea-infused cocktails’ and more Bird and Blend’s Tea Blending and Tasting Workshop Experience was one I knew I would enjoy before embarking upon it, but wow was it an experience that delivered so much more than it promised on the (tea) tin.
On Portobello Road is Bird and Blend’s charming Notting Hill store. Lined with hundreds of tins of brightly coloured tea jars, the cosy and welcoming shop makes a lovely setting for an intimate workshop. Inside we were greeted with a warm welcome from expert tea mixologist Edward, who ran the experience with his colleague. What was lovely, was the fact that Bird and Blend do not cram with attendees, it was just us and another group of three in attendance – which made the evening wonderfully relaxing yet fun, with us able to ask any questions and get the help we needed easily when it came to the blending!
After introductions and our first round of bespoke and uniquely delicious tea-infused cocktails (Mojitea Green Tea and Apple Mulled Cider Tea Steamer, we kicked off the evening by learning all about different teas, blending herbs and processing methods by getting hands-on with ingredients and having a good smell and study of each one. Edward even set us up to a little game of matching unknown ingredients to their names, through sight and smell. This was super interesting and really gave us a foundation knowledge of tea, each ingredient’s origin as well as how best to enjoy them and their benefits. It was clear from this simple introduction that Bird and Blend’s world of tea is infinite, with a never-ending combination of beautiful blends at their fingertips.
Sustainability at Bird and Blend Tea
Bird and Blend responsibly source their tea and put a huge emphasis on sustainability – hence their new eco-pouches that contain the tea, being completely compostable. After another round of tea-infused cocktails, we eagerly awaited Edward to share the tea secrets and show us Bird and Blend’s wide range of products. The term ‘wide range’, is nowhere near enough to describe the diversity of blends that Bird and Blend Tea have on offer – with everything from the traditional Earl Grey and Oolong, to wild and wacky flavours (think Birthday Cake, Maple Bacon Pancakes and Blue Raspberry), ‘Tea Bombs’ and numerous healthy matcha powders. Edward stepped up to the counter, and with his fan in hand, he wafted the gorgeous tea aromas around as our group inhaled in awe. As Edward went down the lined up tins of tea, he revealed facts about each one and taught us traditional tea tasting methods and how to identify different flavour notes and aromas, as we sipped each varying concoction. It was during this time we decided on our favourites – it became clear to me that mine was the ‘Mermaid Matcha’ best whisked in with coconut milk, for long luscious hair and great skin, as well as ‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks’ a divine floral creation to inspire a dreamy sleep.
Now for the main event. Set before our group lay the key ingredients for tea blending creations, with everything from black tea leaves and hibiscus, to cloves, camomile and lavender and a whole lot more. With Edward’s blending expertise, we went about creating our own bespoke blends, unique to us and our acquired tastes. We each took home three generous pouches of our own signature teas, as well as an exclusive tote bag with more tea wonders and goodies packed inside. It is safe to say that I left Bird and Blend’s incredible Tea Blending and Tasting workshop experience a true tea fan, having had a wonderfully joyous time with lovely people, delicious tea and truly ready to embrace Bird and Blend’s never-ending array of products.
