On a sluggish morning, a go-to for me is a brisk black tea, such as a breakfast blend. While I generally lean toward caffeinated drinks to wake me up, sometimes I want the same flavour profile as a breakfast blend sans the caffeine!
Description: “Our fab caffeine free breakfast blend has been designed by Krisi, specifically for all those who love a great classic breakfast tea but want to avoid caffeine!”
Instructions: 1 teaspoon | 100°C | Wait 4+ mins | With or without milk
Review: This blend was formally called “Breakfast’s Ready, Honey” which is what drew me to it. But, the current name is more on the nose. When I think of a breakfast blend, I’m looking for a blend that is bold, woody/earthy, sweet and ends in some briskness.
The dry herbal blend had a strong woody smell associated with rooibos and a vanilla fragrance. It was a mosaic of dark brown and mahogany from rooibos and honeybush with a scattering of bright yellow from the sunflower petals.
After brewing for 5 to 6 minutes, the liquor resulted in similar mahogany colour as the dry ingredients and reminiscent of the black tea breakfast blend. The woody taste of rooibos was the dominant note followed by a light honey-like sweetness and vanilla. The end of the sip was drying at the back of the throat. When cooled, the liquor had a sweeter taste.
Since the recommendation mentioned milk, I added a splash of oat milk which turned the liquor into a muted reddish-tan colour and gave it a creamy consistency. Despite oat milk generally having a more neutral flavour, it was still noticeable as the blend has a small ingredient list. The wet blend smelled like damp wood, wild honey, and vanilla.
Overall, the rooibos blend hit all the notes I was looking for in a breakfast blend and I can see the comparison. However, enjoying the blend would largely be based on your opinion of rooibos as the flavour is distinctive and the main flavour. Adding the oat milk gave the liquor a nice consistency and a nutty roasted flavour alongside the classic rooibos taste. Consider brewing it for longer if adding milk. This would be a nice blend for someone who likes rooibos or is looking for something that is akin to a breakfast blend with a mildly similar profile (3/5 rating).
- Type: Herbal tea
- Origin: Unknown
- Caffeine: Caffeine-free
- Ingredients: Rooibos, honeybush, sunflower petals, natural flavouring
- Company: Bird & Blend Tea Co.
Liked this review of Bird & Blend Tea Co.’s Rooibos Breakfast Cuppa Tea? Pin it!
