Kimberley's Kyusu

Hey there Teacups! I’m back today with another Let’s Talk Tea post and this time around I’m going to be reviewing Forest Witch Tea’s – Bilbo Baggins blend. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while now you’ll have read my previous reviews feature Forest Witch Teas and you’ll know that I have loved each and every single on of their blend that I’ve tried in the past. So when Mia (The Founder) asked me if I wanted to review anymore of their blends I jumped at the chance to try some more and asked if it would be okay for me to try out her Shirelings collection. Being a big Lord Of The Rings fan I was so excited to see Mia release a collection inspired by some of the franchise’s most well loved characters. Mia very kindly sent me the full range of Shireling teas and of course out of them all I had to start with The Bilbo Baggins blend.

Here’s what Forest Witch Teas have to say about this blend over on their website: ”Bilbo, a bit of a curmudgeon, but always infinitely curious, his tea is a carrot cake in a cup. Rich, sweet Wuyi Rock oolong followed by cinnamon, safflower, cornflower, then flavoured with the richest cream cheese icing. A hobbit who’s going on adventures would be well fuelled indeed!”

Ingredients: organic oolong tea, organic cinnamon, organic clove, organic safflower, organic cornflower, flavour

Tea Tasting Notes

Just when I thought Mia had already blown me out of the water with her tea blending talents she goes and makes this blend. This blend is absolutely beautiful and replicates the flavour profile of carrot cake perfectly. Aroma wise it is very similar to the Sailor Mars blend from the Sailor Moon collection and I was a little bit worried that they were going to be the same taste wise, but there is a unique twist to the Bilbo Baggins blend that sets the two apart. I think the decision to add cloves and cream cheese icing flavours into the blend is a genius move on behalf of Mia.

While I loved the Sailor Mars blend and how close it came to carrot cake perfection there was something missing and before trying this blend I couldn’t pin point what it was until I tried this blend. Again the decision to used an oxidised Oolong over a non-oxidised / greener Oolong really does give this blend a flavourful, creamy, buttery, slightly floral, body that shines in it own right but it also subtle enough to let each and every other ingredient in the blend shine through perfectly. Normally an Oolong like the one used for this blend would dry my mouth out a little bit but this one surprisingly doesn’t, not that I’m complaining it just took me by surprise.

In terms of preparation, recommendations for this blend I don’t really have many because this blend is absolutely perfect on its own steeped for exactly three minutes. It doesn’t need any added sweetener and would be completely drowned out by adding milk. I’m yet to try this iced but something tells me it probably wouldn’t work so I would stick to having it hot (not boiling of course) and I would suggest re-steeping the leaves after your first cup because Oolong is magnificent and you’ll be able to get at least three steeps out of these leaves. Mia very kindly gifted me this tea but for as long as Mia stocks it I will repurchase it time and time again. This will be the perfect blend to drink on cold autumn / winter nights so I may just have to break my tea buying ban and order a bag (or two) of this blend once the summer is over.

Overall Teacup Rating: 5/5

If you want to find out more about Forest Witch Teas and purchase some of this delicious blend for yourself, you can do both here. As always if you have any questions at all either stick them in the comments or send them to me on Twitter/Instagram @teaisawishblog and I’ll answer them all as soon as I can.

Speak to you all again soon. Happy Steeping – Kimberley