Tea People Blueberry Black combines juicy blueberries with premium black tea and a sprinkling of blue cornflower petals for extra colour. But does it actually taste good? I am reviewing it today to find out.
Up until now, my favourite blueberry tea has been Whittard Blueberry Rooibos. So, let’s see if Tea People can knock that from the top spot.
Tea People sent me a sample of this tea a while back, along with their Fruit Punch Starter Pack, to review on the blog and on Instagram. I have added a link to their website below, as well as a link to find this brew on Amazon UK. As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a little commission if you make a purchase – but that’s at no additional cost to you.
Let’s dig in and find out if this fruity tea is worth drinking.
Tea People Blueberry Black Tea at a Glance
- Blend: Black tea from Sri Lanka with blueberries, cornflower petals and flavouring
- Flavour: Slightly astringent black tea with sweet dried blueberries
This is a lovely tea! The black tea leaves add a little astringency and light body to perfectly compliment the sweetness of the blueberries. It’s a great mix.
Full Review – Black Tea with Blueberries
- Type: Loose leaf sample
- Tea: Ceylon black tea
- Additives: Blueberries, cornflower petals, natural flavouring
- Flavour Notes: Light-bodied, black tea, tannins, astringency, dried blueberries, sweet syrup
- Aroma: Blueberry jam, juicy, sweet, fresh muffins, tannins
- Milk or Lemon: Neither
- Where to Buy: Amazon UK or Tea People
Opening the packet, the dried blueberries create a wonderful aroma of sweetness. It reminds me more of blueberry jam – it’s missing the tartness and sharpness of fresh (or even frozen) blueberries. The back tea isn’t contributing much at this point.
Once you add a good splash of water, however, the tea leaves liven up. Breathing in the steam from a brewed cup of tea, I can detect a fluffy warm aroma of fresh blueberry muffins – the tannins and richness of the tea along with the fruit create this amazing illusion.
The flavour isn’t quite as good as blueberry muffins, but it is still very delicious. Tea People Blueberry Black tea has a very light body and gentle yet slightly astringent tannin note. The dried blueberries add some sweetness, but it isn’t overpowering. In fact, with the astringency of the tannins, it is a really good balance of flavours.
I also liked that the texture of this tea is quite thick. I’d describe it as mid-density, rather than syrupy.
So, after finishing my teacup, I was thoroughly impressed with this blend. Well done, Tea People!
How to Brew Tea People Black Tea
Tea People’s instructions for brewing this tea are to use 1 teaspoon of loose leaf, brewing for 3 to 4 minutes in water that’s just off the boil – aim for 95°C to 100°C water. You can also try cold brewing this tea (submerge the tea leaves in cold water overnight) or making iced tea, by brewing it hot then pouring the tea over ice.
For this tea review, I brewed for the full 4 minutes and I could have let it sit for another minute or two. It is quite a light tea and has low astringency, so don’t be afraid to let it steep for longer. Just keep an eye on the colour of the tea to judge how strong it is.
I found this tea to be the perfect balance of sweetness and astringency, but if you have a particularly sweet tooth you can add a teaspoon of honey. Lemon and blueberry is also a fantastic flavour combination, so adding a slice of lemon can really brighten it.
Why Tea People Ethical Tea?
Tea People are an ethical, British tea brand. Their core goals focus on high quality tea, premium ingredients, and working in a way that gives back to the communities growing the tea. For their Blueberry Black blend, Tea People use Ceylon tea (tea grown in Sri Lanka) with dried blueberries, cornflower petals and a little extra flavouring.
You can see from my photos that this tea is a visual stunner – the cornflower petals don’t contribute to the flavour but they make this a brilliant tea to brew in a glass teapot. The dried blueberries are pleasant too, but it’s impossible to tell how much of the blueberry flavour comes from the fruit rather than the added flavouring.
Honestly, the flavouring is the only “fault” this tea has. It’s a beautiful tea to see, brew, and drink.
Summary
Tea People Blueberry Black hits the balance between astringent black tea and fruity berries in a way that most tea brands can’t get close to achieving. I am super happy with how this tea has turned out and I will certainly be drinking it again!
You can find it on Amazon UK using the button below, or buy it directly from Tea People’s website.
Tea Recommendation
If you don’t have much experience with berry-flavoured teas, then you need to check my list of the best berry-flavoured teas next. It counts down 10 of my favourite berry teas plus another 10 that might tickle your tastebuds.