An English Breakfast tea with a twist? Count me in! This week, I’m reviewing Bucks Blend by Two Spoons Tea. Blended to pay homage to the home county of Two Spoons Tea, Buckinghamshire, this blend features iconic black teas to create a rich and comforting cuppa.
In my full tea review, you’ll find out what’s in the blend, what it tastes like, how to brew it, and where best to buy it. Two Spoons Tea offer Bucks Blend as tea sachets (pictures below) or loose leaf tea, depending on your preference.
Let’s dig in!
Two Spoons Tea Bucks Blend at a Glance
Izzy’s Rating
- Blend: Black tea from Kenya, Assam and Darjeeling
- Flavour: Rich and comforting English Breakfast tea, turned up a notch
Bucks Blend is a warming and slightly malty breakfast tea with a richness and depth that you’d usually associate with coffee. It’s delightful and a reliable tea to fall back on when you run dry of your usual.
Full Review – Bucks Blend Breakfast Tea
- Type: Tagged biodegradable tea sachet (square “pillow”)
- Tea: Black tea
- Origins: Kenya, Assam India, Darjeeling India
- Flavour Notes: Astringent, tannins, richness, comforting
- Aroma: Tannins, malt, richness, biscuits
- Milk or Lemon: Milk, optional but recommended
- Where to Buy: Two Spoons Tea
I’ve got the pillow sachets in my sample pack, and I must admit, I like them! They do a good job of allowing the tea leaves space to unfurl as they brew (which is better for the flavour, by the way). But my first impression of this tea wasn’t the best one. The dry aroma from the tea leaves was incredibly muted – just a hint of tannins and not much else.
It takes a long soak in hot water to bring this tea to life. Once brewed, the rich dark-earth brown tea has a gorgeous aroma. It smells like an English Breakfast tea with notes of tannins and biscuity malt, but there’s this depth and richness to it that reminds me of coffee.
Once you’ve stirred in your milk and taken that first sip, you’ll bathe your mouth in smooth comforting tea. It’s slightly astringent and a little drying, but full-bodied and warm all the same. It’s energizing in that warm way that only tea is.
Well done Two Spoons Tea! I love this blend and could happily drink it daily.
How to Brew Bucks Blend
After a little experimentation, I’ve found that the best way to brew this tea is with freshly boiled water. Use 1 tea sachet (or 1 generous teaspoon of loose leaf) per mug, and let it still for 2 minutes if you want it black, or 3 minutes if you want to add milk.
Don’t let it steep for too long or the astringency will be overpowering.
If you usually have sugar in your tea, don’t hold back with this one. You can serve it on your tea break, with breakfast, or with an afternoon snack. With that slightly drying sensation, it is a very good palate cleanser.
Why Two Spoons Tea?
Two Spoons Tea are a British brand that have created this cuppa to celebrate the county they are from: Buckinghamshire. If you’ve never been there before, it’s best known for the beautiful countryside and not-so-beautiful Milton Keynes.
You can see from my photograph that the tea leaves themselves aren’t anything to note. It’s all about the origins.
They’ve used black tea from Kenya (no specific location named), as well as the Assam and Darjeeling regions of India. In a typical English Breakfast tea, you’d expect to find Assam, Kenya and China listed as the three main origins. By swapping Chinese tea for a lighter, smooth Darjeeling (known as the ‘champagne of tea’), they’ve created something a little bit more special.
Summary
Overall, this is a very tasty tea to try. Bucks Blend has all the characteristics of a superb English Breakfast tea but with additional depth and richness. The flavour, aroma and rejuvenating sensation are all exceptional.
Whether you want to try it as a loose leaf tea or in the pillow sachets shown in my review, the best place to buy this tea is directly from Two Spoons. They’re currently planting trees with every order too!
Tea Recommendation
Now you’ve got your breakfast tea sorted, it’s time to find an Earl Grey. This tea features black tea and bergamot, for a fresh and citrusy flavour. My current favourite Earl Grey is by H. R. Higgins. You can read the review on the IW blog to learn more.