Severe Consequences from Riddle’s Tea Shoppe

In case you haven’t already noticed, I’m a fan of all things tea and Harry Potter, and lucky for me there are a multitude of amazing small tea shops that specialize in fantasy-inspired tea blends. I tried several teas from Riddle’s Tea Shoppe, and loved the tins and labeling for every single one.  I ordered Severe Consequences blend to complete a set, not sure if the flavors of the tea would suit my palate. Much to my surprise, the blend turned out to be my favorite flavor of the bunch.

This blend is named after one of the favorite things of strict and unscrupulous Professor Dolores Umbridge.  Like her outwardly pink and kitten-loving appearance, this tea is sweet and fragrant. Red fruit flavors of cherry, strawberry, and raspberry are as lush as breakfast jam against the black tea base.  Vanilla flavoring adds a buttercream dessert finish after all the fruit. The careful addition of rose petals make this tea feel extra fancy, suitable for afternoon tea, without taking over the blend with their floral scent.

You can order this tea with or without rose gold sugar pearls.  When brewed the pearls melt and add sweetness to the brew like a sugar cube.  I recommend including the sugar pearls– they make the dry leaf look even more precious.  Besides, you know Umbridge herself would not limit her indulgences. Brew this strong and sweet and serve it in your favorite dainty tea set.  Just don’t let your teatime cosplaying get out of hand, or there will be Severe Consequences.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Riddle’s Tea Shoppe
Description:

Severe Consequences is the preferred tea of Dolores Umbridge, and is a cherry, cream, and rose tea with strawberry and raspberry pieces. Floral, sweet, and perfectly lovely to look at, the optional light pink sugar pearls will keep you in line while you avoid telling lies…

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Butter Brew/Bird & Blend. . . .

When I was in Harry Potter World in Universal, I tried “Butter Beer.” The over-hyped, lackluster beverage was $6 for a clear Solo cup’s worth. The flavor was like a cream soda mixed with a root beer. Meh.

After that disappointment, I was on the lookout for a better butter beer — and have found it with Butter Brew from Bird and Blend. (Alliteration, anyone?)

This blend is like an English Breakfast into which someone dumped molasses/sweetness/creamer. A LOT OF CREAMER. The warm dairy sweetness of this is POTENT.

This blend also includes calendula petals. I looked up this plant, because I keep seeing those petals everywhere. What’s their flavor? What’s their reason?

Turns out — in case you were wondering at all — that calendula is a type of flower that includes the marigold. (You may have seen it in gardens. Perhaps your own garden.) The flower has alleged anti-inflammatory properties. MOSTLY, however, calendula is used to give a pop of color to a dish. Which I totally get, because tea is so dull and brown without the flowers. I love a good inclusion. It says “here’s a fancy, pretty treat JUST FOR YOU, on this bitter and sad and cold morning.” The yellow also, I suppose, is the color of butter, now that I think of it.

Depending on who you are, the $6 soda concoction might be for you. But I, personally, prefer the MANY, MUCH BETTER cups of tea you can get for a comparable price at Bird & Blend.


Want to Know More About This Tea?

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Bird & Blend

Description

This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Raven’s Blend from Friday Afternoon . . . . . .

Hello dear readers! I have recently come across a quite delightful tea company that was sent to me as a secret Santa gift and I was amazed by the quality and of course with the tea selection. I had a whole lot of tea to chose from in the care package that was sent to me but after some consideration, I picked up Raven’s Blend.

For starters, this tea is very light given its black tea base and I believe that is thanks to the white tea wingman. There is also blue cornflower in this tea which adds a delightfully light floral taste. To those who are familiar with the taste profile of Lady Grey, it is like that but more delicate. I feel like I say this a lot because most teas are relaxing but I find that this one can be paired with just about any relaxing activity. But it also can spark creativity, giving your brain a needed boost. Which makes sense because its namesake is derived from the Ravenclaw house in the Harry Potter series. Which, funny enough is my actually my house.

Now on to the pricing of this beautiful blend. There are a total of four sizes to choose from; 1 oz which is priced at $10, a 2 oz which is priced at $14, 4 oz for $25, and 8 oz for $45. There aren’t any individual samples that you can order outright but I do know for certain that you can email the shop and ask for individual samples at $2 per sample. If you want to be more adventurous there is a mystery sample pack for $13 with four options (high caffeine, no caffeine, moderate caffeine, mixed caffeine) and an educational sampler pack for $35 that comes with steeping notes that has five options to choose from; black teas, green teas, oolong teas, pu-erh teas, and medicinal teas. Lastly, if you are in the Harry Potter fandom, there is a Wizarding Collection that you can purchase for $25 that features .5-.75 ounces for each of the teas from each of the four houses.

For the final thoughts on this tea, I believe it is well worth the money for the taste and the woman behind it is also great from my experience. From what I can tell she is very active with her consumers and is constantly adding new products to her online and physical store. There is also an option to make your own custom tea blend for $35 either by email or at the physical location. Also, as I was writing this review, I made a fresh cup of Raven’s Blend and I will possibly make another one! I fell in love with this tea company and you better be ready to see more reviews of this company in the near future!

See you for the next cuppa, Kara


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy:  Friday Afternoon
Description

In wise old Ravenclaw house, “Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure.” This medium-bodied, floral black tea is designed especially for you bibliophiles. High caffeine levels prepare you for those all-night study sessions and sharpen your focus while you devour the written word. Also fabulous while you read (or reread) your favorite novel, curled up in your favorite armchair or reading nook.

Ingredients: Black tea, white tea, and blue cornflower

All of our teas available online are gluten-free and sourced from organically certified farms. Most are vegan, but some may include honey (indicated in ingredients).

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Sweet Ghost from Malfoy Tea Emporium . . .

This morning’s tea is a dessert option called Sweet Ghost. The Emporium describes it as “a decadent loose leaf tea blend that is crafted from black tea, natural gingerbread flavor, natural vanilla flavor, natural creme flavor, ginger root, orange peels, cinnamon bark and chocolate chips.”

It’s basically chocolate cream with slight chai spices. It’s a very strong, saturated flavor.

The only thing that bothers me is that it’s called “Sweet Ghost.” Like… why? I could see a delicately-flavored tea as being ephereal. Maybe a white tea.

Also, when was the last time a sweet ghost was featured in a movie? ALMOST NEVER. Ghosts are usually haunting people, screaming with their eyes pure white, crawling out of floors, moaning, flailing — causing an unpleasant ruckus, basically. They’re impolite. They’re horrible houseguests.

Rename the tea something nice, guys! Maybe something Harry Potter themed. There are tons of options! Here are a few freebies: Hogwarts Express Fuel. Hagrid’s Third Dessert of the Night. Mrs Weasley’s Evening Crochet Me-Time.

You’re welcome.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Black Tea
Where to Buy:  Malfoy Tea Emporium 
Description

This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!