I'm a tea drinker because I don't like coffee (and apparently the only thing caffeine heavy drinks do for me is give me anxiety lmao) so I'm curious what your preferred tea blend is.
I mostly drink earl greys and black teas. There's a very specific brand of tea where all the blends are based on classic literature, and the Sherlock Homes tea is this earl grey that smells INCREDIBLY smoky but is actually really lovely. I can't remember the brand name though, and google isn't helping me because surprisingly, literature themed teas are not a unique idea.
I am SO glad you asked! <infodump incoming in 3....2....1....>
I have several tea blends that I keep in rotation, depending on my mood and the time of year.
Of course, matcha is way up there as one of my all time favourites. There's a cherry blossom park near where I live and I always make it in the traditional way under the trees. Otherwise, matcha latte is fire, as is hojicha latte.
Fleur de Geisha by Le Palais des Thes is lovely for a peaceful restorative tea time where you just want to sit back with a cup and empty your mind. It's sencha mixed with cherry blossom petals and is so delicate and fragrant.
If I want something more vegetal (usually in the spring), then I go for a Kyoto Uji sencha.
Coqueliquot Gourmand by Dammann Freres is such a treat! It's a black tea with a mix of various flower petals and almonds, making it taste like almond cookies. Delicious with milk. I like this one when I'm writing.
I also love black tea with rose petals when I'm writing (particularly with a slice of cake or piece of chocolate). Iirc Twinings do a blend, but any reputable house will do for something so straightforward.
Lady Grey is nice to break up the afternoon if you're flagging mentally or feeling tired, as the citrus is very bright and refreshing, much more so than Earl Grey. I always feel a little more alert afterwards.
I'm a big fan of oolong too when I'm working as you can infuse the leaves more than once, so can just keep a pot on the table and simply top up with hot water after each infusion. A simple oolong like Oriental Beauty is nice, but a favourite is Weekend a Paris by Dammann Freres, which is mixed with cherry blossom, peach blossom, almond and rose.
I love pairing genmaicha (green tea with roasted rice) with fried food, as it cuts through the grease, or mixing it with dashi for making a cosy ochazuke, which is one of my favourite winter comfort foods. It has a nice savoury toasty flavour.
Lapsang Souchong is also a favourite in the autumn. It's very smoky (could it be linked to your Sherlock Holmes tea?). It just feels right when the leaves turn brown.
I also really love Hong Kong milk tea - strong black tea made with sweetened condensed milk. When I make it, however, I use loose leaf cardamom tea by Ahmad Teas, which gives it a little extra.
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