Changes Start with... THE SPARK "at the heart of the alternative west country"

Cinnamon was definitely the predominant flavour here, followed by the distinctive taste of star anise, plus a slight ‘grassy’ quality. It certainly wasn’t disliked, though we agreed that a good lengthy brewing period was needed. A cinnamon-hater in the room was surprised as they enjoyed the gentle, sweet warming sensation as they sipped. Indeed, the chamomile-style notes detected by Darryl The Nose soften the spicy kick, but without compromising the richness of the brew.

There was an amount of trepidation around this tasting from Mark and James – self-confessed Builders’ Tea addicts. Comments included: ‘I prefer real tea’, ‘…can tolerate it’, and ‘I was looking forward to a nice cuppa; oh well’. However, the pro-hippy-tea guzzlers on the panel likened the aroma to ‘hot Ribena’ and appreciated its smell and sweetness. ‘Blackcurrant Lemsip’ was another interesting observation, made by Will. Two surprising, but welcome, comparisons for a tea not containing even a whiff of blackcurrants. Today’s lesson: you can’t win them all!