The blueberry is a bit of an underdog in the fruit world and the kiwi even more. While berries are on the antioxidant A-list for health, the blueberry often gets passed up for its blushing sisters, leaving the poor fellow rather blue. Whereas the five o’clock shadow of the small kiwi gives it a gruffly edge, seemingly undercover and hiding its vivid greens that it doesn’t really seem so cheery either. Yet something about matching this daring duo with white tea in the Boston Tea Company’s Blueberry Kiwi white makes me delightfully happy.
Despite the vibrant imagery the combination evokes, one would never suspect it from the tea’s appearance. It’s a dark mixture of blacks, browns and tans amongst the broken leaves and stems with the occasional silvery bud or purple malva flower emerging from the lot. As a relative of the hibiscus and okra, the malva or mallow is thought to have only a mild viscous taste without the sourness of hibiscus. Thus, I suspect, the malva flowers bring more to the appearance and body of the tea than the flavour. Closer inspection of the leaves, reveals oddly fuzzy dried blueberries, almost like the blueberry masquerading in the kiwi’s skin. The fuzzy coat seems a little odd but the presence of whole blueberries reassuring, that the tea will sing of the same natural goodness as the blueberry itself. The remaining dark leaves with only a few silver tips to be found suggest this tea is more about the blueberry kiwi duo and the white tea base is not trying to add or cut in on the pair.
A very blueberry scent is the most striking aroma from the leaves, with very little to be found of its cohort the kiwi. Yet the visions of blueberry pie evoked from one whiff left me with mouthwatering anticipation. The blueberry scent is embraced with dark florals suggestive perhaps of the mallow flowers, while a faint note of clover, rain and (honey) mumbles of the underlying white tea. Since kiwis often have only a mild scent on their own unless overly ripe, I don’t find its absence very surprising and true to form, it remains undercover.
Since the Boston Tea Company doesn’t offer any suggestions for brewing apart from recommending 2 g of tea be used per cup, I tried different temperatures (160-185°F) and times (2-6 min). The 2 g seemed to be about 2 heaping teaspoons. Due to the white tea base, I started out brewing at 175 °C for 3 minutes. While steeping, the blueberry aroma relaxes into a medley of red floral scents and hint of green at the end; seemingly, the kiwi was invited to the party. The appearance of the brew is indeed rather an ode to the blueberry kiwi mix, donning a greenish-tan with purple undertones. The tea is bright although small particles, blueberry seeds perhaps, may rest in the bottom of the cup depending on the brewing method, as they weren’t retained from my straining.
Cutting into this combo with my first sip brings a subdued but cheery blueberry floral flavour with a bit of kiwi tang that plays on the tongue at the end of each sip. A touch of sweetness accents the light to medium body and the flavor seems fresh. While it may not be the strongest blueberry I’ve encountered, I commend the Boston Tea Company for pulling out the kiwi on the palate. That being said, if one was to taste this tea unaware of the name, I don’t know if one would be able to recognize the duo by the taste alone. Dabbling with a more assertive blueberry flavour may have also obscured the kiwi, so the two play well together in the tea. As suggested by the leaves’ appearance the white tea does not try and steal the spotlight, seeming only to contribute a bamboo note and a slight dryness.
Using hotter water temperatures, above 175 °F seemed to steal some of the bright flavours, offering more of cooked, milder berry taste. The number of steepings possible for each serving of tea will depend on the brewing time and temperature. Although I only tried 2 teaspoons for each brew, using more might offer more distinct fruitiness. After three 3 minute steepings at 170 to 175 °F, there was still a refreshing fruitiness that I don’t think would carry to a fourth. Plus, the tea tastes remarkably good cold. Cooling seemed to intensify the blueberry and kiwi flavours which makes me think this would make a divine sun tea.
Warm or cold, I think the tea’s refreshing tastes of this often overlooked pair, the blueberry and kiwi, scores one for the underdogs and could make a happy cup any time of day.

— To purchase Boston Tea Company Blueberry Kiwi White Tea, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

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