A Lord of the Rings Inspired Black Tea Blend
This bourbon black tea blend is inspired by Lord of the Rings three part epic fantasy film and the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. This tea blend was created especially for the Helms Deep Tavern in Bremerton, Washington.
Behind the Deeping Wall of Helm’s Deep you will find the Glittering Caves, inspired by an actual cave system in England known as Cheddar Gorge.
“Still lakes mirror them: a glimmering world looks up from dark pools covered with clear glass; cities, such as the mind of Durin could scarce have imagined in his sleep, stretch on through avenues and pillared courts, on into the dark recesses where no light can home. And plink! a silver drop falls, and the round wrinkles in the glass make all the towers bend and waver like weeds and corals in the grotto of the sea. Then evening comes: they fade and twinkle out; the torches pass on into another chamber and another dream.” (The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, Book III, “The Road to Isengard”)
Picture yourself sitting on the edge of one of those dark pools, staring into a dark grotto, listening for that musical ‘plink’. You open your hot beverage container and pour a heavenly cup of this bourbon black tea blend. You look down at your cup and it is glittering (nice touch from the edible silver drink dust), and you hear the musical flute like sounds as the water ‘plinks’ into the pool. The aroma of cream and bourbon coated pecans from an aged barrel wafts in your face. You look up and the walls glow with gems and crystals, shining with a translucence as if you are in an ethereal dream. Oh, never mind, that’s just the infused bourbon sugar. Just a hint of Maker’s Mark infused in sugar crystals will keep you warm through the night.
Sips by ‘Most-Loved’ Tea of 2020
Night in the Glittering Caves was featured by Sips by as their #1 ‘Most-Loved’ loose leaf tea of 2020. Learn more on the Sips by blog.
Danielle Riddle (verified owner) –
Such amazing flavor and the tea is very strong. I fixed it too strong the first time before I realized I didn’t need as much tea leaves. Seriously really good tea.
the.louise.monster (verified owner) –
Two of my favorite things: LoTR and bourbon. This has quickly become one of my favorite teas.
Karen English (verified owner) –
This tea is my new favorite. Love the taste and the pretty glitter look.
Leslie McMaster (verified owner) –
It smells like a sweet roll! One of the best black tea blends I’ve ever had.
Megan Wayne (verified owner) –
I was addicted after 1 cup. This is like drinking a warm hug. A magical, sparkly, bourbon scented hug.
Laura (verified owner) –
Dark and robust, and very strong, this is sure to be a hit with black tea lovers. The sparkling silver glitter is pure fun!
Chelsea Lutz (verified owner) –
My husband received this tea in his Sips By box and fell in love so I immediately bought him more. As he said, it’s a great Fall/Winter tea that provides all of the cozy feels. This will definitely be a tea we continue to buy!
Serena Wolfe (verified owner) –
I received a sample of this tea in my SipsBy subscription and just had to have more! A perfect black tea blend to enjoy on a cool day. It tastes as lovely as it smells and looks like a magic elixir in your mug thanks to the edible dust. This is my go to drink for fall!
Jennifer Mendoza (verified owner) –
All around a delight for the senses! The taste is wonderful balance of black tea, Burbon notes , pecans and the cinnamon wafts as a beautiful scent as you drink. But that’s not all! The glitter is wonderful visually and is reminiscent of a snow globe effect.
Madison Forrester (verified owner) –
Like a few of the other reviewers here, I received a sample of this blend in a SipsBy box and absolutely had to order more. Immediately after brewing, this tea smells like it’s already been sweetened with cane sugar and had the perfect amount of cream poured in. The taste is nearly indescribable; it’s simply the best tea I’ve ever had. I’ve never tried to add anything to it, but I’m sure that sugar and cream turns it into one of the most delectable treats! Not to mention the silver edible glitter, which adds a wonderful, whimsical touch to an already beautiful cup of tea. I ordered 100 more grams immediately after I ran out of my sample packet, as I just couldn’t stand the thought of never having this tea again. Andrea (who I believe is the owner of this amazing shop) sent me a heartwarming, handwritten note, 2 sample teabags of other blends she carries, a business card, a card that shows what temperatures to steep different types of tea at, a small tea-flavored candy, and a beautiful little magnet in the package along with my tea! Not only is the tea amazing, but so is the owner!! If you needed a sign to take a chance and order A Night in the Glittering Caves, this is it!!!!
Taylor Gibbs (verified owner) –
Got it in my sipby box and love love love it!
Sondos Hussein (verified owner) –
This tea is just delicious! Every note is so subtle yet so pronounced and they mix together so wonderfully. It tastes like watching a good movie under the blankets on a cold winter night with a fire going. I was introduced to this through the sips by Magic Box and it was hands down the highlight of that box!! Came straight here to get more and couldn’t be more happy! Got my whole family hooked on it even those who don’t really drink tea. I’m just in love and will continue to buy from this brand as this really made me trust them fully! Thank you!
dlaslavic1771 (verified owner) –
I first received this tea as a sample in a Sipsby box. As soon as I tried it I fell in love and knew I had to get more. Shipping was very fast and the packaging was so cute. I received a sticker, a tea brewing guide, a very sweet note, a tea candy and two sample teas which I tried today and really enjoyed both. I’m curious if they were based on ‘Night in the Glistening Caves’ or if it’s just random but either way Amanda is so sweet and very kind to include all of these goodies. The tea itself is perfect for any season. Any type of day (though especially good for Autumn). It has such an indescribable taste to it. You should just get some yourself. I will definitely be repurchasing and trying others. <3
jenninumber1 (verified owner) –
Absolutely love this tea! The flavor is strong but well balanced, and the glitter is just fun to watch.
bowers.amanda909 (verified owner) –
I loved it, no sugar necessary for me.
Tiffany Coffman (verified owner) –
It’s like a sparkly butter pecan pie in a tea! I got it originally because I was intrigued by the edible glitter but after the first whiff I fell in love with the flavor outside of the novelty. It truly is delicious. I followed the directions to brew but I think brewing a little stronger is better. The bourbon sugar and pecans are really delightful. Highly recommend! It is my new favorite!
Trista (verified owner) –
I got a small sample of this tea in my Sips By box. I always thought I didn’t like black tea, but it turns out I was drinking the wrong black teas! Of course, the glitter makes this a magical addition to my morning. But the taste! Oh my goodness, I was absolutely floored. It’s sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. I found it had a rich, comforting flavor. This has quickly shot to one of my favorite teas! I ordered the largest package offered and a few other samples, and Andrea threw in a few other flavors for me to try! The quality and care that goes into each order are evident. You’ve earned a new, repeat customer!
Shauna Jones (verified owner) –
I am a new customer and after tasting this amazing tea, I am hooked! This tea is amazing and I love the hints of bourbon flavor. It is great to have anytime of the day. I’m almost out and will be ordering more soon! This time a bigger bag! =)
Kiana Perry (verified owner) –
My favorite tea yet!
Dee (verified owner) –
This tea smells and tastes like a candied pecan with a splash of bourbon. Once this tea has had a chance to cool down it’s a wonderful mix of crème, bourbon, and pecan. Night in the Glittering Caves is one of the best flavored teas that I have tried. Also, the sparkles are a nice added touch!
Kathryn Stubbs (verified owner) –
I was introduced to this tea through SipsBy, and quite on accident. They were supposed to send me another blend by Happy Turtle, but sent this one instead. And it’s the best thing to ever happen to me. The blend is just right among each flavor, and perfect treat for those of us with a sweet tooth. I will be keeping a supply of this tea as long as HT keeps making it!
carolinecourter (verified owner) –
This is my absolute favorite tea blend! I love the black tea base and it is so tasty! And who doesn’t need edible glitter in their tea? Delightful 🙂
stay_cee_lee (verified owner) –
Oh my goodness! This has become one of my favorite black teas! It has a nice sweetness and the glitter is so pretty.
carissatotleben (verified owner) –
Delicious! This is the first tea that my tea-hating husband has actually liked. I love these flavors. Very smooth. And the fun glitter is a nice bonus. No need to add anything. I’m working through samples and small bags, and this is on my list to purchase more.
Rebecca Hewett (verified owner) –
I picked up a sample on my first tea order. Rich, velvety goodness. It’s one of the few flavored teas that made my husband and I *both* say, “Oh this is GOOOOOOOOD!” with the very first sip.
It’s definitely on the top of my list for the next order.
Sarah Bibby (verified owner) –
I ordered several different samples to see what I really liked the best, and this tea right here is the best tea I have ever had. Hot or iced, no sweetener or with sweetener. I loved every cup I had. I will be purchasing a larger quantity this time!
joniericks (verified owner) –
This has a fabulous flavor. It has such a nice candied bourbon pecan flavor with a hint of cream. The glitter makes it feel magical. My husband was also very impressed with this tea and I ordered a larger pack before I’ve even finished my sample. I enjoy it with and without milk and I also like to add bit of sweetener to it.
sarajschmidt (verified owner) –
Such a creamy, delicious blend. It even sparkles like a real glittering cave! It may replace my other favorite.
adkocher11 (verified owner) –
Anything with glitter is just fun! The taste of this tea surprised me but in a good way. I love black tea and the creamy smooth flavor was perfect. This will be on my favorites list.
hendrixkm (verified owner) –
I can see why this is a crowd favorite. It’s beautiful, delish completely on it’s own and also with some fun add ins. My husband has taken all of my stash and he’s not even a tea drinker. It’s sweet without being too sweet and the flavor is just smooth and creamy
alerner06 (verified owner) –
Amazing, delicious, decadent!!!
This was the blend I was most interested in since it had so many raves by tea bloggers and WOW it did not disappoint! As soon as I opened the bag, that nutty pecan smell hit and then I saw the glitter in the bag and was SOLD!! The taste is out of this world too. I added a splash of milk just to see if it would be a great latte in the future and it would (obviously) but it didn’t even really need the milk. Just sparkly deliciousness in a cup and I put the biggest size available onto my wishlist.
kmclawson (verified owner) –
I got this tea in a Sips by tea monthly box and I was hooked since then! This is the best tea I ever drank and I will continue to repurchase!!
Andrea Guzman (verified owner) –
i tried a sample of this tea in a SipsBy box i got and i fell in love instantly! its all of my favorite flavors in one delicious tea blend. i had to order a bigger bag ASAP! it got delivered pretty quickly (about a week) and the packaging was very cute and i absolutely adored the hand written note and the lil tea candy that came in my pack as well. i will ABSOLUTELY be ordering some more tea from yall!!! consider me a regular 💖🍵😊
Erica Arthur (verified owner) –
A good tea if you like strong, nutty flavors. It wasn’t my “cup of tea” exactly, but it was still nice to try. The glitter was a fun touch!
Jeanne Tittelfitz (verified owner) –
I love this tea. It tastes like candied cinnamon pecans. I was worried that the bourbon flavor would be too overpowering but it was not it was perfect. I love this tea as a latte. The tea is beautiful with the glitters. I will definitely reorder.
Laura (verified owner) –
There are so many fun things about this tea! First, the flavor blend is perfect. This is a tea that takes you on a journey though its notes, and is intriguing to drink. Lastly, I love the glitter! It really elevates it to another level.
bubblycoconut (verified owner) –
Even though I don’t usually prefer black tea I decided to give this one a try anyway because the flavors sounded so good. The flavors were absolutely amazing but because I don’t care for black tea I wasn’t a fan, I love all of the other flavors in the blend though. I would love to see something similar with a rooibos/honeybush base. If you like black tea I would highly recommend this one!
Rachel Corbell (verified owner) –
My husband is not a tea drinker, but he liked this tea — I think the ‘bourbon’ on the label made him more likely to try and like it. The glitter is so special.
Taylor Moore (verified owner) –
Absolutely delicious! I love the lightly nutty and sweet notes to this beautiful black tea. The glittery is so fun and the flavors are just fantastic! I will definitely be keeping this stocked up in my cupboard!
Jason Carroll (verified owner) –
Hands down my favorite tea. The bourbon flavor really shines through. It smells almost like a fresh pecan roll. Plus, it’s LoTR themed so that’s just an added bonus. TRY THIS TEA!
Molly McKee (verified owner) –
I LOVE this tea!! It smells amazing and tastes even better! Hands down, my new favorite. I love hot tea with sweetener and cream and while it didn’t need it, I added some Toffee Sugar and a splash of cream and it was like dessert in a cup! Such a treat!!
Heather Lang (verified owner) –
My favorite blend!
mnsotn2 (verified owner) –
This is one of my absolute favorite teas. Love the combination of the creamy flavors. Great tea for relaxing in the evening.
Carrie Rubin (verified owner) –
This is really yummy! I primarily pick up on the caramel and pecan flavors in this blend. It’s really pretty to look at and the glitter is super fun!
eajba85 (verified owner) –
This is such a wonderful flavor combination. So yummy and delicious. I can see by all of the reviews that I’m not alone in loving this tea!
Elizabeth Jacka (verified owner) –
The flavor of this tea is amazing. The bourbon, pecan, cinnamon and ginger compliment each other perfectly over the black tea base, with just the right amount of sweetness that I don’t have to add anything else to it. It was an instant favorite, and after brewing it 3-4x a week for the past three months, it is easily still my favorite tea in the house. Best tea blend I’ve ever found. The fact that it’s LOTR (my fave!) is an added bonus. I personally could do without the ‘edible glitter’ but it does make it look sparkly lol.
Danielle Kuethe (verified owner) –
This is such a great tea. I truly enjoyed it. The aroma alone is wonderful but adding a dash of honey and/or sugar can really make this pop. I will be a frequent buyer of this tea.