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This tea immediately presents the user with a quandary. Is it pronounced psycho-co-stick or Psy-choco-stick? I have been using the first so apologies to BrutaliTeas’ resident pun monger, if I’m doing it wrong. BrutaliTeas’ pun monger does a smashing job, by the way. Their teas include A Chocwork Orange, Iron Mandarin and Chaiday the 13th. Their love of tea blending, heavy metal, horror movies and ridiculous tea names makes the BrutaliTeas website a pleasure to read.
The name Psychocostick is a homage to light hearted heavy metal band, Psychostick, who are like a cross between Megadeth and Barenaked Ladies. I have been listening to their music as part of the immersive tea drinking experience. And I can heartily heartily recommend NSFW, a song which neatly and beautifully encapsulates how I’ve been feeling during the past year of lockdown. (Let’s all join in now. “Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.” It’s really quite catchy.)
The tea itself is a blend of black tea, chocolate, strawberry, rose petals and chilli peppers. The addition of chilli, including pieces of dried Guajillo peppers, is a stroke of genius. Their contribution is understated; there’s no need for a heat warning on the label, but they underscore the chocolate, strawberry and rose beautifully by adding a subtle bite, which complements the other ingredients and provides a tea, which is deliciously decadent and grown up.
It is best enjoyed hot with milk, while thinking philosophical thoughts like
Where do the squirrels go during hurricanes?
Psychostick, We ran out of CD Space
What if your butt was on your chest?
What if guitars could squirt out sour cream?
And nacho cheese? And pure sulfuric acid?
As usual I am including a book in my tea picture. Today it is The Devil’s Elixirs by ETA Hoffman. Because it sounds like a heavy metal band. And quite possibly is one already.
