Following a suggestion from Illness-san, I decided to try my hand at creating an original black tea blend. Since I didn't really understand the complexities of balancing flavors, I was going to learn the ropes from her as we went along.
When Nebula heard the plan, she also offered her help, and so the three of us began working on the project together.
"Since the base flavor of these leaves doesn't change much based on the amount used... we'll be adjusting the profile by choosing which other leaves to add... I've prepared the varieties Nebula originally made, as well as several others I personally feel would be a good match..."
"There is no need to overthink things at first. Master, please simply follow your intuition and choose a combination and quantity of leaves that feels right. Illness-san and I will handle the balancing afterward."
"Got it... By the way, are there any specific tricks I should know?"
With Nebula and Illness-san there to refine the results, I didn't have to worry about the tea turning out poorly. However, I didn't want to rely entirely on blind luck, so I asked Illness-san for a few pointers.
"Let’s see... If you want a deeper, more robust flavor... adding these leaves would be best... Conversely, if you prefer something light and refreshing... these varieties might be more appropriate..."
"I see... In that case, I'd like a slightly stronger, soothing flavor that helps me unwind, so I'll go with these."
"A fine choice... Those two varieties have a subtle sweetness... they are quite effective for relaxation..."
"Then, I'll add some of these as well..."
Adding too many ingredients would likely make the flavor muddled, so I decided to stick with the sweet variety Illness-san had recommended. As for the quantity, I relied entirely on my gut, scooping up some leaves with a teaspoon and setting the spoon on a plate.
"Oh?"
"Hmm..."
When both Illness-san and Nebula reacted at the exact same moment, I turned toward them, feeling a bit anxious.
"Did I get something wrong?"
"On the contrary. The ratio you chose was remarkably precise... Even if we were the ones doing the blending, that is the exact balance we would have aimed for to harmonize those two varieties. Master, you have quite the natural sense for this."
"You certainly do... It requires almost no adjustment at all... I think it will become a wonderful blend once we simply tweak the leaves Nebula made that add the finishing accents..."
It seemed my choice hadn't been strange after all; in fact, my intuitive guess had been so spot-on that it had genuinely impressed them.
Feeling a bit bashful at their praise, I watched as they performed the final refinements to smooth out the flavor.
"And with that, the first prototype is complete. Let us brew it and have a taste! From there, we can continue to adjust the ratios or try different patterns to perfect the recipe."
"I'm actually a bit excited to see how a tea I blended myself will turn out."
"That is the true appeal of an original blend, I suppose... Well then... I shall go prepare the pot..."
"Thanks, I'm looking forward to it."
Tasting and tweaking to bring the flavor closer to my personal preference... Doing this alone would have been an ordeal, but with two experts like Illness-san and Nebula supporting me, even a complete amateur like me was having a great time.
I hoped we could come up with a truly great blend. Regardless, I couldn't wait for the first tasting.
Serious-senpai: "How heartwarming. If you ignore the impending stomach pain, this is such a peaceful scene... provided you ignore the stomach pain..."