Jumble Answers for 09/04/2026

CARTOON ANSWER:

“EXPERT TEAS”
⬇️ SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE ⬇️
WELCOME BACK,
PUZZLE PLAYERS!

☕ SIP, SIP, HOORAY

Today’s cartoon takes us inside Steeped in Love, where business seems to be brewing right along with the drinks. Behind the counter, an employee is pouring a fresh cup for a customer who eagerly awaits one of her carefully chosen blends. At a nearby table, two customers are enjoying their flavorful selections, and judging by their reactions, everything was prepared just right. When it comes to this specific beverage, there doesn’t seem to be much she hasn’t mastered.

🧩 CLUE WORD BREAKDOWN

UJSOT = JOUST

Came instantly.

Last used: 09/27/2025 as USOTJ

PTSYI = TIPSY

No trouble at all.

Last used: 06/08/2021 as PYTIS

EFCELE = FLEECE

My pick for hardest. Sorting all those E’s took some time.

Last used: 04/20/2025 as CEFELE

ATXMRI = MATRIX

Instantly visible.

Last used: 11/12/2023 as RAITXM

🔎 Jumble Jeff’s Jems

➤ CUP TO THE TASK

The employee pours hot water from a kettle into a teacup with a bag inside as she recommends the leaf blend to her customer. She has her hair pulled back into a bun and is wearing a short-sleeve shirt and a teabag earring. The customer has shaggy hair, sideburns, round glasses, and a goatee, and is wearing a T-shirt as he eagerly awaits his beverage.

➤ CUP AND AWAY

Two women sit at a small round table enjoying their drinks. The woman on the left holds hers in her left hand, while the woman on the right holds hers with both hands and has her right pinky extended. A steaming kettle sits on the table between them.

➤ LOVE AT FIRST SIP

The shop’s name, STEEPED IN LOVE, appears on a decorative plaque behind the employee and in reverse on the front window. A brewing contraption with a glass chamber, tubing, and a cup sits on the counter next to her.

🧠 FINAL SOLVE

The final answer was a 10-letter anagram that solved into a “6 + 4” layout. If the X hadn’t shown up in our final puzzle of the workweek, this one probably would have taken a lot longer than it did. Looking at the cartoon and accompanying sentence, I knew her knack for brewing a great cup had something to do with it, but I wasn’t quite sure how the wordplay was going to come together. Once the clue words were solved, the X from MATRIX made EXPERT leap off the page, and TEAS was sitting right there in the remainder to polish this one off. If today’s puzzle slowed you down, our biggest nudges were the woman’s obvious EXPERTISE, backed up by the brewing contraption and her customers’ praise, while the tea shop setting gave us TEAS for the wordplay finish.

🫖 CLICK-TO-REVEAL FACTS*: ABOUT TEA

➤ How many cups of tea are consumed around the world each day?
Approximately 3 billion cups of tea are consumed worldwide every day. After water, tea is the most-consumed beverage in the world.
SOURCE
➤ Do black, green, white, oolong, and yellow tea come from different plants?
No. They all come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. Their different colors and flavors come largely from how the leaves are harvested and processed.
SOURCE
➤ What percentage of the tea consumed in the U.S. is iced?
Approximately 84% of the tea consumed in the U.S. is iced.
SOURCE

*For entertainment purposes only. Consult reliable sources for critical use.

💬 SAY WHAT?

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C.S. Lewis

🗳️ GET A CLUE*
(ABOUT EACH OTHER!)

Solving the puzzle might be the main event, but connecting with one another is just as fun. Here’s a quick poll to share your perspective and see where you land among your fellow players.

*For entertainment purposes only. Consult reliable sources for critical use.

🎉 NATIONAL HOLIDAYS* – SEPTEMBER 4

National Newspaper Carrier Day — A day recognizing the newspaper carriers who have delivered the day’s news to doorsteps across the country, rain or shine, for generations. SOURCE

National Macadamia Nut Day — Celebrate the rich, buttery macadamia nut, whether you enjoy it by the handful, baked into cookies, or covered in chocolate. SOURCE

National Chianti Day — Raise a glass to Chianti, the famous Italian red wine produced in Tuscany and enjoyed around the world. SOURCE

National Spice Blend Day — A celebration of the combinations of herbs and spices that bring distinctive flavors and aromas to dishes from kitchens around the world. SOURCE

National Food Bank Day — A day to recognize food banks, their volunteers, and the important work they do helping provide food to people and families in need. SOURCE

National Lazy Mom’s Day — An invitation for busy moms to put the chores aside for a little while, relax, and let somebody else take care of the to-do list. SOURCE

National Wildlife Day — A day devoted to appreciating wildlife while bringing attention to conservation and the importance of protecting animals and their habitats. SOURCE

National College Colors Day — Show your school spirit by wearing the colors of your favorite college or university as another college sports season gets underway. SOURCE

*For entertainment purposes only. Consult reliable sources for critical use.

🥄 VIRAL RECIPE

Air Fryer Apple Fries

These Air Fryer Apple Fries turn fresh apple slices into a warm, crispy treat with a sweet coating on the outside and tender apple inside. Made in the air fryer, they’re an easy way to serve up a fun apple dessert or snack without deep frying.

🛒 DAILY DROPS*

Starbucks Aerocano & Mini Pies — Starbucks is bringing its new Aerocano to U.S. locations on September 29. The iced drink uses Starbucks Blonde Espresso that is air-whipped until lightly foamy, giving it a full-bodied coffee flavor with a fluffy texture. Also arriving are three bite-sized desserts: Apple Crumble Mini Pie, Pecan Mini Pie, and Pumpkin Mini Pie. SOURCE

Snickers Xtreme Almond — A new Snickers variety has begun appearing at select Speedway stores and is listed as coming soon at Walmart. Snickers Xtreme Almond skips the traditional nougat, doubles up on the caramel, and replaces the usual peanuts with extra almonds, all covered in milk chocolate. It is not yet clear whether the new bar will be a limited-time release or a permanent addition. SOURCE

Burger King Dragon Ball Super Power Up Pack — Burger King has launched a limited-time Dragon Ball Super menu at participating restaurants. The Power Up Pack includes 10 chicken nuggets with a new sweet, savory, and tangy Super Saiyan teriyaki-style sauce, a mango-peach Dragon Ball Burst Lemonade with mango-flavored popping boba, medium fries, and one of six character figurines. A themed King Jr. Meal is also available. SOURCE

*Prices and participation may vary. Retailers may alter or end promotions without notice. For entertainment purposes only.

🌖 That’s A Wrap!

👀 WORD YOU LOOK AT THAT

(Click phrase to reveal its origin)

A TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT

Meaning: A lot of fuss, excitement, or anger over something that really isn’t very important.

So, where did it come from?
The idea behind the expression goes back more than 2,000 years. Around 52 B.C., the Roman statesman Cicero used a similar image about “stirring up waves in a ladle,” a big disturbance in a very small container. Variations appeared over the centuries, including “a storm in a cream bowl” and “a storm in a teacup.” By the early 1800s, “a tempest in a teapot” was appearing in print, giving us the memorable expression we still use for making a big deal out of something small.

SOURCE

🏆 Many thanks to these players who never forget to LEAF a like:

🫖 Alleytaj52

🍵 Smitty

🍋 Alan H.

🥄 MateodeColón

🫚 Jeffritter3fb

🫧 Keithbock

🍰 Warren

🌿 Pink3CE

☕ Krispy7832

🥛 Jhaverty

🍫 Betty

🍯 GHB8225

🍊 Usuallye4cc

🧋 Postjoyfully

🌸 Groovyphantom

🧁 Jkorski

🧊 HonestlyOff

🍃 Rpavenue

🍎 Cheerful5D

☕ Charlie

🍂 EfpVideo

🥐 Heartrainyafd

🍑 Mkratzert

🫙 Butterflybarbi

🫖 AceKincaid

🌱 Inquislysprby

🫐 Electricmusic

🍪 LadyCrafty

🍈 Bergenhighland

🫖 DTomassini

🌼 Bobsteve9

✨May your day be BRIGHT and your mind stay SHARP!✨

Jumble is a registered trademark of Tribune Content Agency, LLC. All rights to the original puzzle, characters, and artwork are owned by Tribune Content Agency. This site is an independent fan resource and solver’s guide, unaffiliated with the creators or syndicators. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely my own and do not reflect those of Tribune Content Agency or the puzzle’s creators. For entertainment purposes only. Consult reliable sources for critical use.

THANK YOU FOR READING!