Yeah, all my combines for 1.5 were no drop, even if the original item is not. Which makes sense, if you think about it.

Kalevalatar I remember had to take up tradeskilling for the first time in her life in order to finish out 1.5 *grins at Kale*. Luckily for me, the only tradeskill I needed to bring up to speed was pottery.

Brewing isn't that hard to raise and if I remember correctly you didn't need very high tradeskilling in anything required for 1.5, but I could be wrong, I can't remember what skill level is required for telosian tea.