Tabby Send Message

I got this in the Pick ‘N’ Mix box from Teapigs. Probably should have read the box’s description better. I didn’t realize that for each tea you select, you only get two sachets. That’s 24 sachets for $25. Not a good deal at all.

That said, I did end up with four sachets of this. After ice and milk, it comes out pretty generic. I can taste the peppercorns over the usual chai spices, I feel the burn, and it gives a nice caffeine boost. But I’ve had so many better chais than this. There’s nothing wrong with it, of course, it’s just overpriced for the amount you get.

Still, I’ll enjoy it. The cinnamon and ginger at least lend themselves to the fall season nicely. But I know myself and I know that chai in sachets isn’t the best for me. I need a bold experience, and that comes easier with loose leaf.

Hmm, another melange. I’m usually disappointed when I get a caffeine free tea in my Sips By box, but lately I’ve picked up the habit of making a cup at night.

The scent of this when it’s dry is exactly like peach Nehi. Or those cheap peach gummy rings you get at gas stations. And the taste isn’t different, really, aside from a tartness I had not expected. It’s just very candylike. Look, I’m from Georgia, I know what a peach is supposed to taste like.

That said, it’s not bad. If you don’t mind it tasting like a Jolly Rancher or something, it’s kind of tasty. I’ll enjoy finishing the sample.

Wow, the reviews are all over the place for this one. Though it seems most of you didn’t like it. Also, I should note that some of this is 70% off at Teapigs because the batch expires this month. Just a heads up!

When I first smelled the sachets during preparation, I was underwhelmed. They didn’t smell like chocolate to me at all. More like raisins, I suppose. But when the water hit them, I could. It smelled like chocolate and… yogurt? But this blend is supposedly dairy free. Hmm.

The flavor is… odd. Not what I was expecting at all. There is some weird fruitiness that reminds me of a Tootsie Pop sort of. Maybe I’m spoiled from tasting cacao teas lately, but this just doesn’t taste like real chocolate to me. It vaguely tastes like candy. Like super cheap “chocolate” candy. The black tea base they used kind of comes through, but not really. There’s just this yogurty tang to this…

Glad I just got a sample. No thanks.

Got this as a free sample in my Teapigs order. Yay!

From the yellow packaging and name, I got the impression that this would be some cheerful chamomile blend. But it’s actually a spiced, lemony apple tea. It’s lovely and burns a little in a satisfying way. Like gingery apple pie topped with lemon zest. Cinnamon, allspice, turmeric, clove, ginger, marigold and cardamom. That’s a lot of spice and I am here for it. Not enough teas use allspice, I find.

Anyway, this is a warming, comforting tea that’s perfect for fall evenings. It’s like a decadent spiced cider.

So… I used my first Sips By coupon code and got $25 off $50 + free shipping at Teapigs. I couldn’t resist after trying this. It was such a great deal, and enough tea to keep me busy (or asleep) for a long time. And it was so much fun racking up $50 worth of tea.

I chose 2 boxes of this with visions in my head of chilly nights and warm, lemony tea in bed. The only thing I’m disappointed with is the packaging. Once you open the bag the sachets are in, there is no way to re-seal it. So it’s into an old honey jar for these guys.

The remnants of Hurricane Michael are passing over us and it is very warm and rainy, so I made this over ice tonight. It tasted so clean and refreshing. Even cold, the chamomile and lemon balm are still soothing. And of course, you still get the lovely effects of the valerian.

…I narrowly avoided ruining this one.

Another from Sips By, one I certainly would not have chosen on my own. Now, I didn’t read the ingredients list, I just made it the same way I make all my herbals. Turns out there’s stevia in this. That’s what they meant when they called it “sweet rose”. It seems obvious to me now.

Sweetness aside, I like this! It’s my first tulsi tea. I’ve always heard tulsi described as “holy basil”, so I was expecting this to be weird. But really, it’s almost like a lychee tea. I can taste what I think must be the tulsi. It’s one of those exotic, peppery, herbal scents that I recognize from health food stores, but could never place. This is all around pleasant and I bet would be lovely over ice. Which maybe I will do over the weekend.

Another from Sipsby. Aww yiss, valerian.

This is the third incarnation I’ve tried of this classic sleepy tea combination. Chamomile, mint, and valerian. Valerian teas always need something to cover up that sour, stinky feet smell. Some companies use lavender. But this company used lemon balm. Also very effective for covering up valerian. Especially with the blob of local honey I mixed in. The chamomile is very noticable in this tea, lemon brightening it up, and the mint on the exhale. It is very soothing. And the effects of the valerian… well, you can’t miss it. I’m not even halfway through the cup and my limbs feel heavier, my seat is comfier, my thoughts are a little slower.

Random, but part of me kinda takes offense to the part of the description about forest bathing. It’s a real thing and actually does help me deal with stress. Maybe keep an open mind, guys…?

However, it redeems itself somewhat with how crazy my cat goes when he smells it. Cats react to valerian the same way they do with catnip. And my gray boy wants to chew those sachets right up.

Simpson & Vail can be kind of hit or miss for me. Their shipping charges are high and their packaging is often not airtight. However, there are definitely some gems mixed into their offerings. (Try the hazelnut coffee!)

This is definitely one of those gems. It tastes like a mix between spiced apple cider, French toast, and pecan pie. Heavy on the delicious syrup and pecan. I know that sounds like a lot going on, which it is, but it’s more like a symphony than a cacophony. It’s perfect for those mornings when I’m grumpy about having to adult. Cheers me up and gives the morning at least one pleasant thing to enjoy. Get you some.

Finally, a chai that impresses! I have tried so many lackluster ones in the past few years that I was starting to think I didn’t like chai anymore. (52teas chais excluded. Those are still great.)

The spices in this taste so fresh and bright. For once, it isn’t all musty powdered ginger and cinnamon. No, this tastes wonderfully of star anise and allspice on top of the classics. Maybe a hint of clove, too. I’m sipping it over ice right now and it such a treat. I’m getting really curious about their other flavors. Definitely something to look into as fall slowly approaches.

Anyway, thank you, Sipsby.

EDIT: $18 for 4 ounces?? Dang. You know, I’m honestly willing to pay it.

Hmm. Maybe I need to edit my Sips By account. I’m getting tired of caffeine free tisanes. A girl needs her caffeine buzz.

I was all around unimpressed by this. It’s yet another fruit blend where they added hibiscus for color, but it ended up drowning out everything else. Brews up deep magenta and has a tart, tanginess that I’ve never really been a fan of. I guess I can taste some berry and apple underneath? If I try?

The whole experience was just not my thing. I used up my sample by blending it into other fruity teas. Which made them taste like nothing but hibiscus, too.