It is, as has been said all over the Internet, the 'ber months at last. And to get myself in autumn mode, I've picked up Plum Deluxe's Autumn Tea Sampler Kit. This selection of cozy teas includes some that you can only get for a couple months, both caf and decaf depending on what you prefer.

Check out my thoughts on the blends I received, then forge ahead to each link to grab bags of your own. (And thanks to Espresso for his excellent modeling job.)

Spicy Caramel Apple Cinnamon Herbal: 3.5/5
One of two apple-centric teas in this sampler, and while it was pretty darn good, it felt a little blander than I was expecting. It was fine, and would likely make a nice base for something else, but I was expecting something with a bit more punch.

Pumpkin Spice Brulée Oolong: 4.5/5
Plum Deluxe tends to do well with "brulée" teas, in my experience. Getting that burned sugar flavor without it going too far in the caramel direction is, I imagine, tough. But this turned out nicely. The cloves were the first thing I smelled when I opened the package, but the rest followed when it was steeped. And it was flavored just enough to let the actual oolong itself come out.

Autumn Almond Chai Herbal: 4/5
The almond is more of a final note in this chai, but it's definitely there. It's not an especially spicy chai, so if you prefer them milder, this is for you. Compared to some of the others in the batch, this is much subtler-flavored overall.

Maple Ginger Butterscotch Black: 3.5/5
This is a nice one, though the ginger was much more prominent than any of the others. The maple was also there a bit, but I sadly didn't get much of the butterscotch. It's still a lovely tea generally speaking, but it's not one you can necessarily judge based on the name on the label. As a tea? Good. As a maple ginger butterscotch tea? Slightly mislabeled. But still autumn-y.

Mulled Wine Herbal Tea: 5/5
Note that this review really only applies if you are an enjoyer of mulled wine... which I am. When an herbal tea claims it's going to give me that kind of flavor, I'm always skeptical. But this hit all the right notes, probably because there actually is grape in the blend. It was a cozy warm drink, just right for the cool autumn evenings coming up.

Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut Herbal Tea: 4/5
This was the first tea I tried from the sample, and I'll admit I worried it would be a bit "busy" just from the name. But it turned out to be very nice. I'd compare it to a Nutella or Frangelico flavor profile. It would make a great after-dinner dessert tea, especially since it's one of the decaf herbal selections in the box. Herbal teas always lack a little bit of the bite I enjoy in black tea, but it's still quite good.

Salted Caramel Black: 3/5
This one wasn't bad, but the "salt" flavor profile didn't blend quite as well with the caramel as I was hoping. It left things tasting generally a little briny. Maybe this would work better as a milk tea.

Halloween Blend Black: 4.5/5
This blend describes itself as an alternative to sickly-sweet Halloween candy, and it's so right. There's a faint sweetness to it that's a bit hard to describe, but it hits like the aroma of a full candy bucket without the sugar rush. This is one that would definitely make a good latte, but I absolutely enjoyed it on its own.

Pistachio Puerh: 5/5
Friends, this is the one. If you like pistachio even a little and you're only going to buy one fall tea, make it this one. The flavor is strong, it's somehow creamy-tasting with no milk in it (so imagine it as a latte!), and it is extremely comforting in all the right ways.

Baked Apple Green: 4.5/5
The clear champion between the two apple blends. I could smell this one as soon as I opened the packet (and that's a good thing). This green and blank blend was like warm apple pie in tea form. If apple is your favorite autumn flavor and you don't mind caffeine, this is the one to go for out of this sampler.