TEA REVIEW: Three More Teas from Plum Deluxe

 

In addition to the Literary Tea collection I reviewed not long ago, Plum Deluxe were also kind enough to send along three more teas they thought might suit my taste. I'm not about to let a good tea go un-shouted-out, so here we are again with a new trio of reviews!

This set of teas isn't on any particular theme, but rather is a selection from across their catalogue.

Welsh Dreams Herbal
While I'm not a big herbal tea drinker, I'm trying to get better about cutting my caffeine after a certain time of day. So good herbals and decafs are always nice to find. This is a soft, comforting blend with a honeybush base and notes of peppermint and vanilla. But it's not strong, candy-like peppermint. It's sweet but not too sweet, and very relaxing at the end of the day.

Picard Black Tea Blend
This is the blend I've had my eye on for some time... after all, I'm a Star Trek fan and an Earl Grey fan. Plum Deluxe has several interesting twists on Earl Grey, and this is another of them. The cinnamon pecan flavoring makes it taste almost like a pastry, which gives it a sort of breakfasty feel. While it's not my favorite of their Earl Greys (that would be their Grantham Grey), it's still an extremely nice one.

Porch Sippin' Pecan Black
Maybe I'm just desperate for autumn, but this tea was my favorite of the trio. This black tea has a very strong, sweet praline flavor with big fall vibes. This would make an incredible milk tea, either hot or iced. And especially now, in the heat of summer, it was a welcome dose of cool-weather feelings.

If you'd like to try these or any other teas from Plum Deluxe, be sure to use my affiliate link! And check out my previous review, showcasing their Literary Tea collection.

TEA REVIEW: Plum Deluxe Literary Tea Collection

 

While I do have a handful of brands and stores I'm loyal to, I'll never turn down an opportunity to try new tea. Plum Deluxe reached out to me recently, recommending their Literary Tea collection, and of course that sounded like exactly like my kind of thing. They sent along a tin for me to try, which of course I paired with some of my daily reading.

The collection comes with a mix of five teas in several level of caffeination, as well as everything you need (short of your own mug) to brew up the perfect blend. Read on for my thoughts on each offering!

Reading Nook Black
One of two black teas in the set, this blends rose, lavender, and chamomile for a cozy floral flavor. I'll be honest, I have never considered the merits of chamomile in a caffeinated blend, since I think its reputation for being a sleepytime herbal is at the forefront of everyone's minds. But this was really lovely. I'm a big fan of floral black teas, and this cozy blend is exactly the vibe I strive for in my own home library.

Bookshop Blend White
White teas are notoriously finicky, but this one is fairly forgiving. It has a wonderful fruity aroma and flavor, almost like gummy bears (but more natural). That's down to the orange, apple, and blackberry in the mix. There's a cinnamon flavor that comes out in the flavor more than the smell, and it tastes a little out of place with the fruit blend, but it's not a deal breaker.

Soul Warmer Herbal
If you're a fan of drinks that taste like desserts, there are two winners in this box for you. This rooibos blend has chestnut, hazelnut, and caramel flavors, as well as a bit of apple to it. It's a nice caffeine-free option for evening, very autumnal in flavor. I know rooibos can be hit or miss, but this is one that I really enjoy.

Buttery Shortbread Herbal
This is absolutely my top pick of the caffeine-free blends in this box, and another great one if you love dessert-y drinks. This is a vanilla honeybush tea, but the name isn't just a vague descriptor. This really does have a legitimate shortbread flavor to it, and I absolutely love it. The Soul Warmer blend is still good, but this one is the winner of the two when it comes to sleepytime brews.

Gratitude Earl Grey Black
Regulars will know I'm an absolute sucker for Earl Grey and Earl Grey-adjacent blends, so of course I was going to fall in love with this one. This tea is flavored with bergamot and strawberry, making it somewhat sweeter than other Greys. I do wish the strawberry was a little bolder when steeped, though it does come out a little more when the tea cools; so I imagine it's a much more forward flavor when iced.

The tin also comes with a very cute basket-style tea infuser with celestial cutouts along the rim. I've been using it quite a bit since getting the tin, and it's fabulous for single-cup loose tea steeps.

The Literary Tea Collection Gift Tin is a great selection of multiple types of cozy tea. If you know a person likes a very specific type of tea (all black or all herbal, for instance), it might not be the best fit. But for someone who enjoys variety and a certain cozy vibe, these are perfect. The bags are only about an ounce each (less than the standard 2-3 oz bags you'll see elsewhere), so bear that in mind as you buy. But especially during a hot summer like this, when many of us are dreaming of the coziness of autumn, these are a lovely escape.

Be sure to use my referral link for a discount, and thank you to Plum Deluxe for providing samples for review!

TEA REVIEW: Four New Blends from Chapters!

 

Chapters Tea & Co. has been my go-to tea vendor for quite a while now — partly because I love supporting small businesses, partly for the book-inspired blends, but mostly because it's just so dang good. Chapters has rolled out five new teas this spring. Well, four and an Anne of Green Gables rebrand of their English breakfast blend, which remains excellent.

Naturally, I'm on deck to try their latest blends. Three have already been tied to classic literary works, while the fourth is a blend being floated in hopes of being fully branded later on.

Remember, you can grab all of these (and lots more!) from the Chapters website. There's a spring sale on now, but you can use my code KARA15 for 15% off the catalogue any time of year!

Secrets in the Garden: Green tea with watermelon and Lime

I trust Chapters to deliver great blends, but I'll admit I was a little wary of this one. This fruity blend is inspired by The Secret Garden, and is a green tea with watermelon and lime flavors. I've had amazing watermelon green teas in the past, but lime is very much hit-or-miss for me.

The good news is, this is a nice one, even if you're not big on lime. The flavors come together in a really nice and balanced way, and it's especially nice iced.

Get this if: You're looking for a unique iced tea for the summer

March Home in Bloom: White tea with vanilla, fruit, and flowers

This is Chapters' second Little Women inspired blend (At the Waterfront being their first). White teas are tough, in my experience, since steeping too long can throw off the taste. However, this is a resilient one, so you can enjoy it even if you steep it a little too long.

The vanilla and floral flavor profile reminds me a bit of a lighter version of A Date with Mr. Darcy, my perennial favorite from Chapters. I know not everyone is a bergamot enjoyer, and this one definitely hits the high notes of the other without the strong citrus. 

Get this if: You're a fan of tea but like lighter flavors

The Dragon's Flame: Black tea with sweet and spicy cinnamon

This one is rather fun, because I recall the art being run by the ambassadors as a blend was being dreamed up! The theme is fairy tales and Arthurian legends, and the result is a sweet and spicy cinnamon tea.

Of the four, I think this will be the most "your mileage may vary" tea. It reminds me of cinnamon candy, which I personally enjoy, but I'm aware not everyone does. If you enjoy that cinnamon candy taste, you will love this. If that's not your jam, this might not be your jam. (In which case Gingerbread Bookshop might be!)

Get this if: You're missing those cozy fall blends

Letters of Lavender: Earl Grey with lavender

Art and branding are in progress for this new blend, but Chapters are going ahead and floating it in the meantime. And maybe I'm biased as an Earl Grey enjoyer, but this is the stand-out of the new spring batch.

This tea blends the strong bergamot you know and love from Chapters with lavender and cornflower, and it smells sensational. It's perfect for making a London Fog. And while I haven't tried it iced, I imagine it would be great for a cool spring drink. This is one I really hope stays in the catalogue.

Get this if: You are a fiend for Earl Grey

Remember to check out the full catalogue for more book-inspired blends, including gift bundles and limited-edition seasonal blends.

TEA REVIEW: Sugar Cookie Gifts

 

In the influx of gingerbread and peppermint flavored everything at this time of year (both of which I love!), one seasonal flavor tends to get underutilized. Simple sugar cookies are one of my favorite treats at this time of year, so I'm always delighted when a café or tea seller figures that into their seasonal blends. To that end, Chapters has added a decaf holiday blend to their listing: Sugar Cookie Gifts, a new take on rooibos for Christmas.

This new flavor takes its inspiration from the March family's cozy holiday in Little Women. Caffeine-free rooibos tea is paired with vanilla, honey, cinnamon, and rose petals to evoke Christmas cookies baking in the kitchen. And if you're trying to cut down on caffeine without cutting out cozy seasonal vibes, this could be a good alternative.

I've said this before, but it bears mentioning: I am very picky about rooibos. I'm one of that very small subset of people who tends to get a cough syrup taste off straight-up rooibos, so I put a lot of stock in good strong flavor to mask or otherwise temper that. So if you're like me and a little more sensitive to rooibos taste, you can trust me. We're the same, you and me.

Honey is the first scent to hit you when you open the bag, which is a pleasant surprise. I had a Bridgerton tea with a honey flavor profile, and I've been chasing that ever since. While it is the most forward scent, the honey blends into the overall flavor once this is steeped up, making for a very nice cookie flavor.

The medicine-y rooibos isn't fully masked, but it's definitely downplayed, to the point that the sugar cookie is first and foremost. I was surprised at the rose inclusion, since I'm a big fan of rose and generally immediately taste it anywhere it's used. But it sinks backward into the blend in a nice way, and I suspect that's a big part of what helps to even out the flavor.

I've only had this hot without milk or sugar, but I suspect this would make an excellent latte if steeped up strong enough. However you make it, I recommend serving it with Christmas cookies. It complements them perfectly.

Sugar Cookie Gifts is only available for a limited time. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other teas from Chapters!

TEA REVIEW: Wonderland Tea Party

Butterfly pea flower tea has taken off in recent years for one very obvious reason: it does cool things with color. On its own it's a very mild tea, meaning it does well blended with other things. In particular, there's Chapters Tea & Co.'s new fruit and herbal blend, Wonderland Tea Party.

Before we discuss the flavor, let's discuss the obvious: color. It brews up a deep red-purple and will further change color with the addition of acidic citrus (I recommend a bit of lemon). But if you brew it in a basket infuser in a clear cup or teapot, you can watch the blue of the pea flower billow out into the water before slowly blending in with the rest. This is absolutely one that would work well at a children's tea party and benefits a lot from presentation.

As for flavor, it's a nice benign fruit blend that should go over well with just about anyone. The berry, peach, and cherry flavors balance out nicely together. The hibiscus gives it a tart edge, but not nearly as sharp as overpowering as it ends up in other blends. As with fruit and herbal teas in general, this one benefits from longer steeps and is difficult to "mess up" by leaving it in too long. But longer steeps may bring that hibiscus forward more — so plan accordingly based on what's tastiest to you.

This is definitely a great tea for parties, especially (as previously mentioned) kids' parties, but also any themed or fancy party. I wouldn't recommend adding anything to it but lemon, and then primarily for the color-changing effect. Try it on its own first to see what you think.

Additionally, it's nice to see Chapters' fruit and herbal catalogue growing and gaining more variety. While black teas will always be my favorite, I like having something caffeine-free for later in the day. And considering that many late-day teas have medicinal herbs that can interact with some medications, something that's fruit-based is a great fallback.

As ever, the art for the bag is lovely, depicting a colorful Alice in Wonderland-inspired scene. I'll always be extremely grateful to Chapters for employing talented artists to design their bag art.

Grab a bag of Wonderland Tea Party from Chapters Tea & Co., and use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other teas!

TEA REVIEW: Headless Horseman

I am a sucker for tea, autumn, and seasonal flavors. So of course, seasonal autumn tea is a must-have for me. Last year, Chapters Tea & Co. introduced two cozy new flavors: Caramel Cabin and Cozy Apple Spice. Both of these are available once again this year, as is a third literary-inspired new flavor: Headless Horseman. And, much like the monster that inspired it, it's moving very quickly.

I was privy to early discussion of this new blend, in particular the Sleepy Hollow-inspired artwork for the bag. As much as I love both the apple and caramel blends (and will be stocking up on them for the season), pumpkin spice is a must.

Now, to be specific: this isn't just "pumpkin spice" as in "the spice that goes in pumpkin pie." The Headless Horseman tea is very full of pumpkin flavor, to the point that it's the first thing you smell when you open the bag. And it's extremely delightful. If you're not a fan of actual pumpkin taste, give this one a miss. But if you, like me, actually like pumpkin in your pumpkin spice things, you will be pleasantly surprised.

When steeped, the pumpkin-forward-ness of the tea actually mellows out a bit, allowing the flavors to blend and even out. The spices are pronounced without being overly strong. So if, for example, the Spice Chai Mélange from Chapters hits a bit too hard, it's nothing as heavy as that. It's got enough flavor to hold up as a latte if you so desire, without having to do anything extra to it. (It can survive with a bit of sugar or syrup, but it's not necessary to make it nice.)

If you want to try this for yourself, you might have to wait a bit. It's understandably already very popular, and thus sold out extremely quickly. As I'm writing this review, they're working on restocking and taking pre-orders for the next batch. If you want something cozy and Halloween-y, definitely put in for a bag or two!

Pre-order Headless Horseman (Limited Edition) from Chapters Tea & Co., and be sure to use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other bookish teas!

TEA REVIEW: Plum Deluxe Fall Sampler

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.

TEA REVIEW: Plum Deluxe Earl Grey Month Sampler Kit

For the entirety of the month of June, Plum Deluxe is shining a spotlight on Earl Grey: the best of all teas (at least to me). All Earl Grey blends on their site will be available at quantity discounts throughout the month. And if you'd like to see what they have available, they're currently offering a sampler of 11 bergamot-based blends!

I picked up the sampler and tried all 11 varieties—nine of which will be available for a limited time only this month. How do these adventurous blends rank? Read on to find out, and to pick up any that sound good to you!

Note: I do not receive any sort of compensation for purchases made through Plum Deluxe. This is a review based on teas I purchased myself. Enjoy!

Aloha Blend Black Tea: 3.5/5
Also listed as "Pineapple Grey," this one isn't quite as Earl Grey-y as the others. That doesn't stop this from being a refreshing summer tea that would be fantastic iced. But it doesn't quite fit the flavor profile I'd expect while seeking out Earl Grey blends. Is it a good tea? Yes. Is it a good Grey?... others in the box absolutely outshine it.

Caribbean Grey: 4/5
I've had watermelon oolong before and liked it very much, but I wasn't entirely sure I'd enjoy this one. Fortunately, this new blend turned out rather nice. It doesn't suffer from an artificial watermelon candy flavor, but has an undertone of sweet tartness that's very nice for summer. This one would be amazing iced.

Crème Brulée Earl Grey: 4/5
This is a lovely one, and it's what I really wanted the Honey Caramel Grey Black to be in terms of sweetness. A great dessert tea, and one I think would work extremely well as a milk tea. Fortunately, this is one of the two Greys that's available year-round!

Earl Grey Chai: 5/5
I'll be honest, I was legitimately not expecting to enjoy this one. I like chai, I like Earl Grey, but I wasn't sure if two very strong, very specific flavors could go together like that. I was wrong, and I was glad to be wrong. This is really really lovely. It's not a spicy or peppery chai, meaning it blends nicely with the bergamot. This would make an absolutely astounding milk tea.

Earl Grey Royale: 4/5
No muss, no fuss, just straight-up Earl Grey. This is a good way to figure out if Plum Deluxe's take on Earl Grey is right for you. While it's not really as strong as I personally like it (I am a triple bergamot fiend), it is a very nice one. If you like Earl Grey but are averse to the brands that advertise the strength of the bergamot, this will be a nice middle ground for you.

Grantham Grey: 4.5/5
Before trying Plum Deluxe teas, I'd never had violet in tea before. As a big fan of florals, I was not at all disappointed, and I'm still a big fan of it in the Grantham Grey. The bergamot takes a back seat in this one, blending nicely with the violet essence and letting it take center stage. This isn't one for days when you specifically want the citrus tang of bergamot, but it's definitely a delicious one.

Gratitude Earl Grey: 4/5
It's easy to see why this is a mainstay. It's a strong Grey that doesn't skimp on flavor. And while the strawberry is a bit weak until it cools off, it's a nice complement to the bergamot. This is another that's perfect for a milk tea, and might even go well iced.

Honey Caramel Grey: 4/5
This is one of the flavors I was most excited about—I recently had a Bridgerton-themed tea with honey notes and have been seeking out that same flavor ever since. This one is very naturally sweet, which is nice, but it goes over better when it's a little cooler. The rooibos comes on a bit too strong when it's piping hot. Much as with the Grantham Grey, this one isn't as bergamot-forward, with the flavor blending into the other notes.

Lady Grey: 5/5
Lady Grey tends to be an underappreciated take on Earl Grey. It's subtler, but it can still have a lot of flavor and uniqueness. The Plum Deluxe version has vanilla notes, which balances things out nicely. While a lot of the other blends in this sampler have the bergamot as a secondary element, it really stands out here. This is one of the best of the sampler.

Tango Grey Herbal: 3/5
Full disclosure, I'm very picky about herbal teas. This one was fine, generally speaking, but the lemongrass drowned out just about everything. If you aren't very specifically a fan of lemongrass, give this one a miss. It's approaching a nice decaf Grey blend otherwise, though.

Victorian Garden Grey: 4.5/5
This was the first one I tried, despite being the last one on the list (alphabetically, at least)—and it was a strong start. This Grey is primarily about berries and floral, though the floral notes tend to drown out the berry a bit. The scent of the tea is much more balanced. None of this stops the tea from being really great, with a very lavender-forward flavor.

Order the Earl Grey Month Sampler Kit.

TEA REVIEW: Plum Deluxe United Kingdom Loose Leaf Tea Sampler

 

Take three things I love—tea, limited-edition flavors, and (nearly) anything from the UK—put them in a box, and that's this new collection. Plum Deluxe, who have become one of my alternative tea outlets while my primary continues moving house, recently put this box on offer in two varieties. The box celebrates the tea brand's fifth year, and offers a variety of blends inspired by the history, culture, and (of course) tea traditions of the UK.

I'm tackling the ten flavors from the caffeinated selection (because I'm a bit less of an herbal tea girlie): from new takes on familiar flavors to some that, frankly, took me by surprise. And if you'd like to give these teas a try, check them out here! Incidentally, no discount code to offer here. This review isn't a collab or a sponsorship, and I don't get a kickback. Just me wanting a taste of the UK while I wait to go back.

Afternoon High Tea White: 4.5/5
White teas can be tricky, both to blend and to brew. While many fruit teas on this list are more fruit than tea, this one surprisingly manages to create a nice balance. The peach is definitely the foremost note, but the light white tea notes also come through. This one is lovely hot or iced, and is a nice choice for anyone who isn't a fan of actual leaf tea. It's also not as finicky as many other white teas when it comes to steep time.

Builder's Blend Black: 5/5
"Builder's tea" isn't a specific blend of tea, but rather a way of serving it: super-strong black tea with milk and sometimes sugar. Pairing a strong Assam with light caramel essence was a surprisingly effective way to get that across. (Most would go straight for vanilla.) That said, this blend also works as the basis for a builder's tea. The caramel doesn't overshadow the natural taste of the Assam, meaning it will stand up to a long steep and a generous splash of milk. As simple as it is, it's one of my top picks for this box.

Eton Mess Black: 4.5/5
If you don't know what Eton Mess is, the enclosed pamphlet will explain—and even give you a recipe for a single-serving version! This is a very complex blend, mixing flavor notes with black and rooibos teas, but the result is fantastic. It's sweet enough to not need sugar, but a little milk really elevates the vanilla notes. A perfect dessert tea.

Heritage Black Blend: 3.5/5
Overall, this tea has a lot to recommend it. Assam, African, and Darjeeling teas make up its base, and walnut essence and floral notes accentuate it. This tea also contains Vermont maple syrup extract—and don't get me wrong, I love maple, even in tea! But here, it comes on a little too strong, diluting a lot of the really nice tea accents. The maple does take a back seat as the tea gets cooler, so this might do better iced.

Highland Bramble Black: 4/5
At first glance, the teas in this blend seem like an odd match-up. There's black tea, there's smoky black tea, there's heather, and there's berry notes. But it all comes together in a surprisingly subtle tea. The smoke is more to the front (although not as strong as in a lapsang) the warmer the tea is, with the berry coming out more as it cools. It's a pleasant, less bold flavor, and one I definitely hope will be sold separately someday.

Mango Almond Oolong: 4.5/5
A surprisingly lovely one! As I've mentioned (and will mention) elsewhere, fruit teas in this box are often too much fruit and not enough tea. But this oolong strikes a perfect balance with the help of the almond flavor. While the blend itself is fantastic, its presence in a UK sampler seems a bit odd. It might have been nice to see another experimental blend in here. But the oddness of its presence doesn't change the fact that this is a very nice drink.

Mindful Morning Earl Grey: 5/5
I like a strong Earl Grey, and my go-to in recent months has been Chapters. But with them out of the running until May, Plum Deluxe is a very, very close second. I could smell the bergamot as soon as the hot water hit the leaves, and the blend itself is perfectly balanced with hints of orange peel and vanilla. Tea latte makers, this one is strong enough to stand up to extra milk and flavorful enough to complement your mix.

Pineapple Market Square Green: 4/5
One thing my hometown-away-from-home Colonial Williamsburg has in common with London is a mild obsession with pineapple motifs. But whereas the spiky fruit represents hospitality here, it's a sign of wealth and luxury in the Big Smoke. This pineapple green tea is very fruit-forward, with the green tea and green rooibos serving as a base more than as a flavor note. It would be great iced, and is a nice afternoon tea if you're looking for a bit less caffeine and a sweeter flavor.

Queen's Blend Green: 3.5/5
Much like the Pineapple Market Square Green before it, this is a green where the fruit overtakes the tea flavor. It's citrusy, which is nice, and will make for a solid iced tea. But if you're like me and actually enjoy the grassy, earthy notes of a green tea, you might feel like you're missing out a bit. It's nice enough—just doesn't taste much like a green.

Sunday Roast Black: 4.5/5
I'm a fan of savory teas, but I never get much chance to try them. This does what it says on the tin, mimicking a traditional Sunday roast. It doesn't get overly fancy: black tea, black pepper, rosemary, and a bit of orange peel. It's near perfect, and it's one I wish was sold on its own. This might not be for everyone, especially with the forwardness of the rosemary and black pepper. But if this ever goes on sale as a stand-alone, I'd encourage everyone to at least give it a try.

Pick up the Limited-Edition United Kingdom Loose Leaf Tea Sampler.

TEA REVIEW: Three Teas from London

 

While Chapters is my go-to brand for tea these days, I can't help but splurge when I go to London. I love coming back with new things (and old favorites I can only get either by going in person or paying a lot for shipping). Several friends got tea and coffee, but I kept these three for me.

Months ago, I promised a friend that I'd review these properly. And for some reason I never did. But scraping the bottom of the tin on one reminded me that it's high time to rate these—and to ensure that you can all try them, too.

English Rose Black Tea
Whittard

One of the first places I go whenever I get into London is Covent Garden, and the first place I go there is Whittard. I know there are other shops, but the Whittard in Covent Garden is where I first discovered my love of rose Earl Grey, so I always stop in to try something and buy gifts. This time I picked up their English Rose black tea: a blend of Chinese, Indian, and Sri Lankan teas with whole rosebuds and rose petals.

When the reviews say this tea is "very rosy," they aren't kidding—and for someone like me who likes rose-flavored everything, that's a plus. It is naturally very sweet, so I wouldn't recommend any kind of sweetener. This is much better as an afternoon tea, since the strength of the rose (even for someone like me) can be a little cloying for morning. I have a feeling this would make an amazing milk tea... again, with no additional sweetener. If you don't like floral-flavored things, sit this one out; this is for people like me who've had the rose teas from other companies and didn't think they were enough.

Christmas Black Tea
Fortnum & Mason

In addition to fig preserves and cognac butter, I had to make sure to pick up some of the Christmas black tea from Fortnum & Mason's Christmas section (which was in full swing in late October). This blend smelled, at least to me, "like Christmas": orange, ginger, and cloves. And when brewed up, it delivers.

The orange and cloves are foremost in this tea, but it's not overpowering or unbalanced. The flavor is very warm and feels perfect for winter in general—and this arctic blast in particular. Does leave a bit of sediment when you brew a pot, thanks to all that clove, but that's easily strained out. This is absolutely best enjoyed hot, possibly with milk if that's your kind of thing, absolutely on a chilly winter morning.

Wedding Breakfast Blend
Fortnum & Mason

Despite not being a royal watcher of any sort, I'll absolutely drink their tea. I'm fascinated by the variety of blends F&M has made for the Royal Family over the centuries. They do tend to be the best of the best, which I suppose makes sense when they're for royal occasions. Their 2013 Christening Blend for Prince George was a previous favorite, so I tried this Wedding Breakfast blend. Unsurprisingly, another favorite.

This blend was made in 2011 in honor of Prince William's proposal to Kate Middleton, and is a blend of Assam and Kenyan teas (Kenya apparently being where he proposed). This is for certain a "tea-flavored tea," with no floral or spice notes added. This is just the leaves standing on their own. And honestly, it's gorgeous. If you like just a good straightforward black tea with no fuss or flavorings, or if you've only had Lipton and wonder what's so great about unflavored black tea, try this. It's an absolute winner.

TEA REVIEW: Chapters Holiday Tea Blends 2024

There are two things I'm an absolute sucker for: inventive tea blends and limited-edition seasonal Stuff. Chapters Tea & Co. has me covered on both fronts, regularly launching book-inspired seasonal and holiday tea blends. The 2024 holiday season sees the return of two of last year's limited-edition blends, plus a new limited blend and one that looks like it'll be sticking around for a while.

If you want to know more about the Candy Cane Forest and Gingerbread Bookshop teas, check out last year's reviews. For the new ones, read on. And if you decide to purchase anything, remember to use the code KARAD15 at checkout for 15% off your order. I do get a small kickback when you use this, but I also fully support Chapters both as a small business and because they give a portion of all their proceeds to mental health charities.

Caramel Cabin (Limited Edition)

The black teas from Chapters are always perfect for tea drinkers like me, who prefer their black tea very strong ("oversteeped," some might say). You don't have to make it this way for it to taste great; but if you do, it will actually survive the long steep and taste fantastic. Even the strongest of their black teas are surprisingly mellow, which is something I noticed with their Second Breakfast blend.

Caramel Cabin is coziness in a cup, and is a great alternative for people who want something akin to the Magical Library Butterbrew blend but aren't butterscotch fans. The caramel flavor is balanced out with a little bit of vanilla, and it's absolutely sweet and flavored enough to enjoy on its own. Though I have a feeling it would also make an amazing milk tea.

Buy Caramel Cabin (Limited Edition)

Starry Night Bedtime Blend

I'm not a big herbal tea drinker, but sometimes I need something relaxing and uncaffeinated. The Starry Night Bedtime Blend is Chapters' second bedtime blend, the first being the Shakespeare-inspired A Dream Within a Dream. That one smells fantastic with lots of apple notes; sadly, because the St. John's Wort in it interacts with one of my medications, I can't drink it. So I was hopeful that Starry Night would be a good alternative, and it definitely is.

Out of the bag, the peppermint and spearmint come more to the forefront. But the lemongrass is more prominent when steeped, with the chamomile and mints a little more subdued. While I imagine it's not as potent as A Dream Within a Dream, it's no slouch. It's a bit heavier on the lemongrass than I personally fancy, but it's still nice. And it absolutely will relax you, especially if you steep it strong, which is the main draw.

Buy Starry Night Bedtime Blend

Of the two, Caramel Cabin is (at least to me) the MVP. Get it while you can, and definitely pick up the other holiday blends while you have the chance! And if you've been putting off getting A Dream Within a Dream because of medical interactions, definitely give Starry Night a try.

TEA REVIEW: Chapters Cozy Fall Black Tea Box Set

 

NOTE: I am a Chapters affiliate - however, I pay for all teas I review and give my honest opinions. I do receive compensation if you use my discount code. Thanks for supporting my work and small businesses!

Chapters Tea and Co. may have dropped the coffee from their catalog, but that just means more room for more literary-inspired tea blends! The newest seasonal box is perfect for getting cozy with your favorite books, with sweet and spicy flavors that complement the chill in the air (or serve as an aesthetic stand-in as you wait for the weather to cool off).

This box contains two new seasonal blends and one regular offering. All three of these flavored black teas can be ordered individually, or as part of the Cozy Fall Black Tea Box Set. The box set comes with one 2oz bag of each blend, plus a pack of steeping bags and a very gothy black metal measuring spoon.

Don't forget to use my code KARAD15 at checkout to get 15% off your order!

Chai Café Vanilla

The returning favorite, Chai Cafe Vanilla has been in the Chapters catalogue almost since the beginning. One thing I especially like about chai from Chapters is that it has a legitimate bite to it—like their Dune-inspired The Spice Chai Mélange, this blend includes black pepper and white pepper in addition to other sweet and savory spices.

While I personally usually take all my tea straight-up and steeped very strong, Chai Café Vanilla is absolutely made for milk tea lovers. It's great straight up, but even better with milk (which also brings out the vanilla flavor). But if you're like me and generally add nothing, it's a great late-day warm-up.

Poet's Pumpkin Spice

You can't have a fall drink set without pumpkin spice! This is one of the two new seasonal blends introduced in this box, and almost certainly the one most of you will be interested in. This is my personal favorite of the set, which is largely down to my love of teas that are at their best when they're at their strongest.

This blend contains pumpkin pieces in addition to cinnamon, orange, and apple flavors. Nothing in this blend overpower the rest; rather, it all comes together in one unified autumn-y flavor. If you, like me, are a fan of Chapters' darker, stronger teas (like Poet's Study and Second Breakfast), this will become a new go-to. It's become my morning breakfast tea for autumn.

Cozy Apple Spice

Poet's Pumpkin Spice may be my personal favorite, but this one is the MVP of the fall box. When you open the bag, this blend smells exactly like fresh apples. And that stays after you've brewed it up. It's a little bit tart, but not too much; if you've disliked apple teas before because they end up a little too sour, you're safe with this one.

As with the Chai Café Vanilla (and the Poet's Pumpkin Spice, really), this one would make a great milk tea. It doesn't brew up quite as strong as the pumpkin spice or the chai, but still strong enough that it'll make a nice cozy autumn drink.

Chai Café Vanilla is part of the regular Chapters catalogue, but seasonal blends may or may not stay. The Cozy Fall Black Tea Box Set and Poet's Pumpkin Spice look to be in limited supply, so get them while you can! And remember to use the code KARAD15 at checkout for discounts across the site.

TEA REVIEW: Summer Blends from Chapters

 

Thanks as always to Chapters Tea & Co. for having me on board as an affiliate! If you want to try any of their custom tea and coffee blends, be sure to use my code KARAD15 for 15% off your order!

I am a sucker for a special tea blend, and Chapters Tea & Co. always has me covered. This small business has been running for a year and is still my favorite purveyor of very good tea blends. As a bonus, they're all book themed!

For summer, Chapters has released a trio of fruit-flavored teas and tisanes. While many blends are inspired by specific books or authors, these encapsulate the joy of lazy summer days with a book. I've tried all three—and, once again, we have some winners.

The best part: these are not labeled as limited-edition teas, meaning you can enjoy them year-round!

Poetic Peach Refresher

Kicking off with a caffeine-free fruit tisane, Poetic Peach Refresher is pretty much made for iced tea. Inspired by summer picnics with a good book and a cool drink, this tea blends peach, apple, rosehip, orange, and hibiscus for a lovely pink brew.

Hibiscus is a bit of a touchy ingredient, in my experience. Use it right, and it adds nice color and flavor; go overboard, and you taste nothing but hibiscus. Fortunately, the peach is frontmost in this blend, and it's excellently balanced without being too sweet or too bitter. It's fine hot if you prefer, but the flavors are at their best iced. Personally, I'd recommend giving this a try cold-steeped in carbonated water for a nice soda summer alternative.

Porch Reads

Porch Reads is another peach-centric blend in the batch, but peach is great so there's nothing wrong with that. This black tea brings to mind lazy afternoons reading on your porch, and blends peach, apricot, and other natural flavors with black tea.

When served hot, this is a very subtle tea. The peach and apricot are more an aroma than a flavor, but that can be nice for a summer morning. Iced with some sugar, the flavors really pop. This is a great alternative to the Poetic Peach Refresher if you prefer black tea over fruit teas.

Summer Sunshine

All three new summer blends are great, but Summer Sunshine is (at least in my books) the MVP. This papaya and floral blend balances the fruit and tea flavors perfectly with the help of jasmine, marigold, and calendula. It's good hot or iced, but the fruit and floral balance is peak when it's served hot.

This one has the surprising smoothness of their Second Breakfast blend (a standard and one I regularly pick up) with that additional summery brightness. While I highly recommend you pick up all three to have your summer tea arsenal ready, if you only get one, make it this one.

Be sure to check out the whole catalogue of Chapters teas. And use code KARAD15 at checkout for 15% off your order!

TEA REVIEW: The Spice Chai Mélange

Thanks as always to Chapters Tea & Coffee for having me on board as an affiliate! If you want to try any of their custom tea and coffee blends, be sure to use my code KARAD15 for 15% off your order!

Full disclosure: I'm not really a fan of rooibos. I tend toward honeybush, but rooibos has always tasted slightly medicinal to me. I'm also very picky about chai: a good chai is amazing, but a weak chai just tastes funny unless it's been doctored with milk and sugar. As someone who tends to take my tea very straight, that means a lot of chai isn't right for me.

So with all that in mind, why did I pick up a tea blend that is one thing I'm historically not into and another that I'm extremely about? Answer: because I trust Chapters that much, and I figured if anyone could make me like something, it's them. Also, I need to be better about providing myself with low-caf and decaf options for late-night tea drinking.

Great news: The Spice Chai Mélange is good, even in my highly skewed opinion.

Like the rest of the Chapters catalogue, this rooibos chai blend hails from literary inspiration: in this case, a certain sci-fi epic that's been back in the cultural consciousness lately. Note that while the tin art is absolutely gorgeous, this tea is not an official tie-in product; it just deserves to be.

The first thing to note is that the chai spices in this tea are strong; the second thing to note is that this is why I couldn't taste the "medicinal" notes that usually turn me off to rooibos. The blend includes ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, nutmeg, and black and white pepper. I'm pretty sure it's those last two that make the difference, because this tea has a wonderful bite to it that I usually don't get in chai blends outside of restaurants. I have yet to milk or sugar this one up because of how I personally prefer to take my tea, but I get the feeling it would be perfect for a late-night latte.

As someone who favors strong teas but is also highly sensitive to caffeine, I have a hard time finding teas I can drink late in the day or at night. Decaffeinated black teas just taste kind of wrong, and herbal teas (unless I'm specifically in the mood for them and/or not feeling well) don't hit the way I want them to. The Spice Chai Mélange is a great middle ground.

While A Date with Mr. Darcy is still (in my opinion) the best of the Chapters tea blends, The Spice Chai Mélange is a fantastic alternative for decaf drinkers. There's also a somewhat sweeter Chai Café Vanilla if you'd prefer a black tea.

Check out the full selection of Chapters teas and coffees, and remember to use my code KARAD15 at checkout for a discount!

TEA REVIEW: A Date with Mr. Darcy

 

NOTE: I am a Chapters Tea & Coffee affiliate, so purchases made via this blog post may result in compensation for me. Thank you for continuing to support me and my writing!

All things considered, Chapters Tea & Coffee is a relatively new company. (So new that the "& Coffee" part just launched a handful of months ago!) But they've already been making a name for themselves among lovers of books and caffeinated beverages across the Internet. Their blends and brews are inspired by classic literature, from a Hobbit-y English breakfast to a Little Women-inspired herbal. Over the winter holidays, they launched a trio of new flavors (two limited-edition, one still available)—and they've done it again for Valentine's Day.

A Date with Mr. Darcy is the second Pride & Prejudice-themed tea from Chapters, dedicated to the ultimate fictional crush. As with all their other offerings, this one features beautiful artwork depicting a romantic picnic within view of Pemberley. This is also the second tea blend to come in a tin: and while I love the bags and the room they allow for the artwork to shine, the tins are really something special, too.

The tea itself is a blend of black and white teas flavored with bergamot, vanilla, and rose petals. It's not nearly as strong as Poet's Study, their Poe-inspired Earl Grey—so if you like bergamot but prefer it to hit a little less hard, this is a good balance. The vanilla and rose in particular mellow it out, making this a genuinely gorgeous blend.

I feel a bit odd constantly earmarking new blends as my "new favorite," but A Date with Mr. Darcy hits pretty much all my high points for tea. Bergamot and rose is already a fantastic combination, but getting the balance right can be extremely difficult. Many places either bury the rose entirely under the bergamot or overcorrect in the other direction. Everything is perfectly balanced, making for a blend that is somehow both dreamy and invigorating. I can't recommend this one enough.

If you'd like to try it for yourself, check it out on the Chapters website. And make sure to use my code KARAD15 for 15% off your whole order at checkout!

TEA REVIEW: Chapters Tea Holiday Winter Box

 

I have become, frankly, infatuated with Chapters Tea — as you've probably seen on my various blog posts and social media. This small business creates tea (and now coffee!) blends inspired by your favorite books, authors, and literary vibes. And I've yet to find a tea from Chapters that I don't love.

For their first festive season in business, they launched their Holiday Winter Box. While it's sold out (which is great news for them!), some of its selections are still available. I got to try all three new seasonal flavors. The short verdict is that, once again, everything's fantastic. But that's hardly surprising. Let's take a closer look at each. And if you choose to buy anything from the site, make sure to use my code KARAD15 for 15% off your purchase at checkout!

Note: I am a Chapters Tea & Coffee affiliate. While I may receive a percentage commission for any purchases made through these links, I purchased this box myself and am offering my honest review.

Magical Library Butterbrew

Magical Library Butterbrew is not listed as a limited-edition, and boy am I glad of that. Inspired by magical libraries where wizards hone their spellcraft, this black tea is full of butterscotch flavor. It smells delightful in the package and tastes even better steeped. In addition to the tea itself, this blend has sunflower, jasmine, and calendula petals in the mix — making it very pretty to look at and infusing the tea with flavor naturally.

One thing I've noticed about Chapters teas in general is that, no matter how strong you steep them, they always taste relatively smooth. I steep my tea "too much" as a rule because I like it strong, but that never ruins the flavor. I also tend to take it without milk or sugar; however, this blend in particular tastes like it would make an excellent tea latte. This one has quickly become my second-favorite tea in the Chapters catalogue, just behind Poet's Study (their super-strong dark academia-inspired Earl Grey).

Gingerbread Bookshop

This is one of the two limited-edition holiday teas; however, as of the time of this writing, it's still available. And if you like warm gingerbread-y things, I can't recommend it enough. Just because it's not my favorite of the bunch doesn't mean Gingerbread Bookshop isn't really good. It reminds me (as the package art implies) of Christmas shopping trips, treating myself to a book and some cookies after I'd finished buying things for everyone else.

The blend of cinnamon, cocoa beans, star anise, and ginger does a great job mimicking the spicy coziness of good gingerbread. I was a little hesitant about the inclusion of anise because I'm not huge on licorice-tasting things; however, it blends into the rest of the flavoring nicely.

Candy Cane Forest

Sadly, this limited-edition tea is now sold out. However, I would be remiss in not reviewing it, as it's a really lovely one provided you like candy canes. If you don't, give this one a miss — because it mimics the flavor to a tee. But if (like me) you love 'em, keep your fingers crossed for a reissue next year.

In addition to the inclusion of natural peppermint, this tea includes crushed-up candy cane bits. It's another one that looks lovely in the tin (the first tin for a Chapters product!), and it's delicious steeped once all the candy cane bits have melted.

While Chapters has assembled some of its regular flavors into summer and autumn gift boxes, the Holiday Winter Box is their first foray into limited-edition flavors and markedly seasonal offerings. Seeing that it's sold out already is a good sign. I'd love to see Chapters explore other themed boxes with more seasonal flavors and vibes, and potentially other limited-edition blends and art.

If you're still looking for some last-minute gifts, check out Chapters Tea & Coffee for literary-inspired teas, coffees, and accessories. And save yourself a little money at checkout with code KARAD15 for 15% off!