Teastimonials - Totally Honest Tea Reviews - A Tea at a Time https://teastimonials.com Totally Honest Tea Reviews Mon, 04 Sep 2023 16:32:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://i0.wp.com/teastimonials.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/cropped-pexels-photo-1526049.jpeg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Teastimonials - Totally Honest Tea Reviews - A Tea at a Time https://teastimonials.com 32 32 196818912 Twinings Time to Unwind – More like, time to buy a different tea https://teastimonials.com/2023/09/04/twinings-time-to-unwind/ https://teastimonials.com/2023/09/04/twinings-time-to-unwind/#comments Mon, 04 Sep 2023 16:32:41 +0000 https://ifteacupscouldtalk.wordpress.com/?p=2337 Twinings Time to UnwindBrand: Twinings

Flavour: Time to Unwind

Ingredients: Lemon balm (43%), chamomile (18%), lime flower (3%), natural strawberry flavouring with other natural flavourings (12%), liquorice root, beetroot, vitamin B12, natural flavouring

Caffeine Factor: Caffeine-free

Organic Ingredients: Unknown

Price Range: Around £3.50

Bags Per Box: 20

Review: It smells like a bunch of flavouring…with a touch of fruit. The flavour isn’t too bad…because you can’t really taste anything. It’s like water…and then a hint of…something. Maybe chamomile. Yet, despite all that, there’s then an aftertaste that really lingers. This might be the addition of B12 – and flavourings. The combination strips your mouth with fakeness. All that said, we’ve had worse and can imagine someone – maybe – enjoying this. We just…no, we won’t be buying it again. There are much better alternatives out there.

Best time of year to drink this: No idea

Best time of day to drink this: Evening / night


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Bird & Blend Deckchair Dreaming – Perfect for an autumn evening https://teastimonials.com/2023/09/04/bird-blend-deckchair-dreaming/ https://teastimonials.com/2023/09/04/bird-blend-deckchair-dreaming/#respond Mon, 04 Sep 2023 16:22:52 +0000 https://ifteacupscouldtalk.wordpress.com/?p=2280 Bird & BlendBrand: Bird & Blend

Flavour: Deckchair Dreaming

Ingredients: Chamomile (30%), apple pieces, rosehip, linden blossom, hibiscus, valerian (5%), orange peel, natural flavouring

Caffeine Factor: Caffeine-free

Organic Ingredients: Unknown

Price Range: £7 for 50g

Review: Just as the blend promises, it smells mainly of chamomile and valerian, with citrusy notes. The taste is as you’d expect, too – slightly sweet chamomile, balanced out by orange peel and general tartness. The overall blend is pleasant and soothing, a lovely brew for autumn evenings. We also really like that you can see whole chamomile flowers in each bag. A highly recommended night time tea.

Best time of year to drink this: Autumn, especially

Best time of day to drink this: Evening / night


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Bird & Blend Earl Grey Crème – Not enough Earl Grey-ness https://teastimonials.com/2023/06/12/bird-blend-earl-grey-creme/ https://teastimonials.com/2023/06/12/bird-blend-earl-grey-creme/#respond Mon, 12 Jun 2023 10:28:01 +0000 https://ifteacupscouldtalk.wordpress.com/?p=2280 Bird & BlendBrand: Bird & Blend

Flavour: Earl Grey Crème

Ingredients: Ceylon black tea, vanilla pieces, blue cornflowers, natural flavouring

Caffeine Factor: Caffeinated

Organic Ingredients: Unknown

Price Range: £7 for 50g

Review: It smells like tea – not really sure what else to say. It pretty much tastes of black tea, too. There’s not enough Earl Grey-ness, and the vanilla and cornflowers don’t really add anything, so…we don’t see why you’d bother with this one over other Earl Grey blends on the market. Nothing bad, just…we like Bird & Blend’s other flavours so much more.

Best time of year to drink this: Anytime

Best time of day to drink this: Morning and afternoon


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Celestial Seasonings Vermont Maple Ginger – Believe it or not…this is nice!! https://teastimonials.com/2023/06/12/celestial-seasonings-vermont-maple-ginger/ https://teastimonials.com/2023/06/12/celestial-seasonings-vermont-maple-ginger/#respond Mon, 12 Jun 2023 10:05:43 +0000 https://ifteacupscouldtalk.wordpress.com/?p=1967 Celestial Seasonings Vermont MapleBrand: Celestial Seasonings

Flavour: Vermont Maple Ginger

Ingredients: Ginger, cinnamon, natural maple flavour with other natural flavours, luo han guo (monk fruit) and vermont maple sugar

Caffeine Factor: Caffeine-free

Organic Ingredients: Unknown

Price Range: £2-3

Bags Per Box: 20

Review: Purchased by Ginger on a trip to Canada, we expected this to be awful. However, on brewing it, Tulsi took a sniff and said, ‘This might…not be terrible.’  It smells strongly of maple…but with something oddly savoury mixed in there…a hint of fruit…and then cinnamon. That sounds weird, we know. The point is – we were pleasantly surprised by this blend. On the first sip, you mainly get ginger and cinnamon. Then, as it goes down, you get a hint of maple syrup, but nothing overwhelmingly sweet. It doesn’t taste fake. In fact, it’s quite a pleasant dessert tea to have after a meal, and soothing in the evening. Not our absolutely favourite flavour out there, but Celestial Seasonings have definitely proven that you can do weird sweet treat flavours like this and make them good.

Best time of year to drink this: Anytime

Best time of day to drink this: After dinner / evenings


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M&S Strawberry & Mint – Enough with the artificial flavouring, PLEASE!! https://teastimonials.com/2023/05/28/ms-strawberry-mint/ https://teastimonials.com/2023/05/28/ms-strawberry-mint/#respond Sun, 28 May 2023 12:26:28 +0000 https://ifteacupscouldtalk.wordpress.com/?p=1676 M&G Strawberry & MintBrand: Marks & Spencer

Flavour: Strawberry & Mint

Ingredients: Hibiscus, dried apples, peppermint (15%), strawberry flavouring, dried strawberries (2%)

Caffeine Factor: Caffeine-free

Organic Ingredients: Unknown

Price Range: £5

Bags Per Box: 15

Our Review: The overriding smell is…elderberries…even though there aren’t any in the blend. Maybe it’s the flavouring? We also get some mint, but…no strawberry at all. The taste is basically hibiscus mixed with mint – again, no strawberry. There’s also a hit of feet (flavouring) and something that’s gone off…like it’s sat in a cupboard a long time. It’s not an ‘avoid’ but it’s also not pleasant. Some people might like it…but we thought it was pretty yuck. There’s just no need for artificial flavouring, guys – when will people learn!?

Best time of year to drink this: Summer

Best time of day to drink this: Afternoon


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Bird & Blend Rhubarb & Custard – This company can do no wrong https://teastimonials.com/2023/05/28/bird-blend-rhubarb-custard/ https://teastimonials.com/2023/05/28/bird-blend-rhubarb-custard/#respond Sun, 28 May 2023 12:17:39 +0000 https://ifteacupscouldtalk.wordpress.com/?p=2280 Bird & BlendBrand: Bird & Blend

Flavour: Rhubarb & Custard

Ingredients: Rooibos, rhubarb pieces, calendula, vanilla pieces, flavouring

Caffeine Factor: Caffeine-free

Organic Ingredients: Unknown

Price Range: £7 for 50g

Review: It smells exactly like rhubarb and custard. In fact, you can smell the rhubarb across the room. It’s strangely fizzy, too, a little like one of those rhubarb carbonated drinks. The flavour is milder, though – you definitely get the rhubarb, and the vanilla makes it a little creamy, but thankfully it’s not super sweet. It’s really nice! A lovely, balanced dessert tea to have in the evening. We can also imagine it being delicious served chilled in the summer. All in all, a winning blend!

Best time of year to drink this: Summer

Best time of day to drink this: Afternoon or evening, especially after a meal


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Bird & Blend Banana Bread Chai – Surprisingly delicious! https://teastimonials.com/2023/05/21/bird-blend-banana-bread-chai/ https://teastimonials.com/2023/05/21/bird-blend-banana-bread-chai/#respond Sun, 21 May 2023 18:15:46 +0000 https://ifteacupscouldtalk.wordpress.com/?p=2280 Bird & BlendBrand: Bird & Blend

Flavour: Banana Bread Chai

Ingredients: Rosebuds, cinnamon, ginger, freeze-dried banana, cardamom, vanilla pieces, natural flavours

Caffeine Factor: Caffeine-free

Organic Ingredients: Unknown

Price Range: £7 for 50g

Review: It smells like…cinnamon! And tastes like…cinnamon! …and other stuff. You get that slight sweetness from the rooibos, and only a very faint hint of banana – which is a relief, because we really worried it might be disgusting. Instead, it’s a warming evening treat, ideal for the colder months in lieu of sweet treats after meals. Highly recommended!

Best time of year to drink this: Autumn / winter

Best time of day to drink this: Evenings


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Bird & Blend Ginger Beer – JUST like it promises, but without the sugar https://teastimonials.com/2023/05/21/bird-blend-ginger-beer/ https://teastimonials.com/2023/05/21/bird-blend-ginger-beer/#respond Sun, 21 May 2023 18:09:32 +0000 https://ifteacupscouldtalk.wordpress.com/?p=2280 Bird & BlendBrand: Bird & Blend

Flavour: Ginger Beer

Ingredients: Rooibos, ginger, lime leaves, lemon peel, calendula petals, natural flavours

Caffeine Factor: Caffeine-free

Organic Ingredients: Unknown

Price Range: £7 for 50g

Review: An instant favourite! It smells and tastes just like it promises…but without all the sugar, fizz and calories! We couldn’t really pick up any individual ingredient – everything just blends so perfectly, with a ginger kick at the end, creating a warming, comforting drink to have in the evening – especially if you’re feeling a little warn out or run down. Tulsi started gifting this to family at Christmas, too, and everyone has fallen instantly in love with it – aa definite must-have.

Best time of year to drink this: Autumn / winter

Best time of day to drink this: Evening


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Bird & Blend Enchanted Narnia – Bright and vibrant https://teastimonials.com/2023/05/07/bird-blend-enchanted-narnia/ https://teastimonials.com/2023/05/07/bird-blend-enchanted-narnia/#respond Sun, 07 May 2023 09:34:55 +0000 https://ifteacupscouldtalk.wordpress.com/?p=2280 Bird & BlendBrand: Bird & Blend

Flavour: Enchanted Narnia

Ingredients: Rosebuds, cocoa shells, rose petals, lemongrass, raspberry leaves

Caffeine Factor: Caffeine-free

Organic Ingredients: Unknown

Price Range: £7 for 50g

Review: We love the name – and thankfully it doesn’t disappoint as a drink. It smells planty, florally and soapy – which you might not think sounds appetising, but this is a nice one. We don’t normally like lemongrass, but in this blend it’s balanced so well by the rose, while the cocoa shells give it an earthy flavour, so you don’t feel like you’re drinking kitchen cleaner or perfume. It’s a gorgeous combination, bright and vibrant, making it a perfect pick-me-up in the middle of the day.

Best time of year to drink this: Spring

Best time of day to drink this: Afternoon, to get you through a long day


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Bird & Blend Honeycomb Cookie D’oh! – A definite dessert tea https://teastimonials.com/2023/05/07/bird-blend-honeycomb-cookie-doh/ https://teastimonials.com/2023/05/07/bird-blend-honeycomb-cookie-doh/#respond Sun, 07 May 2023 09:29:05 +0000 https://ifteacupscouldtalk.wordpress.com/?p=2280 Bird & BlendBrand: Bird & Blend

Flavour: Honeycomb Cookie D’oh!

Ingredients: Rooibos, cocoa nibs, Sri Lankan black tea, puffed quinoa, oat flowering tops, stevia, natural flavouring

Caffeine Factor: Caffeinated

Organic Ingredients: Unknown

Price Range: £7 for 50g

Review: Interesting, mixing black tea with rooibos, as usually rooibos is used as a tea substitute. This one smells and tastes really sweet, which is unsurprising with stevia in the mix. It’s almost vanilla-y but not very honeycomb-y, in our opinion. It wasn’t our favourite, simply because it wasn’t that exciting. It wasn’t bad, though. Someone will definitely think this is a nice dessert tea to have after meals – lunch, especially, so you’re not kept up all night by the black tea.

Best time of year to drink this: Anytime?

Best time of day to drink this: After lunch, for a calorie-free treat


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