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Robb Vices Subscription Box Review + Coupon – January 2018

Anna Reilly
ByAnna ReillyJan 17, 2018 | 35 comments

black robb vices january 2018 box

Vices
3.4 overall rating
49 Ratings | 7 Reviews

Robb Vices is “a membership program centered on a monthly delivery of storied treasures.” Each month, they send a collection of curated products and/or experiences.

Subscribers should expect boxes to include “vices” like “exceptional wines and spirits to enjoy, foods to taste, tools, toys, accessories, and gadgets.”

robb vices january 2018 unboxing

This is my first Robb Vices box, and immediately, I was shocked by how BIG this box is! It's about the size of a briefcase and roughly the shape, too, with its plastic handle. I felt like I was cracking into a treasure chest or something.

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

robb vices january 2018 items inside package all items inside the january 2018 robb vices box

About Robb Vices

The Subscription Box: Robb Vices

The Cost: $89.95 + shipping (For reference, shipping to DC is $7.95.) (less with longer subscriptions)

The Products: Each box contains a curated selection of products and experiences and provides subscribers with a taste of the good life!

Ships to: Robb Vices ships to all states except ND, UT.

Robb Vices January 2018 Review

Robb Vices is starting the new year with an exquisite, upscale introduction to tea. Let's check it out:

robb vices january 2018 booklet tea forte information robb vices january 2018 booklet note from robb vices in january 2018 booklet open spread in robb vices january 2018 booklet robb vices january 2018 booklet about tea cup of tea in robb vices january 2018 booklet robb vices details about tea information about iced tea in robb vices sampler box

As is the case with every Robb Vices shipment, this one was topped with a little mini magazine highlighting the month's featured brands and giving thorough context to the whats and whys of the items in the box.

information about tea infuser in robb vices box iced tea sachet information from robb vices january 2018 loose leaf tea information from robb vices january 2018 5 tips for perfect cup of tea robb vices january 2018 open page of robb vices january 2018 info booklet marmalade information from robb vices january 2018 booklet woman's photo in robb vices january 2018 booklet cheese and marmalade sandwich recipe from robb vices 2018

In addition to each brand, each item is given a moment in the spotlight. There are even recipes and tips for how best to put the products to work.

stacking glass tea brewing set small pitcher for brewing tea heat resistant glass tea pitcher handle on glass tea pitcher glass pitcher for brewing tea

Tea Forte Tea Over Ice Pitcher Set & Tea Sampler - Retail Value $49.00

According to the booklet, this hand-blown, heat-resistant glass pitcher set was designed to "transform a refreshing glass of iced tea into an event." The smaller of the two pitchers handles the brewing—there's even small, lightweight lid with a hole in the center through which you can thread the string of the bag. Placing the brewing tea on top of the second pitcher, which is full of ice, helps cool the concentrated, brewing tea. Once the tea's steeped, you can simply pour it over the ice. Any heat will melt just the right amount of ice into water, diluting the tea just so, and bam! It's ready to serve!

stacking glass tea brewing set with tea inside iced tea pitcher

I found the pitchers to be quite light for what they are. The smaller one is designed to nest into the larger pitcher, so it's less precarious than it looks (though I was still pretty cautious about it while moving the set from counter to table). The smaller vessel is about 4.5 inches tall, and the bottom one is just over 5 inches—according to the Tea Forte site, this system should produce 24 oz of iced tea.

tea over ice sachet sampler box tea over ice sampler box back tea over ice sampler box open tea over ice sampler box container tea over ice sampler pyramids

Tea Forte includes five teas as part of the $49.00 set. They all come in pyramid-shaped sachets inside pyramid-shaped boxes. (As I understand, pyramids are an ideal shape for tea bags.) There's just one bag per box, but they create some really tremendous, rich flavors:

tea over ice pyramid shaped box tea over ice pyramid sachet 2

Raspberry Nectar is the tea I brewed for the photo above. The color is gorgeous, and the deeply fruity flavor tasted almost dessert-ish. (I had mine cold, but I bet it'd be really decadent warm.)

pear tea over ice box pear tea over ice sachet

This Ceylon Gold flavor is what I think of when someone says "tea". This variety of black tea has a lot more depth to it than I'm used to with black teas, which usually strike me as a little one-note. This tea is almost coffee-like, not in flavor, but in its deep, black, richness.

tea over ice box green green tea over ice pyramid shaped sachet

I don't usually reach for fruity teas myself since the flavors (at least in mainstream teas) can get too candy-like for my tastes. I love that this Ginger Pear tea has a smooth, refreshing quality to it. The ginger also balances the gentle sweetness of the pear in a really nice way.

yellow tea over ice box orange tea over ice sachet

This Mango Peach flavor seems a little out of place for me here in the middle of a frosty, Pennsylvania January. If anything, it deserves to be enjoyed over ice on a beach or at a resort or at least on a shimmering summer day. I love the tropical kick that this tea delivers. Again, it's not too sweet—just juicy and deliciously crisp.

tea over ice pyramid sachet

And finally, I thought this Blood Orange tea would overwhelm my palate, but there's something earthy and almost roasty about the fruity flavor that makes me keep sipping it. It's not the typical, straightforward orange flavor I expected.

tea pyramid box pyramid shaped tea infuser tea pyramid tea pyramid on stand metal pyramid tea infuser metal pyramid tea infuser off of base turquoise tea infuser stand turquoise tea infuser stand from bottom

Tea Forte Lusso Platinum Plated Tea Infuser - Retail Value $100.00

My current collection of tea infusers is made up of those novelty-shaped, silicone-type infusers. They're not bad, but they also aren't the most reliable. (I've had several moments where the basket pops open, or where the holes in the basket are too big and let finer leaves float on through.) So this infuser feels like a Rolls Royce in comparison! The silicone "cap" on the bottom fits firmly in the bottom of the metal basket, and the holes are just big enough to let flavor through, but not leaves. Most of all, I love the little metal "stem" it has at the top. It's threaded down through the silicone cap so that the entirety of the infuser is one unit (no losing parts in the kitchen drawer). It's also tall enough that there's no chance of it drowning in my favorite super-deep mug. And if that wasn't enough, there's a small, square, ceramic base to sit the whole contraption on when I'm done steeping my tea (or just while it's hanging around my counter and wants to look nice).

Of course, a tea infuser is not complete without some loose-leaf tea to use with it! Tea Forte supplied three unique blends:

blueberry merlot tea blueberry merlot back of package blueberry merlot tea in dish

Blueberry Merlot Tea, 3.53 oz. - Retail Value $15.00

This tea has an earthy berry flavor, and I loved how the blue flowers gave the tea water a beautiful blue-gray tone in the first minute or so of steeping. I didn't notice the sage flavor outright, but I liked the mild, sophisticated flavor of the tea overall.

african solstice teaafrican solstice tea back of package loose leaf tea in dish

African Solstice Tea, 3.53 oz. - Retail Value $15.00

This tea is like drinking a party! There are so many flavors at work here—it's fruity, it's tart, it's floral—and the copper color is gorgeous in the cup. It feels like the kind I'd drink to welcome the first warm, sunny day of the year.

moroccan mint tea back of moroccan mint tea package greenish loose leaf tea in dish

Moroccan Mint Tea, 3.17 oz. - Retail Value $15.00

Earthy and refreshing at the same time, this smooth, delicious tea is absolutely delicious. I'm typically a green tea drinker, so this blend of gunpowder and mint teas is a nice break from the ordinary for me. The mint isn't overpowering—just cool and perfectly complementary to the grassy flavor of the gunpowder green.

marmalade in jar back label of marmalade marmalade in open jar

Three Little Figs Small Batch "Sparkling Nectarine" Jam - Retail Value $12.50

The last little treat in this box was a nectarine jam that's sort of an artisanal twist on marmalade and just as divine on toast with tea. This jam is so pretty! Even the taste is pretty—it's a bit like a fancy mimosa. I'm not much of a jam person, but I'm eager to try this in the recipe they included in the booklet. It's a fancy grilled cheese with a pop of this jam for extra flavor. Yum!

Verdict: I was so impressed with this box! So many boxes feature tea in them, from book boxes to self-care boxes to boxes explicitly focused on tea... In short, I've seen a lot of subscription box tea. But somewhere between the gorgeous quality of the items and the super sleek presentation, I realized that this collection of tea was something out of the ordinary. I love the variety of exquisite, high-quality flavors from Tea Forte, and as an avid tea drinker, I'm really excited to add the new tools from the box to my repertoire! 

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. Sign up by the 1st of the month to receive that month's box.

Value Breakdown: This box cost $97.90 for this box, but there was about $206.50 worth of retail value inside. That means that, proportionally, the individual items cost:

  • Pitcher and sampler set - $23.23
  • Infuser - $47.41
  • Blueberry Merlot tea - $7.11
  • African Solstice tea - $7.11
  • Moroccan Mint tea - $7.11
  • Jam - $5.93

Check out all of our Robb Vices Reviews and find other specialty boxes in the Artisan Subscription Box Directory!

Keep track of your subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription box list or wishlist!

What do you think of the January box from Robb Vices?

Starting at $129.95
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The Vices membership program delivers high-end items specially curated by luxury tastemakers and delivered to your doorstep. Boxes will include wines or spirits, gadgets and accessories with a booklet describing the story behind why each item was chosen for the box.
Anna Reilly
Anna Reilly
Anna loves collecting little treasures, be they pop-culture finds, handmade mementos, or new potions to put in her makeup bag. Beauty boxes got her interested in the subscription world, but now she's swooning for all things kawaii!

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35 comments

Anne

If anyone is still interested in selling theirs, please let me know as I’d like to buy another. Thanks.

awenzel101 at aol dot com

Anne

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Jeannie Johnson

If anyone would like to buy my box, please let me know!

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Anna

Hi Jeannie, I’m interested! My email is ambuonocore at gmail. Can you email me with your price? Thanks!

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Latasha

Did you get the box? I’m selling mine. Please email latashanicole78 at gmail if you are interested 😊

Laura Diniwilk

I’d love to buy the box off anyone who thought it was a miss! diniwilks at gmail.

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Latasha

Did you get the box? I’m selling mine. Please email latashanicole78 at gmail if you are interested 😊

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Lia

I full well admit that $100 is a LOT for a tea infuser, BUT I actually had one prior to receiving this box and can vouch for the fact that platinum makes a difference. The true taste of the tea comes out without any muted flavor like in a plastic infuser. It doesn’t taste tinny like traditional aluminum ones. It really is worth it if you like tea beyond just a hot cup of basic Tetley or Lipton. I highly recommend using one on a loose leaf Earl Grey and adding a splash of cream. It is just lovely!

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Anna Reilly

You’re so right, Lia! There’s no metallic taste in the tea I brewed with this infuser. Plus, I’m happy to have a really solid piece that’ll likely have a much longer lifespan than the more slapdash metal infusers I’ve tried in the past (granted, they’re usually cute, novelty-shaped ones that are more form than function).

Thanks for your perspective, Lia! I’m usually a green-tea girl, but I’ll have to give it a whirl on some Earl Grey!

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Alex

I love Earl Grey with cream ☺️

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JL

I would NEVER spend $100.00 on a tea infuser. Would like to swap for one but not at that value. Not even sure if I use it as I really like my cast iron tea pot with a built-in infuser. No FOMO here.

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Alex

I absolutely loved this months box! I’m very particular about my tea and the iced tea set is extraordinary in design and in flavor. I’m going to be using my 25% off coupon soon. The platinum tea diffuser is lovely to look at and to use. Such a gorgeous piece. My husband loved this box more than I did, especially the green tea. I used the marinade on chicken and then on shrimp (I got the other flavor). It’s delicious and I hope I can swap for more.

This is the only sub box my husband gets and we still pay the original price so it’s worth it. I know it’s pricey but it’s an indulgence and it’s fun and exciting. We even liked the sabre. It’s hit and miss for a lot of people and I understand that too, but I appreciate getting unique products every month.

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TK

I canceled last month after the champagne Sabre and although this box is better than several of the ones we received last fall, I’m not sorry we canceled. It’s really sad because if RV was still putting together boxes like they were a year or so ago, I would happily be a member. We moved to the Breo box and although the “experience” is not exactly luxe, the products are quality and useful.

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Hillary

These tea brewing things are terrible. You don’t want to use glass for most black teas. Or herbal. Or oolong. Plus, $100 for an infuser? Yeah right.

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Sara

Wow I thought Robb Vices always sent alcohol every month. I would’ve been mad paying $100 for this box. I don’t drink tea at all. Plus I got a really nice Tea Forte sampler from Land’s End for a Christmas gift last year, that was under $20 and looked like the same thing practically.

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Carol

That’s how I felt. I hate tea so this was a huge miss. When I opened my box and saw what it was my heart dropped. I’ve been thinking of canceling and now I’m sure I will. This box is about vices , tea is hardly a vice.

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Anna

I’d be happy to buy your full box off you if you don’t want It! I unsubscribed awhile ago and am sad I missed out on this one.

Karol

Wine is hardly a vice when you can get it at Target or even 2-Buck Chuck. The wines that come in RV are decedent and a vice in their quality and prices.

To some, exquisite tea is a vice too, in its uniqueness and expression. I’m not a tea person but I appreciate RV introducing me to vices other than my usually ones.

Great gift for my daughter to step up her grocery store teas. Super swapping item too, if you can find someone with more than beauty samples on their list.
Remember, sub boxes are like a box of chocolate……

Nancy M

Tea Forte had a sale last summer with the pitchers and 5 piece sampler for $35 which I purchased. Many of the reviews had concerns about breakage of the glass. The first N’Style with Nicki box included a few Tea Forte items. The triangular tea bags are costly to purchase so I don’t know how practical this would be if you are a copious tea-drinker.

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Gloria

What an amazing box! If I had $100 to spare every month I woulf definitely sub to this box. Hope everybody that receives the box likes it! That jam looms scrumptious too!

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AnninVA

I requested the tea canisters in swaps. As much as I would like this box, I could go on a $90 shopping spree on tea forte’s website and walk away with a collection of things I would like even better.

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Chelsea

I love Tea Forte and really wish I’d gotten this box! After seeing so many RV boxes with types of alcohol I wouldn’t drink, I have never wanted to risk the gamble of subbing… but OMG that box is amazing! If anyone got it who isn’t a tea drinker and isn’t excited about it, email me chelsealrobbins at gmail and I would like to buy it. Or just parts of it if you don’t want to part with the whole thing!

Oh Anna – I have that triangle diffuser and while it works well, it can be really tricky to clean! Somehow leaves always get lodged in the top of the triangle and it’s hard to shake or scrub them loose! Works well, though, and looks beautiful!

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Anna Reilly

Thanks for the heads up, Chelsea! So far, I’ve had a decent time just rinsing it out under the sink, but I’ll keep Cristina’s bottle brush idea in mind. Heck, a pipe cleaner might even work, given the narrow shape of the diffuser. Either way, much appreciated! I’d hate to miss tiny leaves getting stuck in the top and making the whole thing kind of gunky (and impacting the flavor of my tea)!

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Anna Reilly

*INFUSER, not diffuser, Anna. Lol, sorry! Morning brain 🙂

Cristina

Try a baby bottle brush or one for cleaning basters? That might work well as they’re designed for tight spaces and the ones for baby bottles are often soft enough to avoid scratching.

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Alicia

I’m honestly pretty envious of the infuser. It’s true that the RV seems insane, but it’s gorgeous and seems really well-designed. As an aside, I once received a Tea Forte kit for infusing cocktails with tea, and it was wonderful – tasty, beautiful, and super fun.

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Deb B.

The infuser caught my eye too. I looked it up and they sell a 23k gold plated version for $30. A bit more reasonable. If I had two platinum, I might wear them as earrings instead, so I could at least show them off!

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Elena

Hahahaha!

Barbara

Great box…and I really love that some of the items came in their original box which makes it so much easier to gift to someone. Well done Robb Vices !!!

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Marissa

I was so excited to get this box and I have had my eye on an iced tea pitcher for ever! HOWEVER, when my box arrived the top mini pitcher was missing! I emailed Robb vices on Monday and have yet to hear back :'( seriously I could not be more bummed. The platinum infuser is pretty but I would much rather have the iced one, it’s something I actually need!

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Deb B.

Seems like an excellent box for tea drinkers. I’ve been searching for the perfect reusable tea infuser, but ouch, that retail price?! I’m also concerned with glass thermal shock by putting a hot and cold combo together like that.

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Tanya

After getting box after box of stuff that is still just sitting in my closet, this is something I would have used. Even though I’d use it, the value just isn’t there for me. No FOMO for me. I’m glad I cancelled.

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Helen

I really like this box. I imagine this one will be a bit polarizing since not everyone drinks tea but I thought it was really well put together. Very excited to try the teas. =) Thanks for including a tasting in the review so I know what to expect.

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Sherry

What I really need is a $100 tea infuser – said no one, ever. I drink a lot of tea, but I would be beyond pissed if I spent $98 on this box and $47 of it went to a tea infuser – and I like nice things so I could be the target audience – but no, just no.

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Amber

I really love the iced tea setup. It’s still too expensive for me, but Tea Forte really does make great teas. Hopefully I will be able to find something similar to the glass pitchers, in my price range. 🙂

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