Teabox is a monthly themed box filled with loose-leaf selections and easily-digestible, expert notes that provide background information and help compare flavor profiling with your own tasting experiences.
March's theme is the “Chai Box."
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About the Teabox
The Subscription Box: Teabox
The Cost: $89.97 for a 3-month subscription, $179.94 for a 6-month subscription, or $269.91 for a 9-month subscription. Free shipping.
LIMITED TIME DEAL: Now through 3/31, use code TBSUB50 to save 50% off all subscription plans!
The Products: High-quality, loose-leaf teas and expert notes about each one
Ships to: Worldwide
Teabox “The Chai” Box March 2018 Review
Each Teabox comes with a handy insert elaborating on the month's theme and the teas included. This month's card is all about chai, and breaks down all the unique ways different regions of India enjoy their chai tea!
All the blends I received in this box were caffeinated with a black-tea base and looked very, very similar when brewed. (They were varying shades of amber, almost-red hues in my mug!) Despite looking the same, their flavors varied greatly.
Each blend in this box weighed 0.35 oz., which means you get about 4 cups of tea out of each bag.
Bombay Cutting Chai Tea, 0.35 oz. – Retail Value $3.00
The first blend I sampled is noted as being comprised of the "choicest of spices including warm cardamom, sharp ginger, and exotic fennel seeds, blended to perfection with fresh, strong Assam CTC."
I couldn't taste much ginger in it, woe! I found it had a subdued, almost smoky taste to it, especially once it hit my throat. Its aftertaste was sweeter, and the enduring aroma it gave off was a bit citrusy.
Assam Masala Chai Tea, 0.35 oz. – Retail Value $3.00
This Assam Masala Chai was my FAVORITE TEA IN THE BOX. (I forgot to snap a picture of the FRONT of the pouch.) It has one of the highest customer ratings on Teabox's website if that's a sufficient indication of how darn good it is!
It's made with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, black pepper. The cinnamon flavor POPPED and enveloped me in the coziest, most delicious hug a beverage could offer. I'm an eternal sucker for sweets, but I resisted pouring any sugar or cream in these teas so I could get a full sense of their flavors. This blend is likely better off without sugar regardless—it's delicious and perfect all on its own!
Wayanad Cardamom Chai Tea, 0.35 oz. – Retail Value $3.00
This blend had a warm, sweeter taste to it compared to others in the box. Its only ingredients are black tea and cardamom pods, but its resulting aroma is nutty, smooth, and elevating. The cardamom is flavorful, but not too strong, which I was really on board with!
Punjabi Masala Chai Tea, 0.35 oz. – Retail Value $3.00
Bishop's weed, cloves, cinnamon, green cardamom, dry ginger, and fennel are all present in this blend. The spices were heavy! It has a dark and complex flavor to it, and its aroma is strong.
I think I would have enjoyed this one with a bit of cream, sugar, or lemon in it. Maybe it's my sweet tooth, maybe my taste buds just haven't advanced far enough in the sophisticated world of tea yet. Who knows!
Kolkata Street Chai Tea, 0.35 – Retail Value $3.00
This blend was a bit lighter in color than the rest of 'em! I could really taste the ginger in this, which I loved. Its resulting aroma was bold and bright, and the refreshing blend of flavors each tickled their way to the top as I sipped.
I couldn't quite find the saffron flavor in this blend, but boy did I feel fancy knowing it was there!
Chai Spice Blend
As you may have seen in February's "Companion" box, blending spices are also included to go with the Teabox theme each month! I received some spicy showstoppers that were found in my chai blends.
Unfortunately, I didn't receive any designated blending bases like Taryn did, so I'm kinda stumped on what exactly to do with these elegant ingredients. I suppose I could add them to my tea blends? Spice things up even more, eh?
Verdict: I had very little idea what to expect from this box, and I was so pleasantly surprised. The only chai I'd ever had before was usually found in a creamy, sugary chai latte, so tasting these blends felt authentic, sophisticated, and exciting. You can tell that Teabox puts great care into each box—from their illustrated inserts to their convenient labels and resealable pouches, this box is a fantastic experience. I also appreciated that they listed the caffeine content of each tea because it stopped me from sipping these before bed and staying up all night!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, as of publication, this box is still available!
Coupon - Now through 3/31, use code TBSUB50 to save 50% off all subscription plans! Or, use code TBMSA10 to save 10% off your first box!
Value Breakdown: This box costs $29.99 (including shipping) and you receive five 0.35 oz. pouches of tea, which add up to 20-25 cups. That gives an average value of about $6.00 per tea or about $1.30 per cup. The per-cup cost seems high to me, but I do believe that the calming act of steeping your own tea is a valuable, worthwhile activity in itself. The ingredients meant for blending are a nice bonus! (They could also be used in cooking, amirite?)
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What did you think of the Teabox The Chai Box?
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