Tea Box Express Review – January 2019

Tea Box Express is a monthly box of tea goodies! Rather than just having tea and nothing else, you’ll get a few edible treats and accessories as well.

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.)

About Tea Box Express

The Subscription Box: Tea Box Express

The Cost: $25.50 for month-to-month; save with longer subscriptions. Please note: Shipping is $6.49 per month.

The Products: Quality teas, edible goodies like cookies, and a couple of accessories

Ships to: US

Tea Box Express January 2019 Review

You can usually expect one tea (sometimes more), one accessory, and one edible item (sometimes more) in this box. Occasionally there will be other tea-themed items as well.

There was a card asking you to share your box contents on social media. This subscription typically does not have an information card with it.

Tea Chai Te #60 Be Swell (2 oz) – Retail Value $5.98

This is what I would call a “medicinal” tea. So, it doesn’t really taste all that great to me (probably due to the licorice root, which I can typically pick out in the absolute smallest quantities in any tea). However, it has been cold here (not as cold as other parts of the country, but still) and my nose is stuffy, and this is kind of helpful in that regard. (I’m not supposed to take decongestants due to my blood pressure so I will take what I can get.) This does also have some spices like cardamom and clove.

On another note, this company does have a lot of teas that look really good to me, and they’re affordable, so I may just place an order for some of those.

Tea Chai Te #57 Immunity (2 oz) – Retail Value $5.98

This is another medicinal tea, but it doesn’t have licorice, so that makes it automatically my favorite of the two for this month.  (I know I’m harping on the licorice, but if I never saw that or lemongrass in tea again I would be really happy.) This reminds me a little bit of the Red Zinger from Celestial Seasonings (probably the peppermint together with rose hips and orange peel). It also has Echinacea and goldenseal, which are common herbal remedies for colds and such.

Rickaroons Coconut Energy Bar Chocolate Blonde (1.6 oz) – Buy 12 for $25

I like coconut cookies so I did enjoy this (it also has almonds/almond butter, which I’m a fan of as well), but the whole thing had maybe two chocolate chips so I kind of wonder why they bother with the “chocolate” in the name. Judging by the pictures on their website, this low number of chocolate chips is a feature rather than a bug (in their opinion!). Anyway, I did like this and would be just fine with getting another one in a future box. It’s vegan and gluten-free if you were wondering.

Suffern Laser Mesh Pincer Spoon Tea Infuser – Retail Value $10.50

So you will get tea strainers/infusers in this subscription box occasionally, although I have to say after reviewing this for a while, the accessories are actually pretty varied (so you won’t end up with 20 tea infusers or anything like that). We haven’t received an infuser for awhile. This one is stainless steel, which is nice, and the handle is somewhat longer than some of my other strainers, which I am finding that I like when drinking from some of my taller mugs. The design of this one also makes it easy to clean out after use.

Heartspring Lip Balm in Lavender + Honey – Retail Value $6

This is an Etsy item and it contains beeswax so it is not vegan. Although it contains coconut oil and shea butter, both of which are solid at room temperature, it isn’t gritty at all like some all-natural lip balms can get. It has a pleasant flavor that reminds me a bit of lavender Earl Grey tea. At this time of year, I go through a lot of lip balm so I’ve put this in a drawer in the house where I tend to reach for it often.

Amborella Organics Seed-Bearing Lollipop in Champagne and Roses – Buy 3 for $6.75

This is a new brand for me and I think their products are fun. You eat the lollipop and then you can plant the stick, which contains seeds. The seeds relate to the lollipop flavor, too – here are the flowers you’d get from planting this stick. I think this one, in particular, would be a good wedding or bridal shower favor, or as part of a Valentine’s Day gift. These are vegan and free of gluten, nuts, soy, artificial dyes, and GMOs, although I wish they had nutrition facts somewhere on their website.

Amborella Organics Seed-Bearing Lollipop in Strawberry and Basil – Buy 3 for $6.75

I had a raspberry-basil popsicle once and since then I’ve been on board with the berry-basil flavor combination (this lollipop does it well, too). And the stick has basil seeds, naturally.

Verdict:  I couldn’t calculate a total value for the January Tea Box Express since some of the food items aren’t available for individual purchase. The subscription costs $31.99 (including shipping) and if you add up the tea, strainer, and lip balm, you get $28.46, which leaves $3.53, or about $1.18 for each of the remaining items. So I feel like you are coming out ahead. This box also had a lot more items than usual, so even if one thing doesn’t work for you, you are still getting a fair amount of value from the box. I learned about a new tea company this month, which is always fun, and the lollipops are a cool idea, as well.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, your subscription would start with the February box.

Value Breakdown: This box costs $31.99 (including shipping). Together, the teas, strainer, and lip balm cost $28.46, which leaves about $1.18 each for the cookie and each lollipop.

Check out our past reviews of Tea Box Express and see other great tea subscriptions in the Drinks Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

What did you think of Tea Box Express? Do you get any tea subscriptions?