I love herbal teas and when I first had my first ever teapig which was peppermint on-board P&O Britannia my I was hooked from there I tried many other various teas throughout my cruise.
When I got back I contacted teapigs to tell them how I was wowed by their herbal teas and how I love the fact that all their teabags are made using biodegradable tea bags being very safe for the environment. I also learned that apparently different teas can effect your mood in different ways which intrigued me. So teapigs kindly gifted me a tea from each mood-o-meter range to try out at home.
Plus to make the perfect tea I will be reviewing about the KitchenAid artisan temperature kettle.
Firstly here is more about teapigs and KitchenAid
teapigs
Nick and Louise started teapigs back in November 2006 with one mission to get the nation drinking real tea again. They met whilst working for a well known tea company, where they learned all about tea and drank lots of it. The more they learned, and the more they drank, the more they came to realise something that there’s a whole world of quality teas out there that simply aren’t getting the attention they deserve. So with that teapigs was born.
Their tea
They use high quality real tea. By quality they mean using whole leaf tea, whole leaf herbs, whole berries, whole spices and whole flowers. As to them it’s all about the flavour.
With regular tea all ingredients are usually squashed, chopped and manhandled so, by the time it reaches your cup, almost all the flavour is lost.
The whole leaves, berries, herbs, flowers and spices which teapigs use in their tea temples have been handled gently and with love, to maintain freshness and flavour.
All their temple teabags are biodegradable mesh bag that gives the whole leaves lots of room to infuse. They use triangle style teabags as whole leaf tea just doesn’t work in regular paper teabags.
Thus the tea temple was born which is a roomy, biodegradable mesh bag, which offers all the space whole leaves need to infuse properly. Whole leaf tea, without the fuss.
Plus all their teas are dairy free, gluten free, suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Since launching in 2006 they have picked up 90 Great Taste Awards over the years.
KitchenAid
Firstly let me tell you a bit more about KitchenAid. They were founded back in 1886 by Josephine Cochrane she revolutionized the world of cooking. She patented an invention that would in time become the dishwasher as we know it today. Nine of her incredible machines were exhibited, sold and used in restaurants. Some found a place in respected luxury hotels. Driven by the desire to popularise her invention, Joséphine adapted a model for household use just before her death in 1913.
From revolutionary inventions then took birth in 1919 with the first mixer and this is how the brand KitchenAid was born.
Almost a century ago, Ohio engineer Herbert Johnson invented another miraculous machine that was going to revolutionise the lives of cooking experts and gourmets: The H5, the first household eggbeater.
While testing the eggbeater one of the company directors unknowingly invented the brand name KitchenAid when she exclaimed: “I don’t care what you call it, it’s the best kitchen aid I’ve ever had” and with that KitchenAid name was born.
Over the years, inspired by the professional world, the brand has never stopped inventing and improving innovative solutions for gourmets and cooks.
KitchenAid appliances provides Professional Performance, Artisan Quality and have an Iconic Design.
Read more about KitchenAid’s history via clicking here.
KitchenAid Artisan Kettle
A KitchenAid kettle is the perfect aid for any herbal teas which require different temperatures.
With a KitchenAid Artisan 1,5L Kettle you can adjust the temperature from 50°C to 100°C to easily suit your needs and get the best out of any tea, making the perfect cuppa.
A KitchenAid Artisan Kettle is:
- High quality, sleek style in a choice of colours
- Adjustable temperatures from 50°C to 100°C
- Dual wall construction keeps water hotter for longer
- Boils water quietly and in minutes
- With 1.5 litre capacity can boil large quantity of water
- Temperature gauge to check how hot water is still after leaving for a while
Check out my YouTube review via clicking here.
Time for tea
I love tea and herbal teas and especially teapigs as they use natural ingredients, their tea temples are biodegradable and all their tea is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
I was given eight teas by teapigs, one from each of their mood-o-meter ranges from sleepy to wired. All the ones I received also have won a Great Taste award at some stage.
To get the perfect brewed cup of tea I will used the KitchenAid Artisan Kettle which I loaned as some herbal teas require a softer heat than some others.
The KitchenAid Artisan kettle was easy to use from filling up, adjusting temperature via a push lever and a push of a button to switch on. With the large rounded spout it made it easy to pour with no drippage plus the weight of the kettle even with water within it was not too heavy and easy to pickup with one hand. Also I loved how the water kept warm with it’s insulted inner design.
teapig mood moments
Sleepy
If you are feeling sleepy this tea will give you a boost to help make you stay awake with it’s powerful spices.
“Variations of aromatic, spiced, milky tea have been the Indian drink of choice for hundreds of years. We’ve blended rich, malty Assam tea with exotic cardamom pods, cinnamon, ginger and vanilla to develop our own blend of this delicious, satisfying and yummy beverage that encapsulates all the colour and vibrancy of India in a cup.”
Louise the tea taster says
Once I took the tea temple out of the packet I loved the look of it which you could see cardamon pods, cinnamon and others spices.
The full ingredients included:
Assam black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom pods, vanilla, natural cinnamon flavour, other natural flavourings.
It is suggested to boil at 100c and brew for 3 minutes. Whilst it was brewing I loved watching how the spices and leaves moved around within the tea temple.
Once it was brewed upon smelling it I could smell of the spices making me think of the spice markets within India.
Upon tasting it, it was a wondrous sensation making me think of India’s Taj Mahal In Uttar Pradesh which is one of the Seven wonders of the world. It was warming and spicy a true wonder of delight.
After taking a few sips I then tried with milk which gave it a different flavour this time being more creamier and a milder flavour but still the tea was immense and a joy to drink, it was now like drinking a spicy melted cream caramel.
It can also be drunk as a iced tea. After brewing in hot water top up with iced water to make a iced tea.
This tea certainly did perk me up after drinking it and is certainly one I would buy in the future.
It’s India in a cup.
Hungover
If you are feeling hungover then this tea will help refreshen your soul and mind.
“Traditional Moroccan green tea with mint is typically drunk sweet – very, very sweet. This is because they use Gunpowder Green, a tea so strong that sugar is needed to remove the astringency. We opted for a more delicate chunmee green tea known as Precious Eyebrows. Better to change the base tea than your teeth, we reckoned.”
Louise the tea taster says
Once I took the tea temple out of the packet I loved the look of it which you could see the lovely peppermint leaves.
The full ingredients included:
chunmee green tea, peppermint leaves
It is suggested to boil at 80c and brew for 3 minutes. Whilst it was brewing I loved watching how the ingredients moved within tea temple.
Once it was brewed and upon smelling it I could certainly smell peppermint and chocolate but there is no chocolate in it.
As this tea is from Morocco I tried thinking of places within Morocco but all I could just kept on thinking of was chocolate as that is what I could taste as well as peppermint. So if you are craving mint and MMmm chocolate then this is a great alternate to stop that crave.
It can also be drunk as a iced tea. After brewing in hot water top up with iced water to make a iced tea.
Refresh your mind and soul.
Grumpy
If you are feeling hungover then this tea will certainly help perk you up and think of all your best loved movies.
“This tea has flourished from humble beginnings – Japanese peasants used to mix green tea with toasted rice to make it go further. It is now celebrated in its own right as Genmaicha tea, or Popcorn tea. “Sugar Puffs in a cup” – a truly unique blend with an almost nutty undertone.”
Louise the tea taster says
Once I took the tea temple out of the packet I loved how you could see so many kernals and green tea leaves.
The full ingredients included:
green tea, toasted rice
It is suggested to boil at 80c and brew for 3 minutes. Whilst it was brewing I loved watching the bits of toasted rice which I initially thought was kernals and the green tea leaves fall to the bottom of the tea temple.
Once it was brewed upon smelling it I could certainly smell sweet brewed popcorn and started to make me think of all my favourite movies.
Upon tasting it had a nice nutty tone in fact it tasted like munching on popcorn kernals but drinking them instead.
So if you love nutty undertones and sweetness you will love this tea. For me it was not one that I would opt for again however if I wanted the smell of popcorn then yes.
Bring the cinema to you with this lush smelling popcorn tea.
Adventurous
If you love being adventurous then powerful tea is the one to have.
“Well liquorice, for a start, which has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, is hugely popular with the Dutch and tastes so much better with peppermint than sherbet dips. Which is why, we’ve blended pure liquorice root with whole peppermint leaves to create a naturally sweet and refreshing drink that is irresistibly moreish, if I say so myself.”
Louise the tea taster says
Once I took the tea temple out of the packet I loved the look of the liquorice root and leaves within the tea temple.
The full ingredients included:
liquorice root and peppermint leaves
It is suggested to boil at 100c and brew for 3 minutes. The leaves moved within the temple creating a lovely brown coloured tea.
Once it was brewed and upon smelling it I could really smell the liquorice and the mint
As this tea uses liquorice which is used in many Chinese medicines I tried to think of China whilst drinking but all that kept hitting my mind was humbugs, melted humbug candy. It was a sweet delight and gave me a real buzz.
It can also be drunk as a iced tea. After brewing in hot water top up with iced water to make an iced tea and garnish with lemon and lime.
This tea certainly did put me in a happy buzzing mood after and made me just want to go out into the world and do something crazy like bungee jumping as the tea certainly did take my tastebuds on an adventure as they went wild with a zing.
A buzzing zingy tea.
Indulgent
If you are feeling indulgent this is the tea to have.
“Whether its in grandma’s pie, giant muffins or American pancakes nothing beats the flavour of sweet juicy apple with punchy cinnamon spice. It’s the perfect combination for a lovely fruity, punchy and spicy tea. Thanks go to the team at Olive and Bean, one of our lovely stockists in Newcastle who suggested this blend of apple and cinnamon.”
Louise the tea taster says
Once I took the tea temple out of the packet I loved the look of all the ingredients from the apple pieces to the various leaves.
The full ingredients included:
apple, cinnamon, apple pomace, roasted chicory root, citric acid, sweet blackberry leaves, natural flavourings
It is suggested to boil at 100c and brew for 3 minutes. The pieces moved around with the apple falling to the bottom making me think of August when apples start to fall to the ground.
Once it was brewed upon smelling it immediately got a waft of apple.
Upon tasting it it was full of apple sweetness making me think of apple crumble and after every sip that is what I kept on thinking about apple crumble. A great alternate if you are cutting down on sugar but really feeling like an apple crumble but know you can’t.
Apple crumble in a cup.
Stressed
If you are feeling stressed then drinking this tea will relief some.
“A nutrient rich blend of rooibos (Afrikaans for “red bush”) and honey bush, two native South African shrubs. They grow only in the Cederburg mountain region of South Africa, and are harvested and prepared in much the same way as regular tea. **please note** we have recently made a little change to the name on the packaging from ‘rooibos’ to ‘honeybush & rooibos’ – but don’t worry this is exactly the same blend – just a simple name change.”
Louise the tea taster says
Once I took the tea temple out of the packet I could see bits of leaves and bark like piece.
The full ingredients included:
honeybush and rooibos
It is suggested to boil at 100c and brew for 3 minutes. The pieces moved around whilst brewing within the tea temple which was so relaxing to watch and started to make me feel a little de-stressed.
Once it was brewed and upon smelling I could smell tones of nutty and a bit like earl grey.
As honeybush is a know native shrub in Africa I tried to think of wild Africa from zebras to tigers. It tasted nutty.
Nutty.
Bloated
If you are feeling bloated then this will help de-bloat you.
“Our peppermint tea is fresher and finer than any teabag mint you have tasted before because, as with our regular teas, we insist on whole leaves. Because we use whole peppermint leaves, you’ll find the flavour of this blend much stronger and fresher than regular dusty paper teabags. Sip this when your stomach is grumbling. It’s great after a heavy night out down the Red Lion.”
Louise the tea taster says
Once I took the tea temple out of the packet I could see a bountiful of green peppermint leaves as that is all this tea has within it.
The full ingredients included:
pure peppermint leaves
It is suggested to boil at 100c and brew for 3 minutes but if love strong mint then to brew for 7 minutes. The pieces swirled around in the tea temple when brewing which was lovely to watch.
Whilst it was brewing the smell was hitting my nose immediately of peppermint and once brewed even stronger.
This tea can also be made into an iced tea just brew the teabag like normal in hot water then top-up glass with iced water. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.
This tea is certainly refreshing and with every sip it was a peppermint hit sensation, hit, after hit. It is strong and really gets you buzzing as hits all the taste buds and senses.
A summery hit.
Wired
If you are feeling bloated and need help to sleep then chamomile is highly recommend.
“Most chamomile teas are made by crushing the flowers – not a nice thing to do. The best chamomile tea comes from brewing the whole flowers – which is exactly what we do. Well known benefits of chamomile include sleep-promoting properties, relaxing muscles and soothing anxiety”
Louise the tea taster says
Once I took the tea temple out of the packet I could see a bountiful of green chamomile dried flower heads.
The full ingredients included:
pure, whole, chamomile flowers
It is suggested to boil at 100c and brew for 3 minutes. The flowers steadily dropped to the bottom of the tea temples when brewing like summer had finished.
Upon smelling the brewed tea it smelt like flowers and undertones of honey and the yellow colour made me think of the sun and summer.
This tea can also be made into ice tea. Brew normally in hot water for 3 minutes then top with iced water. Sweeten with honey.
It tasted a bit like melted lemony candy and flowers. Very summery but it did not make me feel sleepy instead it made me feel high as it was sweet.
Summery sensation.
See my reaction
For a brief summary from smell, look and taste check out my Instagram @lovepopupslondon and click on the teapigs highlight button to see my reactions.
Alternatively check out my FULL live recorded reviews of all the teapigs I tasted via my YouTube channel. Click on the links below for review on each tea:
- Sleepy – teapigs Chai Tea
- Hungover – teapigs Green Tea
- Grumpy – teapigs Popcorn
- Adventurous – teapigs Liquorice & Peppermint
- Indulgent – teapigs Apple & Cinnamon
- Stress – teapigs Honeybush & Rooibos
- Bloated – teapigs Peppermint Tea
- Wired – teapigs Chamomile Tea
teaed out
After indulging in so many different teas over the last couple of weeks I can truly say I am hooked on teapigs herbal teas.
Plus the KitchenAid Artisan Kettle certainly did help make each tea the most perfect cuppa. What I really loved about the Artisan Kettle though is how quickly it boiled and with the kettle being insulated inside it kept the water hot for ages which you could see what temperature it was still at by the handy temperature gauge. So if you wanted another cuppa in 30 minutes you could see easily if you needed to reboil or not.
My two far favourites were certainly the liquorice & peppermint and the apple & cinnamon as both were full of flavour and made the taste buds on my tongue go wild.
Which out of all that I reviewed appeals to you the most?
teapigs buy online
Buy online at https://www.teapigs.co.uk/tea
At present they have a discount if you spend over £40 you can save an extra 10% – USE THE CODE ‘TEN’
*Minimum spend of £40. Excludes bulk buys and bundles. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Plus if you subscribe and order a regular tea order then they will give you an exclusive discount with a ⅓ off every third order and free standard UK delivery on orders over £10.
Subscribe via clicking here.
Alternatively purchase via my shop.
Thank teapigs for sending me a batch of teas from your mood-o-meter range to taste at home they were teamazing. Plus thanks to KitchenAid for the hire of the amazing temperature kettle which made all my teas the most perfect cup of tea. All views are my own honest opinion.
“I love going out discovering new and existing restaurants, theatres, immersive experiences and so much more but I also love staying in and discovering new gadgets, gaming and cooking.
