My birthday is in March and this year it felt like gifts were showered upon me. And I guess a lot of people are picking up on my tea obsession because 90% of those gifts were tea-related, with a fair amount of them being sent or organized by the wonderful CuppaGeek. In fact, the day before my birthday, four tea packages arrived, among them a flat box with a colorful label and my name largely displayed in the center – the March myteabox.ca monthly subcription box had arrived. It was a gift I didn’t even know I wanted but I was very pleased to get to try a new tea company and incredibly grateful to CuppaGeek and the Sororitea Sisters for making it happen!
I opened the box to a lovely handwritten note where I learned that “Every ‘first’ box includes a couple ‘extras’ – some disposable steeping bags, and a teaspoon.” As I tore back the tissue to discover what I was sent, I found three teas, a tea description card, a roll of teabags, and a cute spoon with a teapot on one end and a little note, tied on with a bow, that said “For You”. The presentation was adorable and made me all the more excited to try the teas.
I started with Sugar Shack Smokey Maple, a black tea – brewed hot as per the recommended steeping instructions – because I loves me a sugar shack (at least I think I do. I have never actually been to one. The concept really appeals to my foodie side though) and smoke and maple are one awesome pairing. In fact, a tea friend once told me that if you are drinking a smokey tea, a dash of maple syrup takes it to a whole new level. Unfortunately, I always added just a little too much maple syrup to my smokey teas so it is nice that the flavors were combined for me in this blend. Made up of black tea, safflower petals, natural flavors, and maple syrup, the tea is simple but quite nice. I noticed the smoke in the scent of the dry leaf was strong but I am happy to report for those who fear smoke that it is tame once brewed – distinct but not in-your-face. The maple is also noticeable but for my sweet tooth, I wish there was just a bit more. For me, this is a smokey and slightly brisk black tea with maple, which with a name like Sugar Shack Smokey Maple, I expected the maple to have been the shining star and not a supporting character.
Next was a Peppermint Matcha Pick-Me-Up latte. All of my flavored matcha experiences have either been with Red Leaf Tea (now the Matcha Outlet) matchas or DAVIDsTEA matchas and I believe both those companies add sugar to their offerings. The ingredients listed here are simply “Luxury green tea and peppermint leaves”, so you may sweeten (or not sweeten) to your tastes. Mixed in with milk, this makes for one smooth and creamy treat, with a refreshing peppermint finish. The matcha is mostly hidden, a fact that I prefer as I don’t typically love the grassy flavor associated with this type of tea. Personally, I am happy to reap the caffeine benefits of a matcha latte while enjoying just the creamy, minty deliciousness that is this tea.
Lastly is the caffeine-free fruit tea, Strawberry Sunshine, which I decided to ice. Comprised of apple pieces, rosehip pieces, orange pieces, hibiscus petals, calendula petals, and natural flavors, this mix is pretty standard in terms of fruit tea composition. No actual strawberry is listed here which is an interesting choice for a tea called “Strawberry Sunshine” though I suppose that is where the “natural flavoring” can come into play. Nonetheless, I can taste strawberry here, a flavor more true-to-the-fruit than strawberry candy, which floats above the apple-y base so commonly found in fruit blends and below a hint of citrus brightness from the orange. However, that all gives way to the familiar rosehip and hibiscus tartness that finishes the sip. It is good and I can see this being nice in the summertime but I also can’t help but feel like I have had this before.
All in all, I really enjoyed my experience with the March box for myteabox.ca. At $25/month, the price may be a bit steep for some, but the offerings are well-crafted and deliver on flavor without loading up the blends with sweeteners and chemicals. Plus, it provides a great variety among its three teas given that I got a black tea, some matcha, and a caffeine-free option to enjoy. Not to mention it all comes in one fun and exciting package.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Monthly Tea Box
Where to Buy: Myteabox.ca
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here! And for more info, check out their blog!
