Plum Deluxe Tea delivers hand-blended, organic, loose leaf teas right to your door each month. Here’s my review and first impressions of their premium teas.
If you have been reading the blog at Be Your Own Barista for a while now, you already know that I never review products that I haven’t tried first hand. You probably also know that I am a tea fanatic! I drink just as much tea as I do coffee and life wouldn’t be complete without either one!
So, as you can imagine, I got pretty excited when Andy at Plum Deluxe Tea reached out to me and offered to send me some samples of their premium hand-blended loose leaf teas! (Huge hugs for my new hero, Andy!) He even let me go on the website and choose which flavors I wanted to try!
Full disclosure: I fell in love with this company from the moment I landed on their website! If you’re a tea fanatic like I am, their blog is an absolute joy to read! I knew I was going to love this tea before the beautiful, plum-colored envelope even showed up in my mailbox! And, not only did they live up to my expectations, they far exceeded them!
So, without further ado, let me tell you all about the amazingness that is Plum Deluxe Tea!
The Story Behind Plum Deluxe Tea
I adore small companies that have a beautiful story, and Plum Deluxe Tea doesn’t disappoint. Plum Deluxe Tea was founded by Andy Hayes in honor of his mom who courageously fought breast cancer for five years.
On the website, Andy tells the story of how his mom taught him to enjoy the little things in life, like reading a good book, sleeping in, and of course, enjoying a good cup of tea.
I highly recommend signing up for the Plum Deluxe newsletter, which Andy writes himself every Sunday morning. It’s truly delightful and full of positive and creative messages.
This is definitely not your average online tea company… the experience is much more personal and I just love that!
About Plum Deluxe Teas
The first thing you need to know about Plum Deluxe teas is that they are hand-blended in their Portland, Oregon studio. This is a small, family-owned and operated business, and it really shows in the quality of their products.
Plum Deluxe Tea creates their teas in small batches so they’re always fresh. Each blend is expertly tested. The teas not only taste amazing, but they are truly beautiful and smell incredible as well.
They source only organic, fair trade ingredients from reputable sources they know and trust. Plum Deluxe Tea does not use any GMOs, corn, soy, gluten, or dairy in their teas. You won’t find any hidden sugar, sweetener, or anything artificial either.
My Plum Deluxe Tea Review and First Impressions
The wonderful people at Plum Deluxe Tea sent me four hand-crafted, organic, loose-leaf teas to try! I brewed each one in my French Press using the instructions on the label for each tea. Here’s my review and first impressions of each one:
- The Self Care Blend (Elderberry & Apricot Loose Leaf Herbal Tea): This one is an herbal loose leaf wellness tea that tastes amazing! I’m a huge fan of elderberry for its ability to fight off colds and flu, so I was super excited to try this tea. The addition of apricot gave this tea a delicious sweetness that was a fantastic contrast to the tartness of the elderberries. This will be my go-to bedtime tea for winter, as it’s perfect for relaxing, as well as nutritious to keep the yuck away. I love it without anything added, but it’s also super yummy with a little honey and cream.
- Fireside Chat Black Tea (Smoky with a Hint of Chocolate and Walnut): My first impression of this loose leaf black tea was that it smells incredible! It’s a combination of smoked black tea and rooibos tea, along with hints of chocolate, walnut, and vanilla. The flavors are just so unique and complex! It definitely has a smoky flavor, which I love. My favorite time for a cup of Fireside Chat tea is in the afternoon when I’m working. It has a bit of caffeine, so it perks me up, but it’s also warm and comforting at the same time. I drink it with cream and a bit of honey, which seems to bring out the chocolate and walnut notes. It’s a must-try if you’re into smoky flavors!
- Magic Butterfly Herbal Tea (Butterfly Pea Flower and Berries): This loose leaf herbal tea is so pretty and fun! It actually turns blue when you brew it, and if you add lemon, the color gets even more vivid. The flavor is a yummy combination of floral, berries, citrus, and vanilla, with a hint of apple. There’s no caffeine and the fun color makes it a great tea for kids. The flavor is very refreshing, so I’m sure it would be a great iced tea for summer.
- Oregon Breakfast Black Tea (Hazelnut and Orange): This loose leaf black tea is perfect for sipping with my favorite scones on a cozy morning! I love its earthy flavors of black tea and honeybush, and it has a perky zap of orange. The hazelnut also gives it a nutty flavor, as well as adding anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant benefits. I like it with milk and honey, just like I drink my morning coffee. This is definitely a new favorite of mine and I’ll be reordering it regularly.
Plum Deluxe Tea of the Month Club: Premium Loose Leaf Tea Delivered Right to Your Door
 Tea of the Month Club – Organic Loose Leaf Tea Subscription Box – $10.00 Organic Flavored Tea of the Month Club – Loose Leaf, Fair Trade Tea Subscription |
Although the teas can be purchased individually in the shop, the Plum Deluxe Tea of the Month Club is an amazing deal and would make a fabulous gift for any tea lover. You can choose to receive either one or two teas per month. Here’s what’s included!
- One Tea Per Month for $10 (Charged Quarterly): At this subscription level you’ll receive one ounce of the exclusive, seasonal tea of the month made just for the club. There’s also a sample of a 2nd tea from the shop to try for free.
- Two Teas Per Month for $16 (Charged Quarterly): At this subscription level, you receive one ounce of the exclusive, seasonal tea of the month made just for the club, plus a second one-ounce package of loose leaf tea from the online shop! There’s also a sample of a 3rd tea from the shop to try for free.
No matter which level you choose, shipping is free on your tea subscription box and any purchases you make from the online shop. Each tea subscription box comes with complete brewing instructions, tea pairing recommendations, and recipes to try. You’ll also have access to the tea lover’s community.
Subscribers of the Plum Deluxe Tea of the Month Club receive access to exclusive specials and discounts on products from the online shop. Subscriptions are risk-free and can be canceled at any time.
Would I Recommend Plum Deluxe Tea or Give it as a Gift?
Absolutely! These hand-crafted, artisanal teas are of the highest quality and value! I love supporting small, family-owned businesses and this one goes above and beyond my expectations! I will be ordering from them regularly and signing up for the Plum Deluxe Tea of the Month Club so I can get the exclusive seasonal tea each month.
With the holidays coming up, a Plum Deluxe Tea Subscription Box Gift would be an amazing gift for any tea lover! They also have a variety of gifts for tea lovers and loose leaf teaware that any tea aficionado would love. You could even add something from their sweets and treats page to round out your gift.
If you or your loved one enjoy a good cup of tea, you can't go wrong with Plum Deluxe Tea!
