Our list of notable tea subscription box companies affords the tea-lover options for switching up blends according to mood or the need for more (or less) caffeine. Continue reading for our selections.
Best Tea Subscription Boxes of 2022
Best Overall: Blendbee Best Personalized Service: Free Your Tea Best Value: Tea Runners Best for Unique Blends: Art of Tea Best Eco-Friendly: Tea Drops
ProsEccentric tea blendsOrganic or wild-crafted ingredientsSupports small and fair-trade farms ConsPersonalized blends not available for club members This woman-owned company believes a good cup of tea makes everything better. The website is easy to navigate, and our queries received prompt replies from the company’s owner herself. Each monthly shipment costs $25 and shipping is free. The tea box includes two, 2-ounce bags of loose leaf tea, which brews 40-60 cups of tea. At 50 cents per cup, it holds the middle ground for all of the monthly subscriptions we reviewed. In addition, Blendbee offers monthly subscribers a choice of caffeinated or caffeine-free teas or a combination of both. Customers can receive subscriptions monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly, and skipping a shipment is easy. If you fall in love with one of your monthly teas, you can purchase it through the company’s storefront without a subscription. The store page also sells tea equipment and accessories for brewing teas. ProsCustomers get teas based on their likesMonthly and quarterly shipments availablePersonalized gift options ConsNon-members can’t purchase individual teas Free Your Tea’s founder Knud Berthelsen wanted to create a space for people to unearth and try high-quality teas from around the world, and he accomplishes that through personalized tea subscriptions. Personalization is based on your tea preferences and how you rate teas in the sampler and later teas, making it a truly personalized tea service. Tea subscription gift-giving is easy and allows the recipient to personalize their boxes as well. The company’s website is easy to navigate and answers most questions one would have. In addition, you’re actually prompted to ask more questions; when we did that, we received a quick response. There are options for regular, caffeine-free, and iced teas. Monthly and quarterly deliveries are available. Pricing starts at $25 for a month-to-month subscription and drops to $23, $20, and $18 if you prepay for three, six, or 12 months. Shipping to U.S. addresses is free, while international destinations carry a shipping fee of $5-$10. ProsBest bang for your buckFour types of tea box subscriptionsAlmost all teas are organic ConsClunky process for customizing boxesPreferences not stored Tea Runners strives to provide its customers with the highest quality teas on a schedule that fits their needs. With four different boxes—Original, Pure Tea, All Black Tea, and Herbal—customers can select and customize a monthly shipment that suits their preferences. The Pure Tea Box is just that: no blended, flavored, or herbal teas. The Herbal Tea Box includes caffeine-free herbal teas. Switching your initial box selection is easy to do on the sleek website. Customers rave about the beautiful packaging and the quality and freshness of the teas. Gift subscriptions are also available, and though gift recipients can’t customize their first box (since it’s a surprise), they can customize subsequent shipments. The cost for the Original, All Black Tea, and Herbal boxes is between $22 to $ 26 per month, while the Pure Tea box is $24 to $30 per month.Discounts are applied to customers who commit to three-, six- and 12-months’ worth of shipments. Shipping is free to U.S. and Canadian addresses, while international destinations are $8. ProsRare, single-origin blends availableDetails about each included on packaging ConsRare blends come in small quantitiesNo customization As the leading seller of organic and specialty teas, Art of Tea’s monthly tea subscriptions bring teas of the world to you. With three-, six-, or 12-month subscriptions, you can choose how long you commit to receiving your boxes. Besides the classics, it offers caffeine-free, exotic, and purer (single-origin) boxes, which can suit many preferences. The website is full of information in the form of tea recipes, educational articles on the history and culture of tea, and the option to host virtual tea parties. Three-month subscriptions are almost $75, six-month subscriptions are about $120, and 12-month subscriptions are over $230. Art of Tea ships to the U.S. and its territories. The one drawback worth noting is that the rare, single-origin blends included in the Single Origin box come in 2-ounce sizes versus 4 ounces for other teas. Pros:Tea is organic and veganCompany gives to charity ConsMonth-to-month is the only option Tea Drops is a woman-owned U.S. company that has become a popular brand among both novice and experienced tea drinkers. It supports fair-trade, organic harvesting, and sells certified kosher teas. What’s novel about this tea brand is the obvious lack of bags. The fiber-rich tea leaves are pressed into a teardrop shape for dissolving in hot water, much like a bath bomb. The result is a more fiber-filled cup of tea, which is better for the planet. Monthly subscription boxes ($25) are shipped free and include free gifts and bonus self-care interviews, as well as DIY challenges. The online store also sells gifts, unsweetened teas, lattes, boba, and kits, some of which are included in the subscription boxes. The company also gives back: For every purchase, no matter the size, it provides one year of clean water through the Thirst Project, which works to supply clean water to the developing world.
How Do Tea Subscription Boxes Work?
Tea companies usually select a premade blend of caffeinated, herbal (usually caffeine-free), or a combination of the two to ship out in packages to subscribers at least once a month. With some companies, you’re asked to submit preferences for which teas you prefer, and they tailor your package to suit your tastes.
How Much Do Tea Subscription Boxes Cost?
Based on our research, a monthly tea subscription box will cost an average of $23 per month, which means your cup of afternoon tea will cost about 50 cents when using our list of tea companies.
Are Tea Subscription Boxes Worth It?
If you’re a fan of exploring new teas but not a fan of traveling the world to find them, tea subscription boxes are most definitely worth it. Everything you need to brew a comforting mug of tea is shipped right to your door. You won’t even have to change out of your fuzzy slippers.
