14 Trader Joe's Teas, Ranked Worst To First
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Trader Joe's has a reputation that rings true: It's an enjoyable place to grocery shop, the staff are notoriously friendly, the deals are decent, and their products are unique. Instead of typical brands that you see at most other grocery stores, Trader Joe's sells distinctive products carrying the company's name that you won't find anywhere else. According to Trader Joe's website, every item they sell is "submitted to a rigorous tasting panel process" before making it to the store's shelves. And if it doesn't sell well, the product will be discontinued and replaced with something else.
While Trader Joe's may not be your number one go-to destination for high-quality tea — a local specialty tea shop likely has better options — the grocery chain's tea selection is still pretty up to snuff. Sometimes you just want a one-stop shopping experience instead of making multiple trips to get all your groceries. Due to Trader Joe's diligent high standards regarding their products, it's hard to find a tea for sale there that you absolutely can't drink. We rounded up the most popular Trader Joe's teas and ranked them worst to first.
14. Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Herbal Blend
There are only a couple of teas at Trader Joe's that are disappointing, and this is one of them. If you're truly a pumpkin spice fanatic, it might be worth your while to give this blend a go, but if you're not, then it's best to skip trying this tea. This herbal seasonal blend comes out during the "Pumpkin Spice Season," otherwise known as autumn. Rooibos is the base of this tea, and it's blended with natural pumpkin flavor, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The spices feel unbalanced, leaving a bitter and strongly lingering aftertaste in your mouth.
One customer on Influenster, Lisa F., shared that they would never buy this tea again because they tried making it every which way — hot, sweetened, and iced — and none of the versions tasted good. While some others gave the tea good ratings on Influenster, another stated that they weren't too impressed. And on a Reddit thread about Trader Joe's tea recommendations, one user shared that they hated the Pumpkin Spice Rooibos so much that they returned it. Another user agreed, stating: "Omg, that Pumpkin Spice Rooibos was sooo bad!"
13. Matcha Green Tea Latte Mix
Matcha green tea is lovely, and even more delicious when you mix it with milk and sweetener. The problem here is that Trader Joe's combined matcha green tea powder with other ingredients in an attempt to make an instant-latte powder mix, but it just comes up short. The first three ingredients are cane sugar, coconut oil, and maltodextrin — matcha green tea powder comes fourth on this list. As per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ingredients are listed on a label in order of their prevalence, which means that there's more sugar (and coconut oil and maltodextrin) than tea in this mix. And it shows. This tea is very, very sweet.
Other ingredients listed include milk powder and wheat flour, meaning this product is not gluten-free or dairy-free. In fact, the ingredient list contains at least 15 different things, which makes you wonder — why? A matcha latte is traditionally made by mixing matcha powder with some type of milk, dairy, or alternative. Maybe we're purists, but we prefer to make our own matcha latte the way we like it. According to a Reddit thread discussion about favorite types of Trader Joe's teas, one user stated that the matcha green tea latte mix was their least favorite tea, so much so that they ended up giving it away because they couldn't drink it.
12. Organic Earl Grey
Earl Grey is a classic, traditional tea, but for some, it's just not their cup of tea. Earl Grey is black tea with a hint of bergamot oil, which adds a touch of bold, citrusy orange flavor to the mix. The issue with Early Grey is that it's quite finicky — it needs to be brewed just right, otherwise it will not taste good. This means you need to follow the instructions exactly to ensure you make the drink properly and don't ruin your cup of tea.
According to the instructions, as per Trader Joe's, the tea bag should only be steeped for 3-5 minutes and then removed. You can drink it as is or add a sweetener like sugar or honey, or even mix in milk and vanilla to make it a London Fog. Or maybe you do as the British do and add a squeeze of lemon. The bergamot oil can taste very bitter if the tea bag is steeped for too long. However, individual results may vary. One disappointed Reddit user brewed their Earl Grey tea for only 3 minutes and it still tasted bitter.
Either way, Trader Joe's Early Grey tea received great reviews on Amazon — a total of 4.6 out of 5 stars. We also love that Trader Joe's version is organic. You might enjoy this tea as long as you're willing to experiment with brewing times to find a flavor profile you enjoy.
11. Organic Peppermint Tea
We love a simple, hot cup of herbal peppermint tea. It also tastes surprisingly refreshing when prepared iced for a hot summer day. We appreciate that Trader Joe's offers peppermint tea that is organic and only contains one single ingredient: Peppermint. This tea is great to have on hand for when your stomach is upset, since peppermint tea is known to help soothe digestive issues like gas, bloating, and indigestion (via Healthline). Trader Joe's peppermint tea tastes smooth and delicious, with a lovely minty aroma. It's a great comforting, caffeine-free herbal tea to enjoy before bedtime or any time of day.
Our main complaint is that it's not very strong. We often brew this tea using two tea bags to get the peppermint flavor we're looking for. One Amazon customer agreed, sharing that most other brands have about 2 or more grams of peppermint leaves per tea bag, however, Trader Joe's version only contains 1.6 grams — which is approximately 20% less.
10. Organic Blood Orange Rooibos Herbal Tea Blend
Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free and has an earthy, almost orange-like flavor. According to the Trader Joe's website, their Blood Orange Rooibos Herbal Tea Blend "plays to Rooibos's natural strengths," with the addition of hibiscus, rose hips, orange peel, and a touch of orange oil. This blend definitely gives the flavor of Rooibos a level up, with a tangy, tart, citrusy taste. The flavors are harmonious and not too strong, perfectly simple and subtle. As an added bonus, both hibiscus and rose hips have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities, and rose hips have high amounts of vitamin C, meaning this is an immune-boosting and healthy tea (via SF Gate).
There are not many negative reviews of this tea on Amazon, with many happy customers commenting that they love the flavor and that it tastes delicious and not bitter. One shopper even said they would be buying it "again and again!" And we are pleased to report that the flavor holds up whether it's prepared hot or iced, sweetened or not, and with or without milk.
9. Mango Black Tea
If you don't enjoy citrus flavors in your black tea, like in Early Grey, then why not try mango? Trader Joe's Mango Black Tea is obviously a customer favorite since it has been a staple in the store's tea section for almost an entire decade, as per Trader Joe's website. Black tea is the base of this blend, with the addition of natural flavors, blackberry leaves, hibiscus, and calendula flowers. The flavor profile is well-balanced, with a hint of mango flavoring but not an overpowering fruity taste.
This blend is a seasonal tea and is only available at select locations in the summertime. It's bright and energizing — the perfect beverage for a summer morning. It tastes great served hot, but it's even more tasty and refreshing when prepared as an iced tea. Take note: If you see this tea on Trader Joe's shelves, be sure to stock up before it's gone for the season.
8. Organic Moroccan Mint Green Tea
You really can't go wrong with the classic mint and green tea combination. In this delightful blend, Trader Joe's has mixed organic green tea with organic spearmint and organic lemongrass, resulting in a pleasant and refreshing Moroccan Mint Green Tea. According to Trader Joe's, the organic spearmint is sourced from the Pacific Northwest and the organic green tea from South India. Their website recommends adding organic sugar to the hot water along with the tea bag when brewing to make an authentic Moroccan-inspired sweetened tea.
This tea is tasty both warm and cold, and can be especially light and uplifting served with ice on a warm summer day. In a Reddit thread discussion over favorite Trader Joe's tea, one user said this tea was their top choice, with another user commenting, "Second this. The iced tea it makes is incredible. Add a little honey, it's good summer drinking."
7. Organic Pomegranate White Tea
This tea smells too good to be true. Trader Joe's Organic Pomegranate White Tea is a highly aromatic blend of white tea, hibiscus flowers, lemongrass, natural flavors, pomegranate extract, natural orange flavor, natural lemon flavor, and other natural flavors — all organic ingredients. Since white tea has a pretty light flavor profile, the other ingredients are the stars of this mix. At first sip, you'll notice the tart, tangy taste of the hibiscus, followed by the floral and fruity notes of the other ingredients. When brewed, the tea becomes a pretty pink color, which adds to the pleasant experience.
In a Reddit thread discussion about customers' favorite Trader Joe's tea blends, one user commented, "I'm a fan of the white pomegranate tea," which received at least 5 likes from other Reddit members. We also agree. It also gets high ratings from Amazon customers, with 4.7 out of 5 stars. This tea tastes lovely warm, but even better iced and with an added sweetener like honey to help cut the strong flavor of the hibiscus.
6. Original Irish Breakfast Tea
Another traditional tea, Trader Joe's Original Irish Breakfast Tea only contains one ingredient: Black tea. And Trader Joe's does this classic tea justice. Rich, full-bodied black tea with simple tea bags and no strings attached. They're also not individually wrapped, which is great for the environment and makes our lives easier when it comes to tea time.
On one Reddit thread inquiring about Trader Joe's tea recommendations, one buyer stated that Trader Joe's Irish Breakfast was the store's best value tea and that they like to pair it with cream and sugar. Another said their number one choice was the Irish tea, commenting that it is "strong, malty, and goes great with [Trader Joe's] soy milk." This tea also gets great reviews on Amazon, coming in at 4.7 out of 5 stars. Shoppers commented that the tea has a great taste, is the richest tasting tea they've found, and that they are "hooked." We are too.
5. Maple Espresso Black Tea Blend
Hold on to your seats — this tea is the best of both worlds, combining both the robust flavors of black tea and the warm spirit of espresso. Not only is the flavor on point, but this tea packs a punch in the caffeine department, too. Trader Joe's Maple Espresso Black Tea Blend contains both black tea and espresso coffee, as well as roasted chicory root, dandelion root, fenugreek seed, and natural flavors. This tea is dark, bold, full-bodied goodness. It's delicious hot or iced, with or without sweetener, on its own, or made as a latte with milk or a non-dairy alternative.
Trader Joe's Maple Espresso Black Tea is a comforting cup of tea to help carry you through the shifting of seasons. It's a seasonal blend that is only available in the fall, so snatch it up before it's too late. Be sure to get enough to get you through the winter months, too.
4. Harvest Blend Herbal Tea
Trader Joe's Harvest Blend Herbal Tea is a seasonal fall tea that really embodies the energy of autumn. According to the store's website, "this tea we developed foretells leaves falling, apple picking, wind whistling, and fire crackling." This tasty tea is an herbal blend of cinnamon, ginger, hibiscus, chamomile, roasted chicory, orange peel, natural cinnamon, and apple flavors with other natural flavors. It's a nice balance of sweet and spicy, warm and tangy. The smell and taste of this tea pair really nicely together.
Amazon shoppers rave about Trader Joe's Harvest Blend, calling it "yummy" and "the best tea ever," and describing it as both "comforting" and "delicious." In fact, one Amazon purchaser turned to the website because this tea is so popular at their local Trader Joe's that it sold out. It's naturally caffeine-free, so it can be enjoyed both day and night. We recommend brewing the Harvest Blend with a spoonful of honey and enjoying it warm on a brisk fall afternoon.
3. Spiced Chai
There are many versions of chai out there — some are epic, while others are epic failures. But Trader Joe's does a pretty decent job with their Spiced Chai blend. With black tea as the foundation, this mix also contains other traditional chai spices like cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, Chinese star anise, black pepper, and nutmeg. It also includes roasted chicory, vanilla bean, and natural flavors. One Reddit user writes, "Their chai is my favorite chai and I have been unable to recreate it with my own spices. I think it's the vanilla that makes it special!"
This tea tastes delicious with a little bit of added sweetener, like honey, and a splash of milk, whether it's dairy or alternative milk. Amazon customers also love this tea, with one commenting, "I love chai and have tried several, but hands down this is my favorite. Great thing is I get two good side servings with one tea bag! My absolute go-to!" It holds 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon with almost 600 customer reviews.
2. Winter Wake Up Tea
The smell of this tea alone will surely help you get out of bed in the morning. Aptly named Winter Wake Up Tea, this blend is a combination of black tea, cinnamon, orange peels, licorice, ginger, cloves, and natural flavors. Just pulling this tea out of the box will grace you with a lovely aroma of sweet cinnamon and licorice, followed by notes of citrus. The flavors blend well together and none are too overpowering, making each sip the perfect experience.
You definitely don't want to steep this tea over 5 minutes, as the taste of the licorice becomes overpowering the longer it steeps. Winter Wake Up Tea tastes delicious all on it's own, since the natural sweetness of licorice helps balance out the spiciness of the ginger. We recommend brewing this tea for 3-4 minutes, then adding a touch of oat milk, and drinking it warm on a cold winter morning. But honestly, you'll enjoy it on any morning, regardless of season. The Winter Wake Up Tea is our favorite Trader Joe's caffeinated tea, and it gets a whopping 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon, by the way.
1. Organic Ginger Turmeric Herbal Tea
Our favorite caffeine-free tea that Trader Joe's carries is the Organic Ginger Turmeric Herbal Tea. Trader Joe's took the traditional ginger tea and kicked it up a notch, adding a well-matched blend of other spices, including turmeric, licorice, orange peel, orange oil, and black pepper. We love that this tea doesn't contain the vague ingredient known as "natural flavors" — it is simply 100% herbs and all organic, too.
First of all, the smell and flavor of this tea are magnificent. Each ingredient plays well off the others — the sweetness of the licorice balances the spicy of the ginger, while the orange flavors compliment the musky taste of the turmeric. Plus, combining ginger and turmeric has potential health benefits. These two herbs have potent anti-inflammatory properties that can help with pain management and support the immune system. Ginger is also known to help reduce digestive upset and nausea (via Healthline).
This tea is flavorful and tastes great both hot and cold. Several Reddit users report that it is their all-time favorite Trader Joe's tea, with one user commenting, "This is by far the best tea Trader Joe's has. It's delish and super healthy. 10/10 recommend." We couldn't agree more.