I don’t drink coffee – not hardly ever. I just don’t enjoy the taste. Ryan drinks coffee – but it’s just not my cup of tea.
HA! I’m so funny cheesy.
Anywho.. the kind folks at BistroTea reached out to us a little while ago and asked if we would be interested in teaming up. There was only one obvious answer – heck yes! They sent us a BEAUTIFUL T-Bar 16 Set, set of Cups and several extra boxes of T-Pods to test out and review.
But what kind of review would this be without a GIVEAWAY! Oh yes – you’ve got that right! We’ve got prizes for FIVE lucky SaveaLoonians! Just read my review then enter for your chance to win! We’ve got 5 CASES of T-Pods to give away plus one lucky winner will ALSO receive The Cup (2pk)!
Design
The thing about BistroTea is it’s different from any other tea on the market. It’s not sold loose leaf or bagged – it’s in TPods! I’d be more inclined to call them sticks than pods (and probably will repeatedly throughout this review so I apologize in advance) but it makes, making tea a whole new experience.
Unlike traditional teas, the flavour & potency of your drink isn’t controlled by steeping but rather by stirring. The more you stir, the stronger your tea! The stir stick like design also eliminates the need for a spoon, just use your TPod to stir in your milk, honey or whatever!
BistroTea TPods contain premium Ceylon tea leaves harvested, selected & processed in Sri Lanka. Not to mention, the stunning handmade mahogany T-Bar boxes also come from Sri Lanka.
The Cup is handmade with double wall thermo glass to keep your hot drinks hot & your cold drinks cold! It is dishwasher, microwave & freezer safe.
My issue – it is too freaking small! When I have a cup of tea, I like a BIG cup, these are more like tea cup size. I do however, like it for the flavoured & herbal teas, which I tend to not drink as much of.
Does It Work?
Sure does! I have some pros and cons though, as should any complete review! I like the concept and the packaging a lot. I’m not such a fan of having to stir my tea for 3 – 5mins though. I’m a steep it and forget it kind of girl.
One of the other things I’ve noticed about the TPods is that they do have a tendency to leak out tea leaves. This can lead to a small pile of sediment in the bottom of your teacup. While this doesn’t bother me, it may bother some so I though I should mention it!
BistroTea also has some really great, unique flavours. They have green tea (lemon grass, peppermint & ginger), black tea (english breakfast, apple cinnamon & earl grey), red tea (vanilla peach, jasmine lotus & strawberry) & caffeine free tea (fruit berry & herbs n’ honey).
Durability
Each TPod comes individually packaged in a paper sleeve. These sleeves are great for keeping your TPod protected & fresh but also serve a dual purpose, for disposal. No more leaky tea bags. I have noticed though, once you put it back in the sleeve, you will want to discard right away because if not, the tea can leak through.
Another thing that’s cool about the TPods, the designer foil doesn’t absorb or dilute the natural flavours of the tea and is safe up to 121°C! Plus, aluminum is infinitely recyclable without loss of properties! Bistrotea TPods are produced from about 80% recycled or scrapped aluminum, thus minimizing the use of primary aluminum and consequent energy demand. That not only makes this tea super yum, it’s also environmentally friendly!
Dollar Value
Compared to Tetley or another bagged tea brand, BistroTea is expensive, but it’s not as expensive as some other options. Lets do a quick comparison, shall we..
Retail Price: $9.90
$9.90 / 16 = 62¢ per cup
Retail Price: $17.45
$17.45 / 24 = 73¢ per cup
Retail Price: $4.47
$4.47 / 72 = 6¢ per cup
Sorry Keurig, you lose. But what you must realize, is you are paying for quality & convenience! It’s pretty great being able to pull out a TPod and have yourself a warm cup of tea in minutes, all you need is hot water & a cup!
You can purchase BistroTea at Sobey’s, IGA, Longos & Yummy Market.
Now is your chance to try out Bistro Tea! We’ve got 5 Prizes to giveaway! 4 lucky SaveaLoonians will each win a FREE CASE (6 x 16 ct box) of BistroTea and 1 lucky Grand Prize winner will receive a FREE CASE + The Cup 2 pack!
CLICK HERE TO ENTER SAVEALOONIE’S BISTROTEA GIVEAWAY
You can also visit BistroTea on Facebook and enter their 100 Days of Giveaways!
The product reviewed was supplied by the company. No other compensation was received. The opinions in this review are my own and have not been influenced in any way.
