United StatesOverview
There is no countdown here, just twelve packets and a free choice of order. Rishi Tea has imported tea from Milwaukee since 1997, and this Premium Loose Leaf Tea Collection is the house in miniature. Black tea gets four places: China Breakfast and Golden Yunnan from Yunnan, an Earl Grey scented with bergamot, and a Masala Chai on Assam with cardamom, cinnamon and ginger.
Green tea is represented by Jasmine Pearls, a Genmaicha with roasted rice and the Matcha Super Green blend, with Moonlight Jasmine alongside. Pu'er Ginger brings fermented earthiness with orange peel and lemongrass. Turmeric Ginger, Hibiscus Berry and Chamomile Medley close the set as herbals. The shop describes the box as brown and navy blue with gold lettering and black packets inside.
Rishi sells it as a tea-only box at $51, or together with a Simple Brew glass teapot, and ships free on orders above $60.
Taste & variety
Read the list like a syllabus. Two Yunnan blacks come side by side, China Breakfast (malty and bold) and Golden Yunnan (cocoa, honey, a little spice), which is a comparison most samplers never offer: one province, two characters. Earl Grey brings the bergamot, and the Masala Chai on Assam with cardamom, cinnamon and ginger is made for milk.
Among the greens, Jasmine Pearls are hand-rolled and scented with jasmine blossoms, Genmaicha adds roasted sticky rice, and Matcha Super Green leans on umami. Moonlight Jasmine has a honeyed texture. Pu'er Ginger, with orange peel and lemongrass, is the cup that will divide a household.
Turmeric Ginger, Hibiscus Berry and Chamomile Medley finish the set.
Packaging & gift appeal
The shop describes a brown and navy blue box with gold lettering and black packets inside, one for each tea. It is a quiet presentation, which suits a house that sells on provenance and organic certification (Rishi was among the first brands certified under the USDA National Organic Program, in 2002).
Nothing is numbered and nothing has a door. The box can go under the tree like any other present, and the recipient decides the pace. Twelve packets across the 24 days to Christmas Eve works out at one every second day, which is probably the right tempo for teas this varied.
What is in the box
Twelve packets of organic loose leaf tea: China Breakfast, Golden Yunnan, Earl Grey, Masala Chai, Jasmine Pearls, Matcha Super Green, Genmaicha, Moonlight Jasmine, Pu'er Ginger, Turmeric Ginger, Hibiscus Berry and Chamomile Medley. A Simple Brew teapot is available as an option.
Key features
- Twelve organic loose leaf teas, one packet of each
- Black, green, jasmine, pu'er and herbal in one box
- Brown and navy box with gold lettering, black packets inside
- Also sold with a Simple Brew glass teapot
Our verdict
Twelve organic teas that read like a short course in the Rishi catalogue, with two Yunnan blacks to taste against each other and a pu'er to argue about.
It is the present for the person who already owns a strainer and wants to be pushed a little. Add the teapot for anyone who has not.
What we like
- Twelve distinct teas, two of them Yunnan blacks to compare
- Organic, from a long-standing direct importer
- From pu'er to matcha to chamomile, the range runs wide
- A smart navy and gold box that needs little wrapping
A few things to know
- Loose leaf, so the recipient needs an infuser or the teapot option
- Pu'er Ginger will not suit every palate
- Nothing in the box counts days, so the ritual is the recipient's to invent
Questions about Rishi Tea Premium Loose Leaf Tea Collection
Is Rishi Tea Premium Loose Leaf Tea Collection organic?
The brand describes it as organic. The review repeats that from the box or the shop, and the certification is the thing to check on the listing before you buy.
