Start Your Morning Right With the Best Tea Pods
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VitaCup Green Tea Pod -
Lipton Iced Tea Pod -
Twinings of London English Breakfast Tea Pod -
Tazo Bold Traditional Tea Pod -
Two Rivers Coffee Assorted Tea Pod -
Buyer's Guide
From sparking wars to lulling everyone into going all 'ahh' each time they sip it, tea can very well be called the most prestigious and culturally-rich beverage that the world has ever had the pleasure of drinking. It has a divine place in the hearts of many, and while most of us associate this drink with tea leaves and teabags, we are here to tell you about another way of brewing this exquisite drink. Say hello to the best tea pods in 2022.
On paper, a tea pod is quite similar to a tea bag. Both are made from filtered pouches that have been sealed with tea inside. The biggest difference is that you'll need a pod brewer to make tea, and each pod is typically designed for a single serving. The larger surface area of tea pods means that your tea will have a larger expanse to brew which allows it to give off a stronger and richer taste. Now, before the 'tea bag gang' goes all nuts at this information, let's kick off this article where we'll be teaching you all about tea pods and how to go about buying them.
Best Tea Pods Worth Considering in 2021
VitaCup Green Tea Pod - Best Overall
These green tea pods by VitaCup are enriched with a mixture of matcha, moringa, multiple vitamins such as B1, B5, B6, B9, B12, D3, and other antioxidants to kick start your day with an energy boost. They take the laziness out of you and ensure maximum productivity through the day along with a healthy functioning metabolism. These tea pods come in two size packages up to a quantity of 64 that works great with all Keurig brewing systems. VitaCup offers these tea pods in four different flavors: green tea, destress, genius, and slim. These tea pods are also formulated to be gluten-free, soy-free, BPA-free, keto-friendly, and paleo-friendly. On the flip side, the tea that it brews gives off a bitter aftertaste so you may need a sweetener.
- Contains a mixture of healthy vitamins
- A great energy boost
- Gluten-free formulation
- Has a bitter aftertaste
Lipton Iced Tea Pod - Runner Up
These caffeine-filled tea pods are made of pure black tea leaves that are designed to be sipped cold with no added sweeteners or flavor. Each pack includes 24 K-cup pods that are compatible with Keurig brewers. The Lipton iced tea pods come in both sweetened and unsweetened forms and you can enjoy this cold beverage in especially hot weather for a refreshing state of body and mind. The best part about these tea pods is that the iced tea they brew tastes super delicious and instantly boosts your immune system, metabolism, and helps you power through your day with renewed focus. Although it’s a bit high-priced, when you are getting the right ingredients with the right taste, it is all worth it, no?
- Made from pure black tea leaves
- Delicious taste
- No extra calories and sugar
- Slightly high-priced but definitely worth it
- Pods not designed to be recycled
Twinings of London English Breakfast Tea Pod - Honorable Mention
These tea pods are made out of all-natural ingredients with no extra sweeteners. The tea leaves are sourced from different regions of the world and blended to produce a fresh, aromatic, and rich flavor when brewed in any Keurig machine. They also include a little amount of caffeine to wake you up in the morning and perform actively all day long. Twinings of London company has formulated their tea pods in twenty-four great tasting flavors including English breakfast, green, chai latte, pure peppermint, lemon and ginger, and others. They come in eight sizes ranging from 10 to 72 K-cups in up to a pack of six. The only downside of these tea pods is their high price point.
- Contains all-natural ingredients
- Tastes awesome
- Includes little caffeine for an energy boost
- Relatively expensive
- Non-recyclable K-cups
Tazo Bold Traditional Tea Pod - Contender
The Tazo tea K-cup pods come in unsweetened form and are free of any artificial flavors or sweeteners. This is a strong full-bodied tea that enhances your focus and keeps the sluggishness away with the help of its caffeine content. It is formulated to be kosher-friendly and Non-GMO certified. You can sip it at any time of the day to reawaken your freshness. These tea pods can be brewed in all Keurig machines including the 2.0 Keurig brewers. Each box includes ranging from 12 to 22 K-cups. Furthermore, Tazo also offers three delicious flavors of this tea, Awake English Breakfast black tea, Zen green tea, and Classic chai latte, all of which provide a wholesome tea experience.
- Non-GMO formulation
- Works with all Keurig brewers
- Filled with caffeine content
- The K-cups are not compostable
Two Rivers Coffee Assorted Tea Pod - Also Consider
The Two Rivers tea pods box is filled with a variety of black tea, green tea, and herbal tea options, all of which are available in both caffeinated and decaf options. This is appealing because you can taste all flavors at once, and there’s a flavor made from every tea preference. However, they are unevenly distributed which can be a good or bad thing for you based on your tea preferences. The tea K-cups are designed to be recyclable and are suitable for all Keurig brewers. Two Rivers presents their tea K-cups in two size packages of 40 per pack and 100 per pack. When selecting a package option, keep in mind that some of the available varieties are actually coffee bundles instead of tea.
- Variety of tasty flavors
- Recyclable tea K-cups
- Affordable price point
- You may not appreciate the uneven assortment of flavors
- Be careful not to select coffee pods when ordering
Buyer's Guide
The not-so-fun part is the process of buying a tea pod that will help you concoct the tea of your dreams. So, to help you navigate the market for tea pods, here is a comprehensive buyer's guide.
What Should You Consider Before Buying Tea Pods?
So, we see you're in the market for a set of new tea pods but are unsure how to go about with the buying process. Well, here are two things that you should consider before everything else:
Flavor
From the earthy fumes of nutmeg tea to the bitter bliss of black tea. From the health that green tea promises to the refreshment that iced tea guarantees, the sky's the limit when it comes to the flavors that tea pods come in.
Our word of advice is to go crazy with the flavors. Try everything available and leave no stone unturned. You can start things off by reading through the customer reviews and shortlisting the flavors that seem to be the most liked. Then, you can go from there and develop and enhance your taste buds.
Quantity
The next thing that you must consider is the number of tea pods that you'll need. If you're simply looking to try out a new taste, a small batch of tea pods should be your best bet. However, if you're anything like us and drink tea religiously, why not buy the largest batch option? The best part about online shopping is that no one will judge you for going nuts with the amount!
What Should Your Tea Pod Be Made of?
When it comes to composition, you must break down your tea pod's ingredient list into two:
The Big Yes-es
You should say yes to ingredients that scream out health or flavor. Take our top-picked product, for example. The VitaCup tea pods not only include all the necessary goodies to brew up a rich and flavorful blend of different types of teas but also plenty of vitamins and nutrients that will help you get that nudge in the morning, and fortify your health in the long run.
The Big No's
It goes without saying but any sort of toxic chemicals or ingredients that will harm you should be a big NO when it comes to tea pods. If you're on a kosher diet, you must also say bye-bye to pods that contain non-kosher ingredients. Too much caffeine or artificial sweeteners should also be a big no.
How Much Do Tea Pods Normally Cost And Are They Worth Buying?
Are you seriously wondering whether tea pods are worth buying? Well, don't; if you've never tried a tea brewed from a tea capsule, you're missing out my friend. Most tea pods are also infused with added goodness in the form of nutrients and vitamins.
The extent of the ingredient's richness along with the number of tea leaves in it will obviously determine the tea pod's ultimate price. These price tags usually range from $0.50 to upwards of $2.00 per tea pod. Other factors that determine the tea pod's price include the brand name and the amount of tea pod servings. Packaging and rare flavors might also inflate the price.
It is worth noting that you'll also need to invest in a decent pod brewer to actually make the tea from the pod. Consider borrowing one from your next-door neighbor or friend if you're just trying out tea pods.
Buying Tips for the Best Tea Pods
Now that you know all about tea pods and their buying process, let's take you through these two tips that will help you set apart the best tea capsules from the not-so-best ones:
Brewing System
The tea made from a tea pod is brewed in a pod brewer. You simply load the machine up with fresh water, add a tea pod, and start the thing up. However, adding the tea pod part may not be so easy if the pod is incompatible with your brewing system. The easiest way to go about this is to check out the customer reviews or go for pods that are compatible with the most famous models of brewers.
Recyclability
Lastly, you must also make sure that your tea pods are made from recyclable materials. It's the twenty-first century, and no one likes people who don't care about the environment. We're about to go all cliche on you: A sustainable Earth means a sustainable you!
Tea Pod FAQ
Let's end things on a high note and answer any remaining queries about tea pods that you may still have:
Q: How do you use tea pods?
A: Tea pods are meant to be the more convenient cousin of teabags. All you need is a brewing system where you place the pod, along with some water. Start the machine up, and voila, you'll get a delicious cup of tea in mere minutes.
Q: What should I know before buying tea pods?
A: The first thing you need to know about tea pods is that they require a brewing system which you must buy separately. Next, you should decide on a flavor. If you're new to the game of tea-making, we recommend experimenting around with different flavors till you find the Juliet to your taste bud's Romeo.
It is worth buying a large batch once you've decided on a tea type and flavor. We also recommend going for pods that are made from recyclable materials and contain additional nutrients besides aromatic tea leaves.
Q: How much caffeine is in tea pods?
A: The amount of caffeine in tea pods varies from product to product. Firstly, the tea type determines the amount. Green tea contains the least amount of caffeine (usually 20-30 mg), while the amount of caffeine in black tea pods can go upwards of 50 mg.
A higher concentration of tea leaves inside the capsule will obviously inflate the Mgs of caffeine in it. You need not worry much, though. Humans can safely consume around 400 mg of caffeine in a day. However, you should stay safe and draw the line at 4 cups of tea.