Wednesday, May 18, 2016

About those Twinings tea samples …

Well, I hardly know what to say about this! Some weeks ago, I shared here a link to an offer I'd seen online to request three free samples of Twinings teas. I'd done so before with happy results, and I was eager to claim three more freebies. But in what is surely a first for this blog (and, I hope, a last), I didn't like any of them! Why?

The Pumpkin Spice Chai tasted musty and old. I'm used to a brisk, robust pumpkin flavor like the Harney and Sons Pumpkin Spice Tea, and this Twinings blend isn't even in the competition. I wondered if it was just an old tea bag.

The Jasmine Green Tea would surely be better. Meh. It was just a so-so green tea, drinkable, but with scant jasmine flavor. Nope.

Finally, surely, surely I would like the Organic Camomile with Mint and Lemon, right? But no, this just tasted like plain old chamomile tea, with maybe a teeny tiny bit of mint but no lemon flavor. And I had expected I'd love this one!

Are my tastebuds off? I think not, because I drank other teas that day that I enjoyed (including tea from a fresh box of a Twinings berry blend), just not any of these samples. Have any of you received yours? Did they taste old? I don't think I've ever said a negative word about Twinings, but I have to say these new samples left me wanting!

10 comments:

  1. What a disappointment! I can't remember which three teas I selected. Hope I have better results when mine arrive!

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  2. I got my samples but have not tried them yet - will let you know how they taste - but I'm sorry your samples were disappointing.

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  3. I haven't even gotten mine yet -- it's funny, I thought about that the other day and decided they'd just not sent them. Maybe there's still hope? I'm sorry yours wasn't great tasting!

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  4. The only Twinings I drink fairly regularly is their Earl Grey - and even lately haven't been. I haven't had any bad ones, but I am sorely disappointed you had a bad run. That's not good - not good at all.

    They need to step up - there some really amazing tea companies out there. Yikes.



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  5. I had a lot of problems with the website when selecting my samples so I'm not even holding my breath that they will ever arrive. Too bad you didn't enjoy your samples.

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  6. Since I am not a tea expert I thought maybe it was just me that did not like 2 of the 3 teas I received from Twinings. I received the 3 samples several weeks ago and immediately tried the chai (can't remember which one) and did not enjoy it and thought it was just my opinion. I do not remember what the second tea was, however, it was just ok. I had the green tea (plain) left and just tried it. This one also is nothing great. So, maybe my tea tasting is more sophisticated than I thought and know it does not compare to our dear expert Angela. Two out of three tea samples are a a "NO" for me. I really appreciate the opportunity to sample new tea and hope other companies or even Twinings will share this offer again.

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  7. I agree with you about the pumpkin chai. For some reason I received 2 samples of it. I've forgotten which I requested. The first time I tried it plain and did not like it at all. The second time I tried the pumpkin chai I put milk in it. It was much better.

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  8. My son and I both signed up for the free samples and haven't seen hide nor hair of them yet. Sorry to hear yours were such a disappointment.

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  9. I requested samples the time before this one and never received them, so I didn't bother trying again when you mentioned it this last time. I tried a Twinings many years ago and wasn't thrilled with it then and have since pretty much placed them in the same category as Bigelow. Thankfully, I've found enough great teas that I can do without Twinings on my pantry shelf.

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  10. My samples came several weeks ago. The odd thing about them is that I'm pretty sure they are not the flavors I ordered. One was the Christmas tea which I have purchased before, and I'm certain I would not have chosen that as one of my samples. I don't think the other two flavors are ones I would have chosen, either.

    I do thank you, though, for sharing this offer and I will probably try again if it is available again at some point. Free is always good! If, like me, you tuck teabags into letters or cards, these samples could always be put to use that way.

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