Trader Joe’s Organic Roasted Herbal Tea Coffee Alternative

My drinks of choice are usually plain water or hot tea. It’s rare that I drink anything else. And when it comes to tea, I often enjoy multiple cups per day. I start the day with a cup of black tea. Later, I might enjoy some jasmine green tea. In the afternoon or evening, I prefer herbal teas or other caffeine-free options.

I recently saw a special tea advertised in the latest Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer. (TJ’s is a distant cousin to Aldi.) It’s an organic roasted herbal tea that bills itself as a coffee alternative. It features carob, barley, and chicory, and it’s caffeine free. While I’m not an avid coffee drinker, I do like some coffee drinks. This tea looked intriguing, so I made a special trip to Trader Joe’s to pick it up.

We buy products to review using our own funds. I paid $3.99 for a 2.12-ounce box of Trader Joe’s Organic Roasted Herbal Tea. The box contains 10 tea bags, which comes out to about 40 cents per serving. That’s a bit more than some other types of tea bags, but this is a unique enough tea that the cost is well worth it. It’s also a lot less than a coffee shop drink.

The box states:

Made with a bold, aromatic blend of roasted carob, barley, and chicory, as well as a dark and fruity mix of dates and figs, each sip … is captivatingly rich and full-bodied — more akin to a coffee than an everyday cup of herbal tea. Its nutty and subtly sweet flavors make it well-suited for serving any time of day, hot or iced, with creamer or without. Try pairing it with sweet pastries, sharp cheeses, and stimulating conversation.

Ingredients are organic roasted carob, organic barley, organic chicory, organic dates, organic figs, and organic natural flavors. I wish this didn’t have natural flavors, but otherwise the ingredients list looks good.

If you’re looking out for allergens, this may contain almond.

It is vegan, kosher, caffeine-free, and USDA Organic.

The box has directions for brewing this tea. Before tearing open the envelope for a tea bag, shake it at the top. Pour 8 ounces of boiling water over a tea bag in a cup and steep for 3-5 minutes. Dunk the bag several times for the best brew. Use 2 tea bags for a stronger brew in a larger mug. Add milk, non-dairy milk, and/or sweetener as you prefer.

This tea claims to taste more like coffee than tea, and it does not disappoint. It has a dark color and a lovely, rich aroma that immediately reminds me of coffee. It tastes a lot like coffee, too. It doesn’t taste exactly like a cup of strong black coffee; I think it has a milder and more nuanced flavor, but the coffee vibes are definitely there.

This is good to drink as is, but I really like it with a splash of milk and a tiny bit of honey. If you like coffee, or if you enjoy a good cup of black tea, this is worth a try.

The Verdict:

Trader Joe’s Organic Roasted Herbal Tea features carob, barley, and chicory. It’s caffeine free, and it’s advertised as a coffee alternative. Best of all, it really does taste a lot like coffee. This is one of our favorite products currently at Trader Joe’s, and you can bet we’ll be heading back soon to buy more and stock up.