Last Updated on August 28, 2020
EDITOR’S NOTE: Read our roundup of fall-themed Trader Joe’s products here.
Aldi’s cousin, Trader Joe’s, always comes through with novel seasonal products. During the winter, there is Candy Cane Green Tea, and during the fall there is everything from Halloween cookies to pumpkin cinnamon rolls to pumpkin cereal bars. I enjoy holiday teas, so I looked forward to trying Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Herbal Blend Tea.
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Herbal Blend Tea was $3.99 at the time of publication for a 1.4-oz. tin containing 20 tea bags.
Ingredients are: redbush herbal blend (also known as rooibos), natural pumpkin flavor, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Herbal Blend Tea Ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)
To make tea, pour boiling water over a sachet and steep for 5 to 7 minutes.
The tea is kosher approved.
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Herbal Blend Tea has a mellow taste. None of the spices are that powerful, and it doesn’t have as strong of a pumpkin taste as some other seasonal teas I’ve had, so if you’re hesitant about pumpkin-flavored everything during the fall, this is a safe option to try.
The pumpkin tea I’m most familiar with is Celestial Seasonings Sweet Harvest Pumpkin, which is sweetened by stevia extract. In contrast, Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice tea does not have that sweet taste. It’s decidedly more of a “grownup” tea in that sense.
None of that is to say that the Trader Joe’s tea is bland. I like the flavor. It just doesn’t have the boldness or distinct pumpkin flair of some other fall-flavored foods.
It does contain natural flavor (pumpkin flavor, to be exact), which still includes chemical additives and is highly processed.
The Verdict:
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Herbal Blend Tea is a nice way to celebrate the season without going overboard on pumpkin spice flavoring. It makes a cozy, mellow drink. It would be even better if it didn’t have highly processed natural flavoring in it.
