The Republic of Tea Honey Ginseng Green Tea

It genuinely tastes sweet without adding anything! Multiple reviewers specifically mention being surprised that it's naturally sweet enough on its own. The honey fragrance is incredibly aromatic—it literally fills the room when you brew it—and that sweetness carries through to the flavor. If you're someone who usually needs to sweeten your tea, you'll likely find this one doesn't need it.

This is actually a great green tea for people who struggle with traditional green tea flavor. Several reviewers mention that it 'barely tastes like green tea' and that the honey and ginseng completely mask that characteristic grassy flavor. The dominant notes are honey sweetness and floral ginseng rather than the typical green tea base. If you steep it longer, you'll get more of the green tea coming through, but at normal steep times it's much more approachable.

The ginseng brings a complex, pungent floral note that makes this more interesting than a simple honey tea. Reviewers describe it as having 'sweet flower' characteristics with that distinctive ginseng earthiness. It's not overpowering, but it definitely adds depth and a slightly sophisticated edge to the honey sweetness. The combination creates a smooth, aromatic cup that's sweet but not one-dimensional.

Temperature control is key here—this tea has a sweet spot around 190°F. One reviewer specifically mentioned that water that's too hot can scald it and bring out bitterness. Since it's naturally sweet and floral, you want to preserve those delicate notes rather than extract harsher compounds. If you don't have a temperature-controlled kettle, let your boiling water sit for about a minute before pouring. The tea is forgiving overall, but that temperature tip makes a noticeable difference.

The tin packaging issues are definitely real—several reviewers mention dented or crushed tins, and some report packages arriving unsealed. However, the good news is that the tea bags inside are individually wrapped, so the tea quality itself isn't compromised. The tin is beautiful when it arrives intact, but if packaging appearance is critical to you (say, for a gift), you might want to factor in that shipping damage is fairly common with this product.

It works beautifully for both! For beginners, it's extremely approachable—the sweet honey flavor masks the challenging aspects of green tea, and it's hard to mess up. You don't need precise technique to get a good cup. For enthusiasts, there's more to explore: the ginseng adds complexity, it rewards temperature precision, and several reviewers mention blending it with other teas for custom combinations. The long steep time also reveals more of the green tea base if you want that traditional character.