Pique Tea offers a unique twist on traditional tea with their instant tea crystals, which dissolve easily in hot or cold water. Having long been an advocate for the many health benefits of drinking tea, I couldn’t resist trying their teas to see if the hype surrounding them was warranted. Thankfully, I was fortunate enough to receive a sampler pack from the company, and I’m excited to share my honest review of Pique Tea.
The brand offers a wide selection of teas, including black, green, caffeine-free herbal options, and even Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) mushroom elixirs. You can either purchase individual tea flavors or opt for a bundle collection for a bit of variety.
One of the bundles that caught my eye was the Gut Health Bundle, which includes the following flavors:
- English Breakfast (Black)
- Miss Grey (Black)
- Mint Sencha (Green)
- Jasmine Green
- Hibiscus Beauty Elixir (Jamaica/Roselle)
- Ginger Digestion Elixir (New addition)
I will dive into each of these flavors individually in the sections below. The primary focus of this bundle is on supporting gut health—an area of wellness I’m particularly passionate about in recent years.
What Are Pique Tea Crystals?
At first, I assumed Pique Tea Crystals were just a fancy term for instant tea. While they are technically instant tea, they are produced very differently from traditional instant coffee or tea. Most instant coffees are freeze-dried, but Pique Tea takes a much more sophisticated approach.
Instead of freeze-drying, Pique Tea starts with premium organic tea leaves and herbs, which are then cold-brewed for up to eight hours. This process gently extracts antioxidants and phytonutrients, creating a concentrated tea with up to 12 times the antioxidants of other teas. After cold brewing, the water is separated from the concentrate using pressure and low heat, creating the tea crystals that dissolve quickly in hot or cold water.
It’s an impressive and innovative process that enhances the flavor and potency of the tea, delivering a premium tea experience in an instant.
How to Use Pique Tea
Using Pique Tea couldn’t be easier. Simply dissolve the contents of one tea crystal pouch in 8 ounces of either hot or cold water, depending on the tea variety.
- Green tea varieties dissolve in both hot and cold water.
- Black and herbal teas, however, require hot water for optimal dissolution.
To enjoy these teas cold, I recommend dissolving the crystals in about 1 ounce of hot water, then filling the rest of the glass with cold water to make the tea refreshingly cool.
Caffeine Content in Pique Tea
Pique Tea makes it easy to understand the caffeine content in each flavor. Every tea package includes a 5-point scale that shows the level of caffeine, indicated by filled tea leaf symbols. The more leaves that are filled in, the higher the caffeine content.
Additionally, you can check the detailed caffeine content on Pique’s website, where each tea’s ingredients and nutritional information are listed. For example, the English Breakfast tea in my sampler has the following breakdown:
- Energizing Caffeine: Medium (31-37mg)
- Vitalizing Antioxidants: High (223-273mg)
- Calming L-theanine: High (11-14mg)
This specific tea has a moderate caffeine level, which is perfect for those who enjoy a balanced energy boost without the jitters that coffee can sometimes cause.
Pique Tea Flavor Reviews
English Breakfast (Black)
The English Breakfast Black tea was the first Pique Tea flavor I tried, and I was immediately impressed. The tea crystals dissolved in hot water almost instantly, and there was no need for stirring. I typically struggle with steeping black tea perfectly, often ending up with an over-brewed, bitter cup. However, the Pique English Breakfast tea was bold without being bitter, which made it a pleasure to drink even without milk.
These days, I primarily use this tea to make Iced Chai Tea Lattes—the strong but smooth flavor lends itself wonderfully to a spiced chai with a milky base.
Sacred Lily Oolong
Oolong tea is partially fermented, sitting between black and green tea. The Sacred Lily Oolong from Pique Tea is marked as having less caffeine (⅘), but I found the flavor to be quite bold and slightly bitter. To counteract this, I diluted the tea with more water than recommended, closer to 10-12 ounces. Once I made this adjustment, I enjoyed the tea much more. It’s best enjoyed hot.
Jasmine Green Tea
I was excited to try the Jasmine Green Tea due to its floral aroma, which immediately filled the kitchen as the tea brewed. However, the jasmine flavor turned out to be a bit too overwhelming for me, and the green tea was more bitter than I had anticipated. After experimenting with different water amounts, I found that using 12 ounces of hot water or 16 ounces of cold water helped mellow out the strong flavors, creating a more balanced cup.
Mint Green Sencha
This was my favorite of the green tea varieties I tried. The Mint Green Sencha has a lower caffeine level (⅗), making it a perfect afternoon pick-me-up. The green tea flavor is smooth and soothing, while the mint offers a refreshing, mild kick without overpowering the tea. Plus, it dissolves easily in both hot and cold water, making it a great option for on-the-go hydration.
Hibiscus Beauty Elixir
The Hibiscus Beauty Elixir is a caffeine-free option, perfect for evening relaxation or for sharing with my preschooler. The hibiscus flavor is floral and slightly tart, with a refreshing twist from the added mint. I enjoyed it most when iced—by dissolving the crystals in a small amount of hot water and then adding cold water and ice. It’s a refreshing beverage for hot summer days. However, the formulation has since changed, and it now includes licorice root, which I’m not particularly fond of, so I’m curious to try it again.
Earl Grey Black Tea
Earl Grey is one of my favorite black tea varieties, and Pique’s version did not disappoint. The flavor was bold without bitterness, and the refreshing bergamot notes made it the perfect midday energizer. I even used the Earl Grey tea crystals in my Earl Grey Cake recipe and gluten-free Earl Grey cupcakes, which turned out to be a huge success.
Benefits of Pique Tea Crystals
- Convenience: Pique Tea crystals dissolve instantly in hot or cold water, making it incredibly easy to prepare a perfectly brewed cup of tea on the go. The individual pouches are also ideal for carrying in your purse.
- Consistency: With Pique Tea, there’s no risk of oversteeping or bitterness. You can consistently enjoy the same great flavor every time.
- Energizing: Black and green tea options provide a gentle, natural energy boost without the jittery feeling that coffee can sometimes cause.
- Appetite-Suppressant: Pique Tea can be helpful for those practicing intermittent fasting, as it offers a flavorful beverage that helps suppress appetite during fasting periods.
- 100% Organic: Pique Tea takes great care in sourcing its ingredients from organic farms around the world. They also screen their products for pesticides, heavy metals, and mold, ensuring a safe and high-quality tea.
Cons of Pique Tea
- Price: Pique Tea can be more expensive than traditional tea bags or loose leaf tea. However, when you consider the convenience of having a perfectly brewed tea every time and the high-quality ingredients used, it might feel like a treat worth the investment.
- Flavor Preferences: While many people love the variety of flavors, not every flavor may be to your taste. If you have specific flavor preferences, some teas might be a bit strong or not quite the right fit for you. But the beauty is that you can always adjust the water ratio or add flavorings to suit your palate.
- Packaging: Each serving of Pique Tea comes individually wrapped, which is great for convenience and freshness. While it’s practical for on-the-go use, some might prefer less packaging for an eco-friendly option. However, it’s still more sustainable compared to disposable cups from coffee shops.
- Limited Flavor Options for Certain Preferences: Pique Tea’s selection includes mainly black, green, and herbal teas. If you’re looking for more variety, like fruit-infused teas, you might find the options a bit more limited.
- Caffeine Sensitivity: While the moderate caffeine levels are perfect for many, individuals sensitive to caffeine might need to be mindful of their intake, especially with the black teas.
Conclusion: Is Pique Tea Worth It?
Pique Tea offers a refreshing and innovative approach to traditional tea. With its cold-brew crystallization process, organic ingredients, and a focus on health benefits like gut health and energy, Pique Tea is certainly worth trying, especially if you’re looking for a quick, flavorful, and health-focused tea option. The convenience of the individual tea crystals makes it a great choice for busy individuals who don’t have the time to steep traditional tea.
While the price may be a little higher than typical tea bags, the quality, flavor, and health benefits make Pique Tea a worthwhile investment, especially for those who appreciate premium tea without the hassle of brewing. Whether you’re a seasoned tea drinker or someone looking to try something new, I highly recommend giving Pique Tea a try!
Where to Buy Pique Tea
You can purchase Pique Tea directly from their website. Be sure to use my special code SAVEFORME to receive 5% OFF your first order!
