Traveling Tea Box: In search of tea samples from companies

I’ll be starting another traveling tea box in August and I’m open to receiving tea samples from companies to include in the box. I’m putting the word out there now to allow for shipping time.

Here’s how traveling tea boxes work:

1. I fill up a box with a variety of teas and open signs ups to 10 people.
2. I will send off my box of tea to the first person on the list and they will sample whichever teas they want from the box, keep the ones they like, place tea from their personal collection into the box and send it to the second person on the list.
3. The second person will do the same and so on until the last person on the list returns the box to me.
4. Some people participate in the box simply to sample several teas at once, while others specifically seek out new teas to add to their cupboard.
5. Most people write tasting notes here on Steepster for every tea in the box that they taste (I certainly do) and we all typically follow each other’s notes throughout the duration of the traveling tea box.
6. Any samples left over at the end of the process are carried over into a new traveling tea box with a new set of people.

Here is a link to a traveling tea box that is going on right now if you want to get a better idea: http://steepster.com/discuss/7379-herbal-traveling-tea-box-the-voyage-has-begun?page=1

Many people (including myself) have learned about several new tea companies through participating in traveling tea boxes because it gives us the opportunity to taste teas from companies that we’ve never heard of or ordered from before. How many samples should you send? There will be 11 people participating, so 11 small samples is fine. One tea or several? That is for you to decide. Either is fine. Which tea should you send? The tea the best represent you as a company! This could be your most popular tea, or your favorite tea.

If you are interested in providing samples for my upcoming traveling tea box, please “follow” me so that you can send me a message. Also, please be aware that Steepster members participating in the box will be in the United States only.

54 Replies
Arshness said

Tea Companies: You know you want to do this!
I had never heard of half of you until I got in a samples traveling tea box and now I have like 13 tabs open to peruse teas from the companies that made the teas I liked from the box! You are advertising here!

Madametj!
Please let me be a part of the tea box.
You know I will write a tasting note on EVERYTHING> :)

lol you know I got you ;)
but to anyone else reading, sign ups aren’t officially open yet. I’ll start a thread when they are.

Arshness said

Yeah! >_< Sorry for being a butt and asking here.
I am just totally into the TTB thing!

Mandy said

I hear you on that! Especially the Tea at Sea tea I tried (I know you thought it tasted like seaweed but I lovedd it). Heck, even the teas that I see people trying in other ttb makes me want to make and order, even when I never tried them.

It doesn’t really seem like any companies are interested yet, but that’s ok :P

I agree completely! Being able to sample a tea makes me muchhh more likely to buy from a tea company. It gets me able to experiment and try things that I otherwise would not normally pick out— and then end up loving it!

Cheri select said

I would definitely like in on this when it starts. I love traveling tea boxes. I’ve found quite a few companies and teas that I have ordered from (or will order from, once I allow myself to buy tea again) just based on these.

I’m in! :)

Thanks, got your email! :)

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Hi Madametj,

We would like to contribute some of our teas to this traveling box. Can you provide me with more information of what is the traveling box and how does it work? How much samples is required?

Got the package today, thank you!

Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this. We really hope everyone who is participating in this traveling tea box enjoy our teas. :)

Arshness said

I look forward to trying them Persimmon Tree! :D

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Tea At Sea said

We are in. Can you provide some more info about the requirements?

There are no hard and fast requirements. You can send as little or much tea as you want. There will be 11 people (if I count myself) participating so it would be nice if there is enough for everyone, but there doesn’t have to be.

I’ve just updated the original post with a detailed list on how everything works (not sure if you saw it or not).

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Were the sign ups for this on another thread? I’m confused about the 11 people, or are those just the reserved slots?

Sign ups haven’t begun yet. The number 11 is just so that the companies know that me and 10 other people will be participating (in August).

Oh good! I so want to sign up and was worried I missed it. Will be stalking the forums extra hard in August then ;)

Dr Jim said

There are a lot of us doing so. May have to have a lottery.

Yes, there seems to be a lot of anticipating building. Luckily I’ve received positive feedback from enough companies that I MIGHT be able to do multiple boxes, if everyone follows through.

This might to be the most anticipated traveling tea box yet.

Just remember the little people who do the boxes even when companies aren’t supplying ;)

Those are never lacking in amusement :D

Marzipan I would never ever! ;)

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We would love to participate in this tea box! Madametj, we’ll send the samples out to you soon!

Thanks, PMed you!

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Ohhhh, this is getting so exciting! I love seeing these new-to-me tea companies! :]

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Oh of curiosity. For those of you interested in this box. Would you prefer a box that is heavily focused on one type of tea (i.e. a Green Tea TTB or a Black Tea TTB, etc) or one with a variety of all types? Would you do an all flavored teas TTB or, again, would you want the variety of flavored and unflavored?

Unless it is another entirely herbal/non-caffeine box, I tend to prefer a variety… this way it aids to my many tea moods:P tehe.

That’s a great question. I guess you could also do a couple of different ones, for example I’d be likely to sign up for a black one, but not a green one.

A variety is fine with me. That way it’s sure to have something for everyone. For instance, I tend to like straight black teas but I am also likely to try flavored blends. But I know some people prefer green teas.

I would be okay with a completely flavored or unflavored box if it went that way, though. :)

Thanks guys :)
I’d still like to hear more opinions!

Uniquity said

The only tea box I have considered signing up for was the recent unflavoured TTB. I drink mainly unflavoured blacks with some herbals and flavoured teas on occasion. I think a mix is generally the way to go though, especially given that you’ve already got samples from a couple companies for this one. Unless you do multiples, I guess.

Cheri select said

I like variety. I am willing to try different things.

Jude said

Great question! For my part, I’d love to try a variety of unflavored teas.

I am all about variety :)

I love the variety of the teas I have, but I have to stick with the herbals/caffeine free bit because of doctor’s orders :/
But I am a terrible person and I drink maybe a cup or two of a caffeinated tea haha

Kaylee said

I like the idea of separating flavored and unflavored teas. Smell contamination is a bummer. That said, I’d probably be more likely to sign up for a flavored box!

Dr Jim said

I loved the unflavored tea box, but variety has the advantage that everyone can find something they like. Also, I like the exposure to new flavors and types; one main reason to join tea boxes.

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I’ve been on and off steepster for the past couple months now and I just saw this thread! Definitely subscribing to this topic so I know when sign-ups happen :)

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I’m only waiting on one more package now, so I’m going to try to open up sign ups on Sunday. Just wanted to let those of you who are interested know it advance since some of you seemed kind of worried you’d get left out!

It’s going to be two nearly identical boxes so there will be 20 slots available. No, you can’t join both boxes :) I’ll be basing my selection on who is most active on Steepster and has already proved trustworthy with swaps and TTBs. I’m excited!! :)

Dr Jim said

You’re not the only one who is excited. It sounds great.

Kaylee said

So… what time on Sunday were you thinking?

Not sure. Probably early-mid afternoon. But like I said, there’s 20 slots and I’m not basing it completely on who comments first. Swap history/trustworthiness comes first for this one definitely.

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I am brand new here, but would love to be involved.

Sorry, but I’m asking newbies to join smaller swaps and wait until you’re a regular around here before joining a box like this. Welcome though! Always glad to see new people :)

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