Plan Tea

Product Type:Tea: Sweetened; Container: 16 oz Glass
BevNET Review: As far as bottled white teas go, Plan Tea’s White Tea is a very drinkable offering. The USDA Organic and Fair Trade formulation is made with only four ingredients: water, white tea, honey, and citric acid. The resulting flavor is very light (36 calories per bottle) and straightforward. They’ve done a really nice job with this brew -- it definitely does not need a ton of sugar to be flavorful and refreshing. Critics will likely say that it isn’t sweet enough to have mass appeal, but it certainly has what it takes to do well in the health and natural channels. Packaging is simple, yet thoughtful, with text supplying most of the graphic treatment on the front of the bottle. The word “Plan” might not seem intuitive, but their intentions are quite ambitious: donate 5 percent of net sales to charity (in the case, Trickle Up and Pencils of Promise). While the overall look of the package is quite clean and has the vibe of a high quality product, the brand feels a bit sterile in its current rendition. With a bit more personality to it, we think consumers would have a better time latching on to PlanTea. Still, this is a very high quality bottle of tea and we’re pretty sure that consumers who do try it will come back for more. Reviewed on: 9/20/2011

Product Type:Tea: Sweetened; Container: 16 oz Glass
BevNET Review: Of the two black tea flavors that are a part of the PlanTea lineup, Black Tea Infused with Mint is the better of the two. Compared with its counterpart (“Black Tea”), this variety has a very similar formulation, but has added spearmint and a touch more honey (7g of sugars instead of 6g). Still, for having only 60 calories per 16 oz. bottle, the flavor is very complex and enjoyable. The tea, honey, and mint are all easily distinguishable from the mix, while still maintaining balance throughout. It’s hands down our favorite flavor of the PlanTea lineup. We’d say the same for this flavor’s packaging, which, with its black background and lime green lettering, is the most eye grabbing of the bunch. The darker color gives the product a little more edge than the more wholesome looking style of the other flavors. And, like the other flavors, there’s a big callout for the product’s “plan” of giving back 5 percent of net sales to charities. Unlike many other products that use charitable intentions to sell their product, PlanTea is one that we would actually consume regardless. Overall, a very well executed tea.Reviewed on: 9/20/2011

Product Type:Tea: Sweetened; Container: 16 oz Glass
BevNET Review: Plan Tea’s Green Tea has the strongest tea flavor of the ones that we sampled. It’s made with a USDA Organic and Fair Trade blend of water, green tea, honey, and citric acid -- the same format used by most of their other flavors. In this particular case, the green tea borders on being grassy, while the added honey provides a note of sweetness only at the drink’s finish. This is the only flavor where we feel that a little more sweetness would be a welcomed addition. In terms of the branding, we think this label, which uses two shades of green, is probably the most forgettable. Still, it’s not bad, it’s just that the other flavors catch your eye more so than this one. Overall, this is an enjoyable green tea, but it’s so simple in flavor that it risks being lumped together with some of the commoditzed offerings that make up the unsweetened green tea category. Reviewed on: 9/20/2011