Starting 2023 with an uplifting, refreshing and cleansing tea sounds like a brilliant idea. So, here is my review of Clipper Peppermint Tea. This organic herbal brew is packaged in unbleached paper. However, instead of using traditional plastic to seal the edges of the teabag, clipper use a plant-derived plastic – you can learn more about this in my article Tea Brands Who Use Plastic-Free Tea Bags.
With the packaging set aside, let’s take a closer look at the flavour of this delicious tea. Below you can find my tasting notes, instructions for brewing, and links to purchase this tea on Amazon. As an affiliate, I may earn a little bit of commission if you make a purchase, but it’s at no additional cost to you. It helps us keep the blog running!
Clipper Organic Peppermint Tea at a Glance
- Ingredients: Organic, Fairtrade peppermint
- Flavour: Mild peppermint menthol notes on an herbaceous body
This tea balances minty notes with a strong herbaceous body. It also has a hint of bitterness and isn’t as sweet or fresh as other peppermint teas I have reviewed. It’s okay, but nothing special.
Full Review – Clipper Peppermint Teabags
- Type: Tagged paper teabag
- Ingredients: Peppermint leaf
- Health Benefits: Balance hormones, treat IBS, improve memory
- Flavour Notes: Mild menthol, herby, astringent
- Aroma: Menthol, dusty herbs, bright, sweet
- Milk or Lemon: Lemon and/or sugar to taste
- Where to Buy: Amazon, Clipper, or UK supermarkets
My review of Clipper Peppermint Tea starts with a single, individually wrapped teabag that I pilfered from a hotel room not too long ago. Ripping it open, the aroma coming from the dried teabag isn’t all that great. Yes, you can definitely detect the unmistakable aroma of menthol from the peppermint leaves, but it’s also distinctively herby too. That generic, slightly dusty, herbal note really ruins the brightness of the mint.
Once brewed into a brown-green colour that reminds me of pond water, the aroma sweetens nicely. The sweet, minty note permeates the air and is balanced more elegantly with the herbal base notes.
Following suit with the aromas, the flavour of this tea is a balance between fresh and minty, against herby and astringent. The tea has a surprising body to it, despite just being made of a single ingredient. While you can definitely taste the menthol, it isn’t as bright as I’d like. The texture of the tea has a smooth and mellow sensation with mid-thickness from the water.
Overall, this tea is pleasant and drinkable. However, as a peppermint infusion, it really lacks the oomph and brightness that I expect. Fresh peppermint tea beats this dried version, easily.
How to Brew Clipper Peppermint Tea
As with most herbal teas, you don’t need to worry about tea temperature or brewing times too much. Just let the kettle boil and pour water directly over the teabag. Clipper recommend 250ml of water, which is a large teacup or average mug, and letting it brew for 2 to 5 minutes.
I like my tea quite gentle, so I only brew for 2 minutes. However, you can brew for 5 minutes or even longer – it will only strengthen the flavours.
Adding a slice of lemon can bring some pleasant acidity to the mix, along with a touch of sugar or honey to sweeten it. This would make the cup a soothing cold remedy or just a comforting evening beverage.
Why Clipper Teas?
Clipper are a British tea company that has a wide range of caffeinated and herbal blends. The Clipper Peppermint Tea is one of their organic infusions and it certified by both the Soil Association for organic farming and Fairtrade for paying tea farmers fairly. You can also see the ‘Certified B Corporation’ symbol on their packaging too.
The packaging itself is entirely paper and plant-based, though I feel that the outer paper envelope could do with being a bit thicker. Perhaps this would help the tea stay fresher and minty for longer. You can see from my photos that the tea leaf inside the teabag is finely chopped and dusty – you wouldn’t be able to tell it apart from any other supermarket peppermint tea if all the packaging and labels were removed. So, it’s nothing special.
Peppermint Tea Health Benefits
As I have covered extensively in my Guide to Peppermint Infusions, peppermint leaves have been linked to a few different studies showing their health benefits. Typically, you would need to use an extracted peppermint solution in laboratory settings to really see any of these health benefits, but it’s good to know that your simple cup of peppermint tea could be helping a little too.
Besides clearing your nose and freshening up your palate, peppermint could be:
- Beneficial for balancing hormones, as it can reduce testosterone levels,
- A treatment for IBS and soothing for digestive issues,
- Good for your short-term memory, alertness, and cognition.
Summary
Overall, this tea is tasty and drinkable. It might not be as fresh and verdant as other peppermint teas that I have sampled, but I still had no trouble finishing my cup. If you are looking for an ethical, organic and Fairtrade tea above all else, then Clipper are a fantastic brand to explore.
Although widely available in supermarkets across the UK, you can also find Clipper teas sold on Amazon for delivery to your doorstep.
Tea-Ware Recommendation
Whether you are brewing up a whole pot of tea to share with friends and family, or just enjoying a single mug of peppermint tea in the evening before bed, you can find new tea-ware to drink from in our shop at Immortal Wordsmith!