We Are Tea - Review*

Anyone that knows me well or reads my blog knows that I am a lover of all different kinds of tea. Whether that be black tea, earl grey or green – I am happy to try any new flavours that I come across. I was recently contacted by a brand called We Are Tea, who asked me if I wanted to try out some of their teas, of course I was happy to oblige.

We Are Tea are an independent award winning tea company based in Ladbroke Grove. This ethical company was set up by a husband and wife team Spence and Suzy. Their philosophy is simple, to ethically source exceptional whole leaf teas and hand pack them here in the UK. They focus on design, innovation and collaborations to bring their tea to a new range of people. They even created a bespoke blend for their chari-tea partner, Contact the Elderly. 

I was lucky enough to receive some boxes of Sencha Green Tea and Earl Grey Supreme Black Tea. These boxes of 15 are a reasonable £2.99 each. I love green tea so I was keen to try this one out first. I was really impressed by the quality of the teabag for a start which is made from biodegradable corn starch, and this brewed up like a dream. You can also buy this in loose leaf if you prefer. The Green Tea is full of super antioxidants so you feel really good drinking this. It's smooth and has a delicious flavour to it. This green leaf from the Anhui Province of Eastern China is a store-cupboard essential in my opinion. 

I also received a few different samples so it would have been rude not to try them out. The Sleep Super Tea intrigued me the most and as I sometimes have trouble falling asleep I thought I would give this one a go. This ultimate night time blend contains chamomile, lavender, rose and holy basil. Combined, all of these ingredients are the perfect combination for a great nights sleep. I felt calm and relaxed after drinking this and it even helped to aid my digestion so I could sleep comfortably. I also found the chamomile and peppermint teas were great ones to have before bed as well as I felt relaxed and calm. There isn't anything a good brew can't fix.

Finally, I tried out the Earl Grey Supreme Black tea, which also comes in loose form if you prefer. The aroma is gorgeous, I love Earl Grey and this one from We are Tea did not disappoint. It has actually received 4 great taste awards so you know it's going to be tasty. Milk is optional but I prefer to take this tea black, and really appreciate all of the amazing flavours such as Keemun, Darjeeling, Ceylon & Assam.

If you’d like more information, or to try some of these teas for yourself then please head over to the We Are Tea website. They offer free UK delivery on orders over £20. In addition to independent retailers, find these teas in Morrison’s, Holland & Barret and Ocado.

If you're a tea lover, or know someone who is then I highly recommend this brand. The boxes would be ideal for hampers or stocking fillers this Christmas. I also enjoyed taking the Tea Consultation to see which tea would suit me best, so feel free to find out what your perfect tea would be!

*I received these items in exchange for review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Holland and Barrett Dr. Organic Haul*

I was recently sent some more Holland and Barrett goodies from the Dr Organic range and after trying them out for a few weeks now, I thought I would share with you my recommendations. Dr Organic is a brand I have used before and I have tried many small sachet samples however I have never previously received full sized products. 

Dr Organic Raw Virgin Virgin Coconut Oil

The first item I saw was this coconut oil and being a massive fan I was so chuffed with such a large jar! Coconut oil is so versatile in that it can be used for cooking, baking, in smoothies and on your skin and hair. This Dr Organic one is unrefined and cholesterol free. There is nothing artificial here and it’s suitable for vegans too. As I was having my nails done for my holiday, I used the coconut oil just to soften and strengthen them ready for the acrylics and this oil really did a good job of that.

Dr Organic Manuka Honey Rescue Cream - 50ml -RRP £8.99

This Manuka honey cream can be used day and night, whenever you feel you need a top up. This cream is safe to use on sun exposed skin, sensitive or irritated skin. For that reason, it's great in the summer and the winter. This cream really did leave my skin feeling soft and absorbes fast so you aren't left with that tacky feeling. This is something I would definitely use again and for the price it's a pretty decent sized pot. A little can go a long way.

Dr Organic Virgin Olive Oil Face Mask - 125ml - RRP £6.49
I probably don't used face masks as often as I should so when I got this one, I wanted to make it a part of my daily routine. This mask is very hydrating and leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft. This is a clay based formula and aims to draw out oil from your pores. It leaves your skin feeling toned. The texture is nice and the mask rinses off easily which is something I always look out for in a face mask. I'd reccomend this to anyone that wants to control oily skin.

Dr Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Moisture Melt Body Oil - 90g - RRP £9.59

This body oil is amazing. This treatment is based on organic virgin coconut oil, and smells just like it. The texture is like coconut oil too and is soild at room temperature. To use this product, I submerge the bottle into warm water until some of it has liquefied and then pour onto the skin. This is best used after a shower or a bath and makes my skin feel amazing. The oil soaks in beautifully and doesn’t leave any residue. It has a really lovely scent which is based on coconut oil with gardenia flowers, papaya seed oil, mango butter, cocoa butter, orange fruit extract, bergamot fruit oil, lemon peel oil and added vitamin E. The product comes in a glass bottle too which makes this feel even more luxurious and is good for dry areas such as the elbows and knees. A little goes a long way with this so I think it will really last and I will most likely repurchase.

Dr Organic Hemp Oil Rescue & Restore Hair & Scalp Treatment - 150ml - RRP £14.99

This product is really easy to use and is described as an energising treatment mousse based on organic Hemp Oil. This product aims to increase hair density and stimulate healthy hair growth, With a mousse like texture, this product is best used on wet hair before styling. The product is light and made from natural and organic ingredients. My hair is already rather thick so I passed this onto the other half to use. The result is thicker hair that feels healthy and energised. 

*I received these items free of charge.

Luxury Fairtrade and Organic Chocolate from Chocolate and Love*

The one thing I enjoy more than any other sweet treat is chocolate. I like all different kinds of chocolate so when I was offered the chance to review a brand I’d never heard of before, Chocolate and Love, I said of course! How could I resist?

Chocolate and Love is a luxury Fairtrade, organic chocolate brand set up by husband and wife team Richard and Brigitte O’Conner. The collection includes seven different flavours so you can indulge every day of the week! The flavours include Coffee, Creamy Dark, Rich Dark, Mint, Orange, Panama and the popular Sea Salt and Caramel. Ingredients include cacao sourced directly from Peru, The Dominican Republic and Panama, cane sugar from Paraguay and Costa Rica, and bourbon vanilla from Madagascar.

I received four of the seven flavours in Sea Salt and Caramel, Panama, Orange and Rich Dark. Each bar has more cocoa and less sugar than most other bars on the market and has the added benefit of being gluten free, GMO free and contain no additives. Apart from the Creamy Dark and Sea Salt variants, the rest of the bars are also dairy free making them ideal for vegans.

Firstly I tried the Panama flavour, with single sourced cocoa from Panama (80%). This rich high percentage dark chocolate is very rich and incredibly smooth. I was surprised that this was not at all bitter considering the high cocoa content and very easy to consume.

The second bar, Sea Salt and Caramel was my absolute favourite of the lot. I love salted caramel and find that a lot of bars in supermarkets are either too salty or you cannot taste the salt at all. The caramel and salt in this bar was perfectly balanced and the combination between the sweet and the salt is absolutely divine. So far the company has won a staggering 15 awards for the range so far, this bar in particular has won Gold 1-star award in Great Taste Awards 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The third bar I tried was the Rich Dark flavour. This bar contains cocoa from Peru and The Dominican Republic (71%). It also contains refreshing hints of red berries naturally coming through the cocoa. I love dark chocolate and this one is delicious and something I would definitely reach for over other brands. The chocolatey finishing notes are welcoming and this does not leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth.

Finally I tried the Orange which really did not disappoint. Chocolate and orange is a delicious combination and the zesty flavour comes from natural cold pressed oil from real oranges. The flavours in this bar are well balanced and complement each other beautifully. I also thought I would mention the packaging which really did catch my eye. The designs are bespoke and hand painted, I think they are lovely and would make the perfect gift.

Chocolate and Love is available to buy in Whole Foods Market, Planet Organic and Amazon. The seven flavours will be launching in Sainsburys online and in store from the end of February.  Each 100g bar retails at £3.00. For more information head over to the Chocolate and Love website.

*I received these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.