All of the teas reviewed here are sold in tea bags for brewing; none are loose, canned, or bottled teas.

- "Constant Comment" Decaffeinated: Contains black tea, orange rind, natural flavoring, and sweet spice. Package states that it is "Gluten Free" and made in the U.S.A. It should be steeped for three to five minutes. Inside the box, the teabags come in sealed foil packets and have staples, strings, and tags. The sealed packets make it easy to bring one or two bags during travel. Not sure what the name of this means, but it tastes good.

CELESTIAL SEASONINGS

- Mint Magic Herbal: No caffeine, all natural, gluten free. Contains spearmint, roasted chicory, peppermint, orange peel, and cinnamon. It comes in recycled boxes and the tea bags have no strings, staples, tags, or extra wrappers, which reduces waste and conserves paper. A single wax paper bag holds all of the tea bags. The box suggests making hot or iced tea and steeping for about four to six minutes. Environment-friendly and good tasting.

- Decaffeinated Green Tea: All natural, only 5 mg of caffeine in an eight-ounce cup. Like the above-mentioned mint tea, it comes in a recycled box and the bags do not have staples, tags, strings, or individual wrappers. Recommends steeping time of five minutes and suggests using a sweetener or lemon, but no milk/cream. It can also be made into iced tea. The box describes health benefits of green teas, pointing out that they're a source of antioxidants. Tastes good.

CHESTNUT CREEK

- English Breakfast Tea: Contains black tea. The bags are individually wrapped in paper packets, which are sealed inside a plastic bag within the box. They each have a string and tag, but no staple. The small box containing five bags reads "Packed in China" and "Houston Harvest Gift Products, LLC" (Franklin Park, IL). The English Breakfast Tea is somewhat bland without a sweetener, but is fairly enjoyable with Stevia extract added.

LIPTON

- 100% Natural Tea: Caffeinated, low cost tea containing pekoe cut black tea and orange pekoe. Also contains a small amount of potassium in each bag (25 mg), as well as 175 mg of antioxidants. "No additives, preservatives, or colorings". The box recommends a steeping time of two to five minutes. It can be made hot or iced. Each bag is individually wrapped in a paper packet. It is not as flavorful as some, but good with sweetener and/or creamer added.

NATIVE AMERICAN HERBAL TEA

- Good Medicine: Natural, no caffeine. Recommends steeping for three to five minutes, as do many teas. "No artificial color, flavoring, or preservatives". Contains rosemary, ginseng leaf, spearmint, eucalyptus leaves, and other ingredients. All of the bags are in a single plastic bag inside the box. Like the Celestial Seasonings teas, the bags do not have staples, tags, packets, or strings. Good taste, better than average.

REDCO FOODS

- Red Rose Naturally Decaffeinated: For iced or hot tea. Recommended steeping time of three to five minutes. The box recommends using milk, lemon, or sugar. Comes in individual paper packets within the box. Tastes good.

TRADITIONAL MEDICINALS

- Organic Nettle Leaf: Comes in a recycled box. Recommends longer than usual steeping time (ten minutes). Individually wrapped in paper packets. Available at some health food stores. It contains 2,000 mg of nettle leaf per bag. The box states that a few mild side-effects are possible "in sensitive individuals". It is not recommended for "children under 12" and diabetics should contact a doctor before drinking it. The name doesn't sound particularly enticing, but it tastes quite good with sweetener.

- Throat Coat: "Supports throat health". Contains slippery elm bark, licorice, fennel seed, and orange peel, among others. Small amount of potassium (10 mg). Sold in a recycled box. The box suggests a rather long steep time (10 to 15 minutes or longer). The bags come in paper packets with instructions on them. Each tea bag has a staple, string, and tag. This tea tastes good and is fairly sweet, even without any sweetener.

STASH

- Premium Pomegranate Raspberry Green Tea: "100% natural ingredients". Contains hibiscus flowers, Japanese matcha, orange peel, citric acid, pomegranate flavor, raspberry flavor, and green tea. Individual sealed foil packets hold each bag. Good taste.