When I ran the Haunted Magazine and American Hauntings Teas Giveaway I couldn’t help myself. I had to treat myself to one of the newsletter-subscriber prizes. Specifically, the American Hauntings Teas handmade tea box made from the wood of a haunted house.
Here’s the description of it from their site:
These rustic, handmade gift boxes are created using wood from a haunted house in Kansas, which was built in 1914. After it was torn down, we managed to secure a lot of the wood and have built these unique boxes. Each set comes with four hand-blown glass bottles, filled with 1.5 OZ of the teas of your choice.
I’ve been wanting something from an allegedly haunted place for a while now. I kicked around the idea of getting a haunted doll. (And I still might. I rather fancy the idea of getting one from Unsettling Toys.)
However, I’m a Virgo. If it’s practical, useful, and decorative all at once? Well, that’s what I call a trifecta of perfection.
Plus, I love tea and I loved the idea of having teas with paranormal names. So I treated myself to one of the American Hauntings Teas handmade haunted gift boxes for my birthday last month.
These were the four flavors that I picked to fill the handblown bottles:
- Bell Witch Blend – a raspberry-flavored black tea
- Ghosts of Gettysburg Green – a gunpowder green tea
- Hotel del Coronado Blend – a black tea with “orange notes and strong clove aromatics”
- Marie Laveau Magical Blend – a fruity tea with “flavors with hints of cinnamon, apricot, black currant, mango, rose hips, and oranges”
But what do I think about it now that I’ve got it? Am I’m glad I offered American Hauntings Teas as a prize? Would I recommend it to other tea lovers? Have I noticed any paranormal activity ever since welcoming the box into my home?
The Packaging
I don’t know why the label thrilled me right off the bat. It’s not like it’s super fancy or anything. Maybe because I knew what was inside? Something I had awaited with eager anticipation…
Which I didn’t have to wait for very long after placing the order, though. It arrived in my mailbox within days.
Everything was very well wrapped and protected inside too. Lots of newspapers protecting all the contents. Including the individual tea bags.
And each glass was not only wrapped in layers of paper, but also nestled inside of packet of bubble wrap.
The Teas
As I’ve already alluded to in the title, they’re delicious.
Although, to be fair, I’ve only so far tried the Hotel del blend.
So I guess it would be more accurate to asy they all smell great, but the Hotel del’s citrusy scent is the one that has appealed most to my nostrils every time I’ve made a cup of tea lately. It hits the spot and is a tasty way to start the day.
But I also ordered a couple of teas for friends. They come in a little bit different packaging. Bigger, because you get 3 ounces when you order individual flavors. The four teas you get with the handmade haunted wood box (or, rather, wood made from a house with alleged paranormal activity) are only 1.5 ounces. But actually, that’s a pretty perfect size for me. Enough to get at least a half dozen, if not a dozen, cups of tea out of.
The Box
It’s very rustic-looking but well made. The bottles fit absolutely perfectly inside it. Snug. I love the way it looks!
Paranormal Activity?
Did I invite any ghosts into my home by purchasing this box?
Not that I know of.
However, I am going to use it as one of the objects when I do The Haunting at Home game with my ghoulfriends, so I may have an update after that.
My Only Complaint
I was sort of hoping a story about the box would come with it. Maybe some info about the house or why it was thought to be haunted. What kind of activity did it have inside?
Plus, since this is American Hauntings and Troy Taylor, a.k.a. haunted storyteller extraordinaire, I figured he’d have included a small tale about the box’s haunted house origins and history.
But to be fair, that was just me hoping for something. Nowhere on the product description does it say more information about the house will be included. It never set any expectations like that.
Plus, it gives me a great excuse to bug him for another short interview. I had fun the first time and now want to know more about the origins of these boxes and let him know how much I’m enjoying my American Hauntings Teas purchases!
For More Info
Visit: https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/tea
Check-In
Are you a tea drinker? IF you are, do you prefer white, black, green, herb, or just any kind depending on your mood?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
I’m interested in knowing where the box came from too! I’m the Kansas native who asked about where the wood came from- we emailed back and forth a couple of times a few weeks ago. If you find out any more I hope you write another post about it! I’ve thrown the idea around of buying some at some point, I drink tea pretty often.
LOL- my husband had the same concern, wondering if the wood out of a haunted house would bring us spirit activity.
HI Rebecca!!! I’m so glad you saw this! I saved your email to write you back to tell you if there was info in the box, but…I don’t know where the heck I stashed it. Because you came first to mind when there was no more info. BUT if I get to talk to Troy and find anything more out, I’ll follow up with a post. And that’s funny about your hub. So far I haven’t noticed any activity, but I’ll also post any updates if that changes! lol