A bright, spiced cup that wakes up the everyday
Bigelow's Benefits Refresh blend takes the grassy depth of Japanese-style matcha green tea, folds in earthy turmeric, and finishes with a whisper of chili warmth. The result is a tea bag that tastes lively rather than heavy: a little vegetal, a little golden and rooty, with a gentle prickle on the back of the palate that keeps things interesting. If your usual brew has started to feel like background noise, this is the cup that pulls focus back without shouting.
It is built for daytime sipping that stays light and bright. Think of it as the mid-morning reset, the post-lunch pick-me-up, or the thing you reach for when plain leaves feel too quiet and a sugary drink feels like too much. Because it arrives in convenient bags, there is no whisking, no special bowl, and no clumping to fuss over — just drop, steep, and go, making it an easy addition to our wider tea collection.
Who this blend is really for
This one suits a few kinds of drinkers. People curious about a turmeric green tea but unsure where to start get an approachable, pre-portioned introduction. Busy professionals who want the flavour of matcha without the ritual of measuring out ceremonial-grade matcha powder get the convenience of a bag. And anyone who enjoys a touch of spice — that warm turmeric-and-chili note — will find this far more characterful than a standard plain green. It is also a friendly choice if you want a moderate caffeine lift that does not tip into the jittery territory of strong coffee. If the turmeric and chili sound like too much and you would rather start simpler, our Classic Green Tea is the plain, grassy baseline to compare it against.
What the flavour actually tastes like
The first thing you notice is the green: a clean, slightly grassy, almost sweet note from the matcha and green tea base. Underneath it sits turmeric, which reads as earthy, warm, and faintly peppery — the same golden character you find in a turmeric latte, but lighter and less creamy here. Then comes the signature twist: a small chili lift that hangs at the very end of the sip, more warmth than heat. It is the kind of finish that makes you take a second taste to figure out what it is.
Brewed at the recommended strength, the liquor is a soft yellow-green and the aroma leans toward fresh herbs with a hint of spice. It is savoury-adjacent rather than dessert-sweet, which is exactly why it pairs so well with food and why it works without any sugar at all. If you have tried a basic matcha green tea before and found it one-dimensional, the turmeric and chili here give it a backbone that keeps each mouthful from blurring into the last. For a floral rather than spiced take on green tea, our Jasmine Green Tea is a fragrant alternative worth keeping on the shelf alongside it.
How to brew it properly
Getting the most out of these bags is mostly about respecting the temperature. Green tea turns bitter when scalded, so this is not a boiling-water blend.
- Use one bag per cup — roughly 240 ml (about 8 oz) of water per bag.
- Heat water to 80 °C (176 °F), not a rolling boil. If you do not own a temperature kettle, boil the water and let it sit for two to three minutes before pouring.
- Steep for 2 to 3 minutes. Two minutes gives a lighter, brighter cup; three minutes pulls out more of the turmeric earthiness and a touch more chili warmth.
- Lift the bag out when the time is up. Leaving it in past the window is the most common cause of an astringent, overly grassy cup.
A quick tip: give the bag a couple of gentle dunks in the first minute to help the matcha and spices disperse, rather than squeezing it hard at the end, which can release bitterness. Cover the cup while it steeps if you want to keep the volatile aromatics in the water.
The 80 °C question, made simple
If precise temperatures sound fiddly, here is the shortcut: water reaches a full boil at 100 °C, and it cools roughly 10 degrees in the first 60 to 90 seconds off the heat. So a boil-then-rest of about two to three minutes lands you very close to the target range. That small pause is the single biggest upgrade you can make to a cup of this tea.
Ways to customise your cup
This blend is genuinely good plain, but it takes well to a few tweaks depending on your mood:
- A squeeze of lemon brightens the green notes and lifts the turmeric — a natural pairing, since citrus and turmeric flatter each other.
- A drizzle of honey rounds off the chili edge and turns it into a soothing, golden, throat-friendly cup, lovely on a cold Canada morning.
- A splash of milk or oat milk nudges it toward a light turmeric-latte direction. It mutes the chili slightly and adds body — pleasant if you want something cosier.
- Iced version: steep two bags in 240 ml of 80 °C water for the full three minutes, then pour over a tall glass of ice. The chili-turmeric finish is surprisingly refreshing cold.
- A pinch of black pepper or fresh ginger leans into the spiced, wellness-drink character if you want extra warmth.
Avoid the urge to over-sweeten. Part of what makes this brew satisfying is its savoury, herbal balance, and a heavy hand with sugar buries the very notes you are paying for. If you do have a sweeter tooth on other days, our fruitier Peach Green Tea is a better fit for that mood.
When to drink it and what to eat alongside
Because it contains caffeine and reads bright rather than mellow, this is a daytime tea first and foremost. It shines mid-morning as a gentler alternative to a second coffee, and again in the early afternoon when energy dips. It is less ideal right before bed, simply because of the caffeine.
On the food side, its earthy-spiced profile is a natural partner for savoury and lightly sweet bites:
- Avocado toast, grain bowls, or a veggie-forward lunch — the turmeric note echoes the food.
- Lemon or ginger biscuits, where the citrus and spice play off the cup.
- Roasted nuts, hummus, or anything with a little salt to balance the chili.
- Light Asian-inspired dishes — sushi, steamed dumplings, or a noodle bowl — where a green tea base traditionally feels at home.
Caffeine and what is in the bag
This is a caffeinated tea. It is built on green tea and matcha, both of which naturally contain caffeine, balanced by turmeric and a touch of chili for flavour. Expect a moderate lift — noticeably less than a strong coffee, and gentler in its onset, which many people find easier on the stomach and steadier through the afternoon. If you are sensitive to caffeine, keep it to the earlier half of the day and you will likely sleep just fine.
The blend is bagged and blended and packed in Canada, so what you steep is a straightforward, convenient cup — no powders to measure, no equipment required. As always, check the on-pack ingredient panel for the full list and any allergen information, and if you are pregnant, nursing, or managing a health condition, a quick word with your healthcare provider about turmeric and caffeine intake is sensible.
How to store it so it stays fresh
Tea is more fragile than it looks. Its enemies are air, light, heat, moisture, and strong odours — and green tea in particular fades faster than black or herbal blends.
- Keep the bags in an airtight container or reseal the original box tightly.
- Store in a cool, dark cupboard away from the stove, kettle steam, and direct sunlight.
- Keep it well away from coffee, spices, and anything aromatic — tea readily absorbs neighbouring smells.
- Do not refrigerate or freeze opened bags; condensation introduces the moisture you are trying to avoid.
Stored well, the bags hold their brightness for many months. For the best matcha green tea experience, aim to enjoy them within a few months of opening, while the grassy top notes are at their freshest.
Why buy this tea from LocoYoko
LocoYoko is a Canadian coffee roaster and tea shop, and we ship this Bigelow blend right across Canada. Buying from us means a few practical things: stock that moves quickly so your bags arrive fresh rather than dusty from a back shelf, Canadian shipping without the surprise of cross-border duties, and a team that actually drinks what it sells.
We offer free shipping on orders over $50, so it is easy to pair this with a bag from our coffee collection or another tea and clear the threshold. And every purchase is backed by our 30-day happiness guarantee — if this cup is not for you, we will make it right. That removes the risk of trying something a little adventurous like a turmeric-and-chili green.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a real matcha or just green tea with flavour?
It is a green tea and matcha blend, meaning it combines a green tea base with matcha for that characteristic depth, then layers in turmeric and chili. It is delivered in convenient bags rather than as loose ceremonial powder, so you get the flavour direction of matcha with the ease of a tea bag.
How much caffeine does it have?
It contains caffeine, at a moderate level typical of green tea — meaningfully less than a strong coffee. It is best enjoyed during the day; if you are caffeine-sensitive, stick to mornings and early afternoons.
What water temperature and steep time should I use?
Heat water to 80 °C and steep for 2 to 3 minutes, using one bag per roughly 240 ml cup. Avoid boiling water, which makes green tea bitter.
Is it spicy?
Only gently. The chili shows up as a warm tingle on the finish rather than real heat. Most people read it as a pleasant lift, not a burn, and a little milk or honey softens it further if you prefer.
Can I drink it iced?
Yes. Steep two bags in 240 ml of 80 °C water for three minutes, then pour over ice. The turmeric and chili finish is genuinely refreshing cold, especially with a squeeze of lemon.
Do you ship across Canada?
We do. LocoYoko ships nationwide from our Canadian roastery, with free shipping on orders over $50 and a 30-day happiness guarantee on every order.
2026 Canadian Choice Award
Proud winner
