Crave Tea Pods Variety Pack: Flavors and Brewing Steps

By Two Rivers Coffee Direct | Published: 2026-11-01

Category: Product Reviews

Learn how to brew Crave Tea Pods without bitterness, choose the right cup size for each of the four flavors, and decide if this single-serve variety pack fits your routine.

Quick answer

Brew Crave Tea Pods in a Keurig brewer using the smallest cup size that still gives you a full mug, and match that size to the flavor: start small for Peppermint and Chamomile, use a medium setting for Vanilla Chai and Chai Spice. The four-flavor variety pack works best when you treat each pod as a single serving and adjust strength by cup size rather than steeping time.

Why cup size matters more than steep time with single-serve tea pods

With a tea bag, you control strength by how long you leave it in the water. With single-serve tea pods, the brewer pushes a fixed amount of water through the pod, so the main variable you control is cup size. A larger cup setting dilutes the tea and can make delicate flavors like peppermint taste watery, while a smaller setting concentrates the flavor and may bring out bitterness in spiced blends. The Crave variety pack includes four different blends, so the ideal cup size is not the same for every pod.

Flavor-by-flavor brewing cues

Chamomile and Peppermint are lighter herbal blends. They taste best when brewed on a smaller cup setting (around 6 to 8 oz) so the aroma and flavor stay noticeable. Vanilla Chai and Chai Spice have stronger spice notes and can handle a slightly larger cup (8 to 10 oz) without losing character. If you like your chai milky, brew a smaller, stronger cup first, then add warmed milk; brewing a large cup and then adding milk will taste weak.

When this variety pack is not the right fit

If you only drink one type of tea every day, a four-flavor pack may leave you with pods you rarely reach for. Also, if you prefer loose-leaf tea or need to control steeping time precisely, pod brewing removes that control. The pack is best for households with mixed preferences, for trying new flavors without buying four full boxes, or for keeping a few options on hand for guests.

How to brew Crave Tea Pods step by step

Start with fresh water and a clean brewer: Fill the reservoir with fresh cold water and run a rinse cycle if the brewer has not been used that day. Common mistake: brewing tea after coffee without rinsing, which leaves coffee oils that mask delicate tea flavors. A quick rinse protects the flavor of lighter blends like Chamomile and Peppermint.
Insert the pod and choose your cup size: Lift the handle, place the Crave pod in the holder, and close it firmly. Select the smallest cup size your brewer offers (often 6 or 8 oz) for your first cup. Checkpoint: if the tea tastes weak, move up one size next time; if it tastes bitter, move down one size. Treat the first pod as a calibration cup, not a final verdict on the flavor.
Match cup size to the flavor: For Peppermint and Chamomile, use 6 to 8 oz. For Vanilla Chai and Chai Spice, use 8 to 10 oz. Common mistake: brewing chai on the largest setting and then adding milk, which dilutes the spice. Instead, brew a smaller cup and add milk after. Write down the setting you liked for each flavor so you can repeat it.
Let the cup cool for a moment before drinking: Pod tea comes out hot. Wait one to two minutes before sipping, especially for herbal blends where you want the aroma to settle. Checkpoint: if you plan to add ice for iced tea, brew a smaller, stronger cup first so melting ice does not water it down. For iced tea, brew at half the normal cup size and pour over ice immediately.
Remove the pod promptly and recycle where accepted: Open the brewer and remove the pod once brewing stops. Leaving a wet pod in the machine can drip and leave residue. Check your local recycling rules for pod components; not all areas accept them. A quick removal keeps the brewer clean and ready for the next flavor.

Product facts

Crave Tea Pods Variety Pack: The Crave Tea Pods Variety Pack includes four blends: Chamomile, Vanilla Chai, Chai Spice, and Peppermint. You get one pack that covers both caffeine-free herbal options and spiced chai, so you can test which flavors you actually drink before buying a full box.
Crave Tea Pods Variety Pack
Crave Tea Pods Variety Pack: Crave Tea pods are compatible with Keurig K-Cup brewers, including 2.0. If you already own a Keurig machine, you can brew these pods without a separate tea maker, but check your brewer model if you use a non-Keurig single-serve system.