Lemon Verbena, Lemongrass or Peppermint: Which KINTO Tea to Pick
By KINTO Japan | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: Product Reviews
Compare KF B01 Lemon Verbena, KF S01 Lemongrass, and KF B03 Black Peppermint by flavor, caffeine, and brewing format to choose the right KINTO herbal tea bag.
Quick answer
Choose KF B01 Lemon Verbena if you want a soft, minty lemon blend, KF S01 Lemongrass for a pure citrus cup, or KF B03 Black Peppermint for a stronger mint hit in a larger 10-bag pack. All three are caffeine-free KINTO tea leaf bags from Shiga, Japan.
Flavor and aroma: what actually differs
KF B01 Lemon Verbena blends lemon verbena with black peppermint, so the cup leads with a gentle lemon note and finishes with a cool mint lift. KF S01 Lemongrass is a single-ingredient lemongrass tea, which means the flavor stays bright and straightforward without mint. KF B03 Black Peppermint combines lemongrass, black peppermint, and mint marigold, giving it the most layered mint profile of the three.
If you drink tea without sweetener, KF S01 is the least busy option. If you like a clear mint finish, KF B03 is the strongest choice. KF B01 sits in between and suits drinkers who want lemon and mint in one bag.
Bag count, format, and everyday value
KF B01 and KF S01 both come as 6-bag packs of freeze-dried herbal tea, which is practical for trying a flavor or keeping a small rotation. KF B03 comes as a 10-bag pack with a larger outer bag (W190 x D160 x H30 mm), so it lasts longer if peppermint is your daily cup.
The 6-bag format is not a weakness, but it does mean you will reorder sooner if you drink tea every day. Match the bag count to how often you actually brew before judging value by price alone.
Brewing rules that apply to all three
Every KINTO tea in this comparison is brewed with hot water, not cold water. The catalog instructions specify hot brewing for both hot and iced tea, and they explicitly say not to use cold-water extraction. For iced tea, you either cool the hot brew slowly in the refrigerator or quick-chill it with ice after a concentrated steep.
The steeping times differ slightly by product, so check the bag before you brew. Using the wrong time is the most common reason a delicate lemon verbena blend tastes weak or a peppermint blend turns harsh.
KINTO herbal tea FAQ
- Which KINTO tea is caffeine-free?
- All three are caffeine-free: KF S01 Lemongrass, KF B01 Lemon Verbena, and KF B03 Black Peppermint are made without caffeine-containing herbs, so they work for an evening cup.
- How much water and how long should I steep?
- For hot tea, use about 380 ml of boiling water per bag and steep for 5 minutes. For iced tea, steep 1 bag in about 380 ml hot water for 10 minutes, remove the bag, then chill. For quick iced tea, steep in about 200 ml hot water for 10 minutes, then add 180 g of ice. Never brew these bags in cold water; the catalog instructions require hot-water extraction.
- Can I make iced tea with these bags?
- Yes. Both the slow-chill and quick-chill methods are described for KF S01 and KF B01, and the same hot-extraction rule applies across the range. Use the 10-minute steep before chilling or adding ice.
- Which one should I choose for a mint-forward cup?
- Pick KF B03 Black Peppermint if you want the strongest mint character, since it layers black peppermint with lemongrass and mint marigold. Choose KF B01 if you want mint as a background note behind lemon verbena.
- How many bags do I get?
- KF S01 and KF B01 each contain 6 bags. KF B03 contains 10 bags. The 10-bag format is the better fit if you brew mint tea most days.
- How should I store the bags?
- Keep them in a cool, dry place and check the best-by date on the pack. KINTO ships products with at least three months of shelf life remaining from the purchase date, but the countdown starts when you receive them. Write the best-by date on your storage jar so you do not lose track of it.
Product facts at a glance
- KF S01 レモングラス ティーリーフ 6袋入り: KF S01 Lemongrass is a single-ingredient, caffeine-free freeze-dried herbal tea from Hikone, Shiga, in a 6-bag pack. It is the cleanest citrus option if you want lemongrass flavor without mint or other blended herbs.
KF S01 レモングラス ティーリーフ 6袋入り - KF B01 レモンバーベナブレンド ティーリーフ 6袋入り: KF B01 Lemon Verbena blends lemon verbena with black peppermint and comes as 6 bags of 1 g each. The blend gives you lemon and mint in one bag, so you do not need to mix two teas yourself.
KF B01 レモンバーベナブレンド ティーリーフ 6袋入り - KF B03 ブラックペパーミントブレンド ティーバッグ 10個入り: KF B03 Black Peppermint combines lemongrass, black peppermint, and mint marigold in a 10-bag pack. The larger bag count and triple-herb blend suit frequent mint tea drinkers who want a stronger cup.
