It’s been such a long time since I did an iHerb Haul! I’ve been ordering less frequently and when I do, it’s usually the same old supplements, myKind B12 spray and MRM vegan vitamin D. Sometimes I’ll add a new thing or two and here are some of those things…
Rishi Tea | Everyday Matcha
I’m not an avid matcha drinker, I don’t even own a whisk! My experience with matcha has been buying the cheap (but organic) stuff from Lidl and Pukka’s Majestic Matcha Chai. The Matcha Chai was what really hooked me to this drink and taught me that better quality matcha isn’t as bitter.
The Rishi Everyday Matcha was sort of the cheapest high-quality matcha I could find on iHerb. Something equal in Sweden usually costs double. This one really lives up to my expectations! It has no or a lot less bitterness than I’m used to and blends a lot smoother with vibrant green color. Just like the name says, it’s perfect for every day or beginners like me. Rishi also offers a ceremonial matcha, that’s supposed to have more umami. And if you’re more into iced matcha latte, Rishi tea has a cold brew matcha.
Dandy Blend | Herbal Beverage with Dandelion
I had heard that this is supposed to be a great substitute for coffee without the caffeine. I usually always drink decaf but wanted to try this out. There’s this coffee alternative from A.Vogel called Bambu Instant, that I’ve tried in the past, which is made with roasted chicory root. But I personally don’t find the taste to be close to coffee at all, it’s definitely an acquired taste.
The Dandy Blend has the same concept but also contains a blend of roasted barley, rye, dandelion, and sugar beet extract. So I was hoping it to have a closer coffee taste. The company also markets it as having a “rich, smooth, full-bodied flavor with no caffeine, acidity or bitterness”. As it is kind of the bitterness that makes the coffee, don’t expect it to taste just like coffee. However, I must hand it to them, that this comes pretty close!
The directions on the packaging say to add 1 leveled tsp for a tea-like beverage, 1 rounded tsp for a rich, full-bodied coffee, or 1 heaping tsp to 1 tbsp for an espresso-strength beverage. I have only tasted it with oat milk as that’s how I drink my coffee and do find that the aroma is mild. However, do not make my mistake of adding 2 tsp as that will make for an acquired taste of full liquid roastedness! Some might like it, but I could not finish my cup as it tasted too weird for me.
There are some more recipes on the back of the packaging. I will perhaps try mixing it with chocolate and see what other dimension it might give. Otherwise, I mainly purchased it as the ingredients might have some gut benefits. Chicory root has prebiotic fiber, dandelion aids in digestion, plus rye and barley contain beta-glucan, also good for digestion. And as it’s caffeine-free you can enjoy it as an evening drink.
Dandy Blend comes in different packaging. You can get as little as 100g or the 25 single serve packets if you just want to try it out.
Purito | Cleansing Balm
Purito might be most famous for its sunscreen which later wound up in a huge scandal that affected many Korean and Asian brands. In the midst of it all, I ordered their From Green cleansing oil which just had come out at the time. This one, unlike many others in its niche, is fragrance-free! It contains a nice blend of common oils like olive, sunflower, jojoba, almond, and grape seed oil. This no-fuss cleansing oil has a nice viscous texture, that’s not too thick and not too light. My favorite so far! It emulsifiers and washes off easily without feeling stripping.
There are a few Swedish brands that have developed their own cleansing balm/oils. But I still prefer the Korean/Asian ones as they always offer a generous amount of 200ml and usually emulsify and wash off clean. The only issue is that they are not as readily available. I wish this cleansing oil from Purito was sold in my local drug store or something, cause I’d come back to it in a heartbeat!
– On a similar note, I repurchased the newly formulated Banila Co Purifying Cleansing Balm and updated my old review, check it out here!
Gaia Herbs | Hair, Skin & Nail Support & Triphala
I accidentally threw the bottles before writing this review, but I’ve been testing out some supplements from Gaia Herbs. I got their Triphala capsules after reading about a study that showed taking probiotics with Triphala may boost longevity. At least in fruit flies… Triphala has prebiotic qualities and is known for supporting a healthy gut. I’ve tried Triphala from other brands, but always feel like Gaia is one of those authentic high-quality brands that I love getting my herbs from. I personally don’t suffer much from indigestion so I’m not one to feel an effect immediately. But these didn’t cause any issues either.
My second supplement from Gaia Herbs is their phyto-caps for hair, skin and nail support. In my journey to growing out my hair and battling acne, I researched different supplements and extracts and found this one to have a good blend for both hair, hormonal imbalance, and acne. It’s got horsetail and nettle leaf extract for healthy hair growth, as well as burdock root that’s supposedly good for hormonal acne. There’s also triphala, helping to balance the gut and nutrient absorption, and some anti-aging astaxanthin and Gotu kola (Centella Asiatica).
I only took half the dosage, which lasted me two months, so I can’t tell of any major improvements. My hair may have shed a little less around that period. But without taking it for longer, we can never know if it was just a coincidence. If it weren’t so expensive for one month of use I’d buy it again as I personally believe the concoction of extracts promotes overall physical and gut health.
