A Joyful Surprise.

Written by Joey Iwen

They say the best things come in small packages. I find this to be true sometimes, but let’s face it- sometimes really awesome things come in large packages! I find that I am more of a believer in the best things come in the best packages. Careful consideration regarding packaging has always been important when marketing products in order for them to stand out from competitors’ products, but I’m talking about more than that when I say best packages. 

I celebrated my 45th birthday 2 days ago- on a Monday, during a pandemic. Due to rising numbers of cases, I decided to forgo any outings to celebrate the occasion, despite the fact that my kids would be out of school for a teacher planning day. Normally we would venture to the zoo, botanical gardens, or some type of outing to celebrate, but I decided that it would just be a day of simple pleasures, love, laughter, and relaxation with my family spent at home. After all, we live on 23 acres of beautiful property, and it was expected to be unseasonably nice out. Hardly an undesirable place to spend a special day! The day started with snuggles and giggles in bed with my husband, kids, and dog, loads of people wishing me HBD on Facebook and texts, a hilarious yodeling e-card from my sister, and my parents calling to sing to me. My 6YO son picked out a fabulously festive (hideous) outfit for me to wear while my 8YO daughter and husband wrapped gifts and started brunch.  

Time for gifts. Typically, my husband takes the kiddos to a local boutique to pick out gifts together, so I roughly have an idea of the types of gifts I’m going to open. They always do a fabulous job and have so much fun picking things out (while supporting a small local business!). But this year it was all about Amazon delivery, so I had no clue what to expect. The theme for the gifts ended up being all things that could be played or consumed that day to make it special, which I thought was so brilliant and thoughtful! A card game to add into the rotation of our family’s obsession with games – “Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese Pizza”, “Rollers”- a new yard game (we are a family of gamers!), a book of really unique doodled coloring sheets for a family coloring sesh, a package of my favorite sea salt caramels from Béquet Caramel, a small artisanal caramel company in Montana (they are heaven in your mouth!), and a package of tea.

And a package of tea. It sounds so mundane – your basic essential winter drink alternative to coffee and cocoa (unless you hail from the UK or Asia, then it’s just your everyday drink!). But this is no ordinary little box of tea bags. This is Tea Fortē. This is special, downright extraordinary. It was a beautiful birthday gift. Yes, tea can be beautiful. It starts with the box. The bottom of the box is matte gold, and the hinged lid is crisp white with a gold foil leaf pattern and gold satin ribbon. I love nature-inspired themes, and this package just brings me joy by looking at it. The box actually says “JOY” right on it, (as in “Warming Joy” Limited Edition), which is spot on, and I haven’t even opened it yet! The box has substantial weight to it, is thoughtfully constructed, and it just feels good to open the uniquely angled lid. Upon opening, I am greeted with the delicate aroma of tea, a gold interior, and the first layer of 10 carefully nestled “handcrafted pyramid tea infusers”. (See I told you it wasn’t an ordinary little box of tea bags!) The inside of the lid has a lovely photographic guide to the 5 different tea assortments enclosed (with dreamy little descriptions of each), and a photo of a pyramid infuser steeping in a stylish glass teacup. My joy barometer is rising. On to the individual packaging of the pyramid tea infuser. The pyramid package is constructed from thick white card stock with gold lettering descriptions, and a tiny green “Fortē Tea” stem and leaf pokes out the top. Due to its unique shape, the package unfolds in a really cool way, like opening a little piece of origami love. (It reminds me of the way I used to fold notes to my friends in junior high!) The interior of the package is reflective gold, and now the scent of tea wafts up to greet my nose. The pyramid tea infuser packaging itself is also very fancy- it’s not a papery cheap tea bag material, but more of an intricate translucent mesh material. The crisp folds of the sides and flat bottom allow the tea bag to stand up independently, and I love that you can see the tea leaves and herbs so you know exactly what you are drinking. It also allows for the aroma of the tea to easily drift out, and my nose is telling my tastebuds to get ready for a treat. My favorite part of this little package is the adorable little green leaf that stands to attention on top of the pyramid (hello nature theme again!). This sweet detail is also functional, as you can use it to bend over the rim of your tea vessel while steeping if you don’t want it to sit at the bottom of your cup. It’s also just an adorable delicate handle. This package has already brought me so much joy and I haven’t even consumed the product yet! 

The packaging is definitely part of this product’s actual product and appeal. You aren’t just buying tea (or in my case, receiving a gift of tea), but you are purchasing a joyous tea experience. I look forward to every experience in which I get to consume this tea because of the joy I receive when opening and preparing it – that is a gift in itself. Of course, the taste of the tea is important, and it is absolutely delightful, pleasing all the senses. Typically, when I slow down for a cup of tea, I’m not multi-tasking or trying to be productive. I’m sitting on a comfy chair or couch, relishing in some silence and appreciating the forest and wildlife out the windows, getting lost in a book, or listening to some feel-good tunes. This will definitely be true with my Fortē Tea- I am going to kick back and savor every moment I have with this tea, giving myself permission to “just be” and enjoy this delicious and special pause (and this time-out is a gift in itself!). And even when that little pyramid has done its job making my warm cup of love, it is still looking joyous sitting next to my cup with its alert little leaf antennae. 

So, there you have it- why this gift of tea brought me so much joy! And why the best gifts come in the best packages. I do have plenty of generic teas from the grocery store that I will drink when I need to warm up, if I’m not feeling well, or just want to replace an after dinner sweet with something. They taste nice and I enjoy them, but they do not bring me the same joy and provide me with that ultimate tea experience like my fancy Tea Fortē does. That is because they are lacking that amazing packaging. So yes, packaging (whatever that means to your product or service), really does have a huge impact on the consumer’s user experience. It doesn’t need to be a luxury experience like Tea Fortē- your packaging can create a different feel or experience depending on what your product is and your target audience. Even if the user discards the packaging immediately, the best things can still come from the best packages! Now, all this talk of tea- I think I will go treat myself to something from my “welcoming, festive blends for a season of celebratory moments” collection of Forte tea! I highly recommend getting some for yourself for a special treat, or why not give it as a truly memorable gift this Holiday!