Rated 4.4 out of 5
Based on 160 reviews

Civil Disobedience: Smoky Cardamom Black Tea

$27.49 Sold out
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Tastes Like: pine needles, cardamom skin, maple sap, fire logs
Feels Like: fireside after a winter walk

Get lost in billows of smoke and fireside conversation. This layered tea opens with the flavor of conifers and deep tannins. The astringency of cardamom pod cuts through the aroma of silky pipe tobacco and allspice. The flavor curls and shifts between burning wood, wet earth, and lingering maple.

  • All Natural
  • Gluten Free
  • Vegan
  • Non GMO

Ingredients
indian black tea, taiwanese lapsang souchong black tea, cardamom pod, cardamom oil, sweet blackberry leaves, natural flavor of cardamom

📝 Blender's Notes

This blend was inspired by childhood winters in New Hampshire with my late father: the glorious scent of pine and maple in the January maple harvest season. My father was a great admirer of Thoreau whose Walden is perhaps the most famous celebration of New England wilderness. I found the name Civil Disobedience (after Thoreau's essay) suitably bold, iconoclastic and evocative of the New England scentscape. — Gina, cofounder

✨ Quality Tested

All our teas are double tested for pesticide residues, heavy metals, and foreign objects.

Because they’re blended in Germany, all August teas must pass stringent EU pesticide standards, which allow much less pesticide residue than the US FDA.

Whether they are organic, all natural or conventional, all our teas are safe, top quality, and delicious! 

⚡️ Caffeine Content

This tea is High Caffeine

  • High Caffeine = 40-60mg per 10oz serving
  • Moderate Caffeine = 20-40mg per 10oz serving
  • Caffeine Free = 0mg per 10oz serving
🔥 Brewing Directions

Hot Brewing 10 oz

Heat 212°f/100°c water
Add 3.5g tea, about 1 tablespoon
Pour 10oz/300ml hot water
Infuse 4-5 mins. Longer is stronger.
Repeat Reinfuse 1-2 times

Iced Brewing 10 oz

Heat 212°f/100°c water
Add 3.5g tea, about 1 tablespoon
Pour ~3oz hot water to barely cover tea leaves
Infuse 4-5 mins. Longer is stronger.
Dilute with 7oz cold water
Serve Over ice

Pro tip: If you want more concentrated flavor, try doubling the tea leaves in this recipe.

Want to learn everything about brewing tea?
Check out our in-depth guide here.
🍹 Drink recipes
🚚 Shipping & Guarantee
⚖️ Net Weights

4 cup deluxe sample: 14g / .5oz
15 cup bag: 50g / 1.8oz
28 cup tin: 100g / 3.5oz
70 cup bag: 250g / 8.8oz

⭐️ The August Difference
  • We make no compromises when we bring our blends to life.
    Our tea costs more because we use super premium whole ingredients like vanilla pieces, cardamom, real fruits and whole spices. It’s quality you can see and taste. All our blends are original and exclusively available from August.
  • The freshest tea
    Tea is made of plants, so freshness matters. Our teas are produced in small batches, packed in airtight packaging and shipped directly to you at peak freshness.
  • We're here for you
    Our California-based team is passionate about taking care of our customers. We're here when you need us for recommendations, questions, brewing advice, or order issues. Just email us or use our live chat.
  • Satisfaction guaranteed
    If you don't love your order, just contact us for a refund.
Size

Life is short, drink good tea.

❤️ Love it or your money back
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Over 13,000 Reviews
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❤️ Love it or your money back
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Over 13,000 Reviews
✈️Free Shipping Over $49
❤️ Love it or your money back
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Over 13,000 Reviews
✈️Free Shipping Over $49

As Seen On

average rating 4.4 out of 5
Based on 160 reviews
  • 5 Stars
    112 Reviews
  • 4 Stars
    20 Reviews
  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
    6 Reviews
  • 1 Star
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79% of reviewers would recommend this product to a friend
Customer photos and videos
160 Reviews
Reviewed by Julia L.
Verified Reviewer
I recommend this product
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

Strong and complex

I love smoky teas, and this is one of my new favorites. It tastes like a nice strong lapsang souchong, with notes of pine-like astringency and warm spiced sweetness from the cardamom. This is definitely for people who like a really strong and robust tea. This isn't a delicate brew for a tea party, it's for warming up after a brisk hike through the woods or staying up late into the night reading about Transcendentalism.

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Reviewed by Erica
Verified Buyer
Rated 3 out of 5
Review posted

Will put hair on your chest

This is interesting, but very strong. I’ve brewed it a dozen ways and it doesn’t really work for me. Every once in awhile I’ll take a sniff of the bag because it smells like a glamorous campfire, but it is definitely more of an acquired taste. The smoke permeates well and is well blended (I do love a sultry smoke soaked tea) but the cardamom oil and Indian black tea increase the astringency beyond my daily tolerance level. I have to really be in the mood to pick this up. It’s the only August Tea I’ve had so far that I didn’t finish off within a month. It’s worth getting the sample if you’re unsure.

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August Uncommon Tea

Thank you for your honest review, Erica. We're sorry you didn’t enjoy Civil Disobedience. Our Customer Support Team would be happy to recommend a tea you might enjoy. Email hello@august.la for assistance.

Reviewed by J T.
Verified Buyer
I recommend this product
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

My absolute favorite AU tea.

Nothin' like a nice hot cup of Civil Disobedience in the morning to feel like you're doing life right.

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Reviewed by Lauren
Verified Buyer
I don't recommend this product
Rated 1 out of 5
Review posted

Nope

Way too smoky. And I like smoky! But this gave me a headache.

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August Uncommon Tea

Thank you for your honest review, Lauren. We're sorry you didn’t enjoy Civil Disobedience. Our Customer Support Team will contact you shortly.

Reviewed by Anna S.
Verified Buyer
I recommend this product
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

Another forever tea

Another one of my favorite permanent stash teas. Love the cardamom in this one, it's very well balanced and absolute perfection!

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