Is your tea “spiked”?

Sooooo… let’s talk about the dark side of the tea aisle: adulterated (“spiked”) teas—the ones marketed like wholesome little “herbal blends,” but they’ve been laced with pharmaceutical drugs that aren’t listed anywhere on the label.

When I first started the StrangeMakes herbal tea side hustle, I’ll admit it: I was a little naïve about what some companies will do to cut costs, crank up “effectiveness,” and pump out miracle-y marketing.

And no—I’m not talking about “extra strong peppermint,” “more ginger,” or an herb combo that’s simply known for being powerful.

I’m talking about chemically manufactured drugs being cut, sprayed, or soaked into tea and then sold like it came straight from Mother Nature’s pantry.

And if you think that’s bad… this shady little corner of the underworld takes up real time and resources from the FDA—whose job is basically to babysit the “anything goes” side of capitalism and make sure public safety doesn’t get kicked under the booth table with the glitter and impulse buys.

In my opinion, the natural question a customer of mine should have right now is this:

“Okay but… if your StrangeMakes products work so well, how do I know you aren’t doing that?”

Here’s the difference: I personally make StrangeMakes products. Which means I can say this with my full chest:

We do not add pharmaceuticals. We do not hide “actives.” We do not spike anything. Ever.

What we do use: clearly listed herbs + simple base ingredients, made in small batches. And I go out of my way to source herbs from verified suppliers (the kind who can provide documentation like COAs when applicable).

If you ever want to know exactly what’s in something and why it’s there—ask me. I will happily nerd out and explain what each herb is traditionally used for and why I chose it.

Want the juicy receipts?

The FDA has a database you can browse yourself:

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/health-fraud-product-database

Why would anyone do this?

Because real herbs aren’t cheap, and real herbs are… inconveniently honest. And honesty takes time.

Spiking products helps shady sellers:

• out-market legit makers with louder claims and bigger hype

• cut costs by using cheap pharmaceuticals instead of quality botanicals

It’s the shortcut version of craftsmanship:
skip the formulation → add a drug → collect testimonials → repeat.

Legit makers don’t hide—they build trust

If you’re trying to separate the real ones from the frauds, here’s what to look for:

Transparency looks like:

• full ingredient lists (not “proprietary mystery dust”)

• common names + plant parts when possible (leaf, root, flower, bark)

• clear allergen info when relevant

• plain-English explanations of what the blend is known for (without wild medical claims)

• real contact info and a real person behind the product (hi. it’s me.)

“Receipts” include:

• batch/lot numbers and basic batch records

• supplier documentation / COAs (when applicable)

• a maker who can explain sourcing and process without getting weirder than a raccoon in a church basement.

Because here’s the thing: If asking questions makes the seller break into an interpretive dance and speak in tongues, it’s best to steer clear.