Dec 07
Review: Zhena’s Gypsy Tea Berry Bellini
Apple Tea, Green Tea, Hibiscus Tea, Lemon Tea, Licorice Root Tea, Orange Peel Tea, Organic Tea, Peach Tea, Raspberry Tea, Rose Hip Tea, Zhenas Gypsy Tea Add commentsLaura’s Teaview Snapshot
 | "As a cold beverage, this is at least drinkable. There are, in fact, fruity notes of peach and raspberry. However, even iced this remains very, very tart---and that is with a rather healthy dose of sugar."
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"The bright blush of succulent white peaches and ripe red raspberries are artfully blended with fine green tea leaves and a kick from champagne to create a quaffable cup." ---Zhena's Gypsy Tea website.So I must have been asleep at the wheel that day that I requested this sample because I really don't care for blends that are heavy on the hibiscus. Zhena lists the ingredients in this as Organic, Fair Trade Green Tea, Organic Hibiscus, Organic Apple Pieces, Organic Rosehip, Organic Orange Peel, Organic Licorice Root, Organic Compliant Peach Flavor, Organic Compliant Sparkling Wine Flavor, Organic Lemon Peel and Organic Freeze Dried Raspberries. These days, it is really rare for me to request blends that list hibiscus as the first or second ingredient. It is just too tart for me---at least as a hot drink. Even as a cold drink with a healthy dose of sugar, the hibiscus can't be too loud or I won't like it.
I prepared this using boiling water and infused the tea sachet for 4-5 min. I also added a healthy dose of rock cane sugar to the brew to try to cut the tartness a bit. This cup brewed up very dark red---beautiful really. As a hot drink, this cup was totally undrinkable to me. It just tasted intensely like hibiscus/rosehips and was very tart. I really could taste nothing else in the flavor profile. Since I already know that I tend to enjoy most of the fruit tisanes (though this is a green tea blend) much better iced, I decided to ice this. As a cold beverage, this is at least drinkable. There are, in fact, fruity notes of peach and raspberry. However, even iced this remains very, very tart---and that is with a rather healthy dose of sugar. Zhena markets this is as a Tropical Green Tea, which I personally find to be a bit misleading as there is not a drop of green tea to be tasted in this cup. I also could taste nothing of anything that would qualify as a hint of champagne.
I probably should apologize to Zhena for requesting this sample as I don't think that my reviewing this particular tea is doing it any justice. I don't care much for it hot or cold because of the total hibiscus domination. It you like fruity hibiscus flavored blends, then you will probably love this. This one might be a good choice for those that like hibiscus, but maybe not green tea as the flavor of the green tea is completely masked. Unfortunately, I personally didn't care much for it. If you like hibiscus, then I would take my review with a grain of salt.
— To purchase Zhena’s Gypsy Tea Berry Bellini, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.
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