Sunday, December 9, 2012

Zhena's Gypsy Tea, Chamomile Rose

Zhena's Gypsy Tea Description:
This tea is the result of carefully crafted blending, to ensure that the essential harmony of the botanicals healthful properties yield a superb tea experience.

A harmonious blend of select golden colored Chamomile blossoms, rose petals and hibiscus flowers is balanced with serene, soothing notes of fennel, lemon myrtle and orange peel with a floral bouquet that scents the steam. Chamomile is noted for its naturally calming energy and its ability to relax both body and mind. One of our most popular signature caffeine-free blends.


Ingredients: Chamomile Flowers, Fennel Seeds, Hibiscus Flowers, Orange Peel, Rose Petals, Natural Lemon Flavor.

Price: $6.99 for 15 sachets or about $0.46/serving direct from Zhena's Gypsy Tea. Multiple steeps would reduce this per serving. I found his much cheaper online. As low as $0.26/ serving.

My Review:
This came in the mail as a surprise from a tea friend. This is my first Zhena's Gypsy Tea. Of course it's not actually tea. It is an herbal blend. The wrapper is bright and well labeled and includes ingredients and steeping instructions. Opening the wrapper reveals the sachet made from biodegradable, GMO free, corn silk. Inside you can see the mix. It looks a lot like course sawdust and tiny wood chips. Looking closer the chamomile is obvious. I see tiny pieces of flower petals, and bits of fennel.

After steeping the brew is pinkish and not really like the picture. It smells like you might expect - a little rosey and a little chamomile.

In the sip there is a lot going on and it is pretty enjoyable to me. I taste the chamomile. I taste the floral and citrus elements as kind of a unit. While you can separate the floral and citrus elements, they flawlessly fit together. I can taste the rose. I taste the hibiscus though it is mild. It does add a tiny amount of tartness but that mixes with the orange and lemon. I also taste the fennel. I happen to like fennel and was really surprised how it stood out and in a good way.

I am not a big herbal drinker but I liked this one a lot.

Visit Zhena's Gypsy Tea at http://www.gypsytea.com/

2 comments:

  1. I find that herbal teas in bags, especially the sachet type, are easier to do well than actual Camellia sinensis. Does this ring true for you?

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    1. I can't say I have noticed this difference but then I have had decades of experience with camellia sinensis in bags. I know how to drag the best out of them. My experience with herbals, bagged, loose, or sachet, is very limited to a recent handful.

      My opinion of sachets though, has been changed by this sampler. I am finding the taste to be on par with loose leaf. Previous sachet sipping was Tazo, which I usually don't like, and Harney & Sons, which I normally do like. The problem with the Harney was it came in a paper cup prepared in the bookstore cafe so I guess that was not really a fair test of the sachet.

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