Watermelon Oolong from Gypsy Soul Tea Co. . . .

I’m not really a watermelon fan, you guys.

I know. Have I even earned the right to review this tea?! Stick with me, and I’ll clarify– I like the FLAVOR of watermelon. Fresh, juicy, summery– it’s delightful. But something about the texture of watermelon gets me– it’s kinda mealy, super watery (duh), and while I love its natural flavor, it’s often super light and diluted, and I just wish it wasn’t quite so… subdued.

This tea from Gypsy Soul takes all the things I dislike about watermelon, eradicates them in one fell swoop, highlights my fave (that tangy, fruity flavor!) and KNOCKS IT OUTTA THE PARK. For serious. I cold brewed this one overnight to be put on ice (because it’s just begging to be sipped cold), and I think I could’ve drank about a gallon rather than my measly 16 ounces– that’s how good it was. The flavor is spot-on, fresh and juicy, fruity melon– maybe a touch of candy-esque tang, but nothing near as artificial. Not a hint of mealy-ness in sight. I’m a happy camper.

No more feeling a little left out at summer BBQs– I’ll have this blend on ice with me instead!


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Oolong
Where to Buy:  Gypsy Soul Tea Co
Description

Sweet, juicy, thirst quenching watermelon flavor on high grade oolong tea. Great hot & cold!
Oolong tea is full of healthy antioxidants and is commonly used to support good health

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Maracuja Orange from Gypsy Soul Teas. . . . .

Something happens to my tea cabinet in the spring.   All of the hearty, heavier black teas get pushed to the back, and the light, fresh, vegetal greens and fruit herbals seem to float like cream to the top. I’ve just spent a winter sipping on the tea-equivalent of a warm blanket and wool socks– give me sandals and sunglasses in my cup instead, please and thanks!

And once the calendar flips to summer, its even unlikelier that I’ll be sipping on ANYTHING hot. In my A/C-less apartment with my German ancestry, not made for heat waves– iced tea reigns supreme. When I pulled this sample out of my stash, bright and bold, with big orange chunks and bright red bits of…something? I knew it would make a great iced choice for the start of the warmer season.

Cold-brewed overnight, this tea turns delightfully pink– I’m guessing, as a result of the beetroot pieces in the blend. I expected more orange-juice-orange flavors, but what I’m getting instead is a blend of juicy fruits, with just a hint of bitterness at the end. Maybe it’s the hibiscus? Maybe it’s the interesting addition of pumpkin and carrot in this dry mix? Either way, it’s not unpleasant, but it isn’t quiet what I was expecting either.

My recommendation? Go into this sip without the expectations of fresh oranges, but rather, a big ol’ party-o-fruits, and you’ll be super pleased with your iced cup. Unusual? Sure. But great as the temps start to rise and you’re looking for something refreshing to fill your cup?

Definitely.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Herbal
Where to Buy:  Gypsy Soul Teas
Description

Fresh & Fruity! Exotic Passion fruit orange fruit tea. Caffeine free. Great hot or iced.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Sweet Mango Peach Tea from Gypsy Soul Tea . . . . .

I have been on an iced tea kick lately. My friend got me an iced tea press and it is my new obsession.

Consequently, I am going through fruit teas like crazy. That is why when this sample arrived, I jumped at the chance to steep it up.

Made with apple, hibiscus, pineapple, peach, papaya, lemon peel, and natural flavors, but no mango to be found. Sipping on it now, it’s flavor is quite subtle and light. There is no tartness from the hibiscus which could be a plus for many but that also seems to be a side effect of lack of overall flavor. What I am getting is a generic fruitiness that leans slightly towards stonefruit. The apple base and dried fruit is contributing a bit of waxiness as well that you sometimes get with fruit blends.

Personally, I am not a fan because I find myself wanting more. More mango, more peach, more flavor. It is not bad but at the end of the day, it is underwhelming.

However, Gypsy Soul Tea has many other offerings to choose from and though this is the first I have tried of this company, I would be interested to see what else they have.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Tisane
Where to Buy:  Gypsy Soul Tea
Description

This sweet, peachy temptation, is made from all natural fruit and herbs. Naturally caffeine free, this tea is great for the kids and anyone avoiding caffeine!
Try it iced or with a splash of ginger ale for an extra treat!

Ingredients: apple, hibiscus, pineapple, peach, papaya, lemon peel, natural flavors

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Mango Peach from Gypsy Soul Tea . . . .

Most fruity herbal tisanes are either too sweet for me, uninteresting when it comes to the flavor combos, and/or incorporate way too much tarty hibiscus for my liking. But I have to give credit where credit it due. Mango Peach from Gypsy Soul Tea – a lovely Etsy Shop – you will have to check out! It was completely up my alley!

Ingredients in this fruity herbal include: apple, hibiscus, pineapple, peach, papaya, and lemon peel. The apple and peach seemed to pair up, the pineapple and papaya are no stranger to flavor pairings, and the lemon really added that extra something to this fruity cuppa. The hibiscus was there but not overpowering – thankfully! When it came to the aftertaste it seemed like everything came full circle, too, because the apple and the lemon rounded everything out at the end.

I didn’t see that there were actual mango pieces in the loose mixture of ingredients nor did I see mango in the list of ingredients BUT the mango could just be the additional natural flavor(ings) that the product description nodded at and I’m ok with that because this was a flavorful, fruity, cup! It was pretty good hot but even better cold! It was sweet enough the way it was but also had those stereotypical tropical fruit flavors, too, so it seemed to take me to a different time and place…more specifically a warm, sunny island instead of the wintery-cold mess I’m currently stuck in where I live which is one of the snowbelts of the US.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Gypsy Soul Tea
Description

This sweet, peachy temptation, is made from all natural fruit and herbs. Naturally caffeine free, this tea is great for the kids and anyone avoiding caffeine!
Try it iced or with a splash of ginger ale for an extra treat!

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Green Treasures from Gypsy Soul Tea

With having such a stressful work week, I grabbed this tea hoping it would be comforting and soothing.

First thing I noticed was the amazing dry scent the leaves had. Tropical with a hint of strawberry.

Brewed up and allowed to steep for about 4 minutes, this tea yielded a gorgeous brew that was a lovely golden color. I allowed the tea to cool for a few minutes and sat back, holding the cup, enjoying the moment.

My first sip yielded a faintly flavored green tea that left me wanting another sip.  There was also a mouth drying factor as well. What was really nice about this tea blend is the mix of green teas are the star, not the additional flavorings.  The additional inclusions and flavorings are a nice side note that subtly give a sweet factor that heightens the somewhat vegetal notes that the green tea yields. This is an extremely interesting tea that is subtle and typically not one that would grab my attention but I can’t stop drinking the cuppa.

Overall, I think this tea would be a wonderful tea for someone that is looking for that subtle hint of flavor but really looking for a solid green tea. With this tea having a mix of different green teas, a solid green tea flavor is definitely what you get. I could just imagine that this tea would be dynamite as a shaken iced tea with a spring of mint or fruit slice.

So far I’ve had a few Gypsy Soul Tea offerings and they have all been pretty good. This one may be my least favorite so far but I’m liking the sound of this tea as a shaken iced tea. Maybe I just need to experiment a bit more!


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Gypsy Soul Tea

logoDescription

5 types of green tea with a fruity strawberry twist
Green tea is an excellent source of catechins, another type of antioxidant. A subgroup of this compound known as EGCG has been studied for its potential role in preventing cancer and heart disease. One study showed that drinking one cup of green tea per day could decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease by 10 percent.

Ingredients, sencha, gun powder, chun mee, pai mu tan, pi lo chun, pineapple, strawberry, sunflowers, natural flavours 40grams

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!