Summer is pretty much exclusively iced tea season for me– and frankly, if it can’t be cold-brewed, it probably isn’t going to get much love in my tea cabinet during the warmer months.
So when this little unassuming gem showed up in my most recent sample stash, it wasn’t even a question that I’d be brewing it cold. The ginger and the lime immediately pop in the cold brew, with hints of lemongrass lingering behind.
This one lived up to its name (“zesty” indeed!) and was fantastic with a splash of lemonade stirred in right before sipping. It’s the perfect addition to my summer iced tea stash– and definitely one I’ll be sipping again soon!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Rooibos
Where to Buy: Storehouse Teas
Description
Organic Green Rooibos from South Africa combined with zesty lime citrus and soothing ginger is refreshing and delicious, excellent for digestion and relaxation. Zesty Ginger Lime is stimulating yet caffeine-free, with anti-oxidant rich, hydrating and skin care enhancing properties. Great iced!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
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!
Ginger and Citrus Green Tea from Palais des Thés. . . .
My thoughts when I checked my next sample to review…”Argh! Ginger is the first word!”
The anguished scream is because ginger and I have a strange relationship. I like a hint of ginger adding sparkle to tea or cookies or food. But when there is a lot of ginger, it makes me cry a little. It can be so hot! And when you add to that the fact that I have to carry spicy ginger candy to help with my lifelong stomach issues, you can see where I don’t excited to see it in my tea.
My fears were unfounded with this one, however. There was a lovely slice of dried orange mixed with the flat green leaves and lots of white bits of dried ginger floating around.
The tea is so mild! The green tea dominates the cup and there is just enough citrus and ginger – in that order, to me – to give a nice, interesting flavor without the ginger singeing my tongue and making me regret having hot tea when it is 90 degrees F outside. Speaking of which, the next batch of this is going to be served as iced tea, and I think it will do swimmingly well with a little sugar and a stack of ice cubes, condensation beading all over the glass so I can press it against my forehead and cool off.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Palais des Thés
Description
Delicately flavoured with citrus and ginger, Vive Le Thé ! is the perfect green tea to induce a good mood and joie de vivre! With pieces of orange, it is delicious served hot or iced.
A tea with a delicious fresh aroma and very harmonious zesty and ginger notes.
In the mouth there is a perfect balance between the fresh, spicy note of ginger, the lively, zesty notes of lemon and grapefruit, and the sweeter orange notes.
A delightful citrus bouquet!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Tropical Sunrise from A Quarter To Tea. . . .
Of course since it is summertime anything that sounds summery I am willing to try! Tropical Sunrise is about as summery as it gets. It’s a green tea with goji berries, coconut, and mango! The dry leaf smells very citrusy and I think this would taste best iced, but instead of truly icing it I just let it cool at room temperature for a little while. Once it cooled I gave it a try and it is very refreshing!
Whenever I see mango or goji berries or citrus in a tea’s description I wonder if it is going to be too tart or citrusy. This tea may have smelled citrusy, but it actually was well balanced between all of the ingredients. The green tea adds a fresh, cool, and vegetal flair. The mango, citrus, and goji berries do stick out but not overly so.
The creamy coconut gives it even more of a sweet and summery feel and definitely creates a great blend that I approve of, even though it includes ingredients that I don’t normally gravitate towards. I enjoyed this and feel like it would be a delicious and refreshing iced tea this summer.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
A creamy coconut tea with hints of mango and citrus accented with goji berries.
Excellent iced or cold brewed
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Honey Pear from Nelson’s Tea. . . .
Holy murky waters, Batman! Seriously. Teas are normally translucent at the very least but this brews up unexpectedly opaque. My guess is the pollen is at play here. Well, here goes nothing…
Alright, so after my first sip, my thought was, for a tea that looks so dense, this tastes surprisingly thin. It smells like tea and pear and yet the taste is just slightly sweet/ slightly pear flavored water. No honey. Not much tea. Big sips, small sips, letting it sit on my tongue…maybe there is a touch of honey sweetness but I want MOAR!!! More pear. More honey. This sounds awesome but it is failing to deliver. Honestly, I don’t even know if I could identified the honey or pear if I had this in a blind taste test because it is very, very subtle.
If I am being honest, I think this may benefit from a different base. A green would be good actually since it is lighter which would allow for more of the light pear flavor to come through. Honey would also stand out more on a green base, though when I saw the base was black I hoped it would contribute additional honey notes that the flavoring could play off. Alas, it seems I am getting a whole lotta nothing.
Perhaps next time I will steep it stronger or maybe add something to coax out more flavor. However, steeped per the recommended time in 190F water, I am sad to say this fell short of my expectations.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Nelson’s Tea
Description
Just like biting into a sweet, succulent pear, this tea is sure to please. Enjoy it hot or iced!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
