Zhena’s Gypsy Tea – Biodynamic Green Tea – Caramelized Pear Review

From the Zhena’s Gypsy Tea Website:

Regarded by some as the first modern ecological farming and gardening system, biodynamic agriculture is modern science integrated with ancient wisdom that preserves the land by upgrading and nourishing soil and plant life through special processes and emphasis that exclude the use of chemicals in the soil. Biodynamic is the oldest non-chemical agricultural movement in the West, predating the organic farming movement by 20 years. The biodynamic approach looks upon the maintenance and furtherance of soil life as vital to the production of high-quality, pure and healthful food. Biodynamic speaks to the healing of the environment with consideration for future generations.

Implementing holistic practice and an understanding of ecology to the care and vitality of soil and plants, this ultimate pure experience of health-enhancing leaves, fruit and botanicals, is grown and processed according to the highest sustainable agricultural and environmental canons. Zhena’s Gypsy Biodynamic Tea is the result of one of the smallest carbon footprints of any agricultural method.

I love anything organic and green, so this tea already gets brownie points in my book for being organic and having a smaller carbon footprint than other teas.

The ingredients in this tea are: Organic fairtrade biodynamic green tea, organic pear pieces, organic pear flavor, organic caramel flavor and organic marigold flowers.

I steeped the triangular teabag (or couture tea sachet as they call it) for about 3 minutes in my Ovo mug at just under boiling point. The tea immediately became a nice dark golden color. Right away you could smell the sweet aromas of the tea wafting through the tea. The tea literally smelt like caramelized pears! Amazing! I could smell this tea all day and not even drink it.

At first sip, you could really taste the caramel. It wasn’t a sugary sweet, but you could definitely taste the caramel. The taste reminded me of candy apples actually! Yummy. The aromas of the pear arrived afterward lingering on the tongue as a soft gentle undertone. The tea had lots of complexity and character. It is definitely on the medium side of green teas in terms of body. The strong smell of the tea is always there to remind you of what you are drinking – dessert in a cup!

Don’t steep this tea for too long though, or the tea will become heavier and bitter as more tannins are released. Steep for 1, 2 and then 3 minutes and/or more to get the experience you want. For iced tea, double the sachet and add honey!

Sweet, fragrant and inviting, this tea is perfect as an after dinner snack or to share with friends. Or if you need a caffeine boost, you can always take a bath in this!

PS. Yes I saw Cirque du Soliel’s Ovo in Toronto and yes it was amazing!

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Organic Garden Pure Ceylon Ginger Black Tea

I am not a huge fan of black tea, mainly because there are so many bad tasting ones out there.  I don’t like the heavy taste and the nasty films a lot of black teas that come in teabags leave you.  But surprisingly the Organic Garden Black Ginger Tea I picked up at Essence of Life on my recent downtown Toronto Tea Trip was not too shabby!  The taste is smooth and not too strong, the ginger really comes through well on the first steeping.  The flavour gradually subsides on 2nd steeping and it’s pretty much dead after 3rd round.

I actually didn’t notice that it was black tea when I purchased it because the packaging only states Certified Organic Ginger Tea on the front.  It’s only when you look closely at the ingredients that you see its a blend of: Organic black tea and organic ginger.

Like Celestial Seasonings, Organic Garden packages their tea in one large bag as opposed to individual packets.  They have their tags in tact however.  Inside the box of tea is an extremely cute and informative pamphlet that can be used as a bookmark about the benefits of organic tea versus non organic.

Elimination of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides prevents environmental pollution.  Application of compost and sustainable agricultural practices develops an organic rich soil hoizon, vegetation diversity and forest cover.

This tea also states on the front of the packaging that it is low in caffeine.  Black tea is to my understanding is high in caffine, but I have read it varies from tea plant and also that white tea is the highest in caffeine according to The Guide to Tea by Michael Harney.

I was actually feeling like crap, and ate 4 Ferrero Rocher’s to bring up my energy (ya gross I know), but the tea really helped me.  I feel much calmer and the tension in my head subsided.  Yay.  I love tea.  25 unbleached tea bags cost me $2.99 at the Essence of Life.

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