Zamalek
Edit CompanyRecent Tasting Notes
Summer has definitely come to an end and this for sure feels like a very “summery” drink that you might crack open to sip on the patio, but I just couldn’t resist doing a bit of a restock and grabbing some more to have as a little refreshing treat when I come home after a long day. Brisk, minty and citrusy in such a classic yet distinct feeling way. Definitely one of my favourite RTD discoveries from this year.
Just finished another can of this so quickly logging the note – but I’ll keep it vague since I literally just wrote another tasting note for this tea not even a few hours ago. I’ll probably be restocking soon to have more cold iced teas on hand for the summer, though!
Flavors: Brisk, Lemon, Mint, Spearmint
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Zamalek is a Montreal brand that makes canned hibiscus drinks. I haven’t reviewed them here in the past because they don’t really position themselves as a tea beverage despite the fact hibiscus is so commonly associated with tea/tisanes. I mean, “hibiscus tea” is a whole thing.
However, the place where I buy them from recently just started stocking this flavour which, within the Zamalek product line, is specifically called out as being tea. That’s surely because the base is black tea and not hibiscus, even though there’s still hibiscus in the drink. I don’t actually think this is a new product in their assortment though – I think it’s just new to the grocery store I get them at.
Anyway, I’ve been really enjoying this! It’s brisk and refreshing with a light citrusy edge, a hint of cooling mint, and just a bit of that hibiscus tartness and berry-like undertones. It sort of feels like an elevated take on a Southern Sweet tea style beverage but not excessively sugary or too lemon forward. You really taste the black tea. Also, very restrained amount of hibiscus compared to their usual drinks so I fin that kind of interesting from a brand stance.