Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black & Green Teas

Where to Buy:  Teas Etc

Tea Description:

This inspiring blend of Jasmine green tea, Earl Grey black tea and rose petals has become one of our most popular.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

The dry leaf looks absolutely beautiful and smells incredible.  Lots of red rose petals throughout, and the aroma is an engaging combination of roses, bergamot and jasmine.

And it tastes as good as it looks and smells, too.  I’ve tried this a couple times now, the first time, I brewed it without realizing that there was also jasmine green tea blended with the black tea, so I used boiling water.  This did not seem to have a scorching effect on the green tea, or at least, not one that I could discern.

However, for the second time that I brewed it, I wanted to try a lower temperature to see if I could encourage more of the jasmine and green tea flavors to emerge.  And while I was successful in achieving this goal – brewing at a lower temperature of 185°F brought the jasmine green tea notes more into focus – I think with this particular blend, I prefer the results when brewing with boiling water.

When I brewed it with boiling water, I could taste the “Rosy Earl Grey” notes more prominently, the bergamot and the rose were very distinct, while the jasmine and green tea notes were a little lost.  Not completely lost, as I could taste hints of jasmine and green tea as I sipped, but, there was no real distinct jasmine or green tea flavor.

This time around, using a lower temperature, the jasmine is much more distinguishable, as is the green tea flavor.  I can still taste the rose and the bergamot, but, these become a little more muddled as the jasmine emerges.  Even though I do adore jasmine, I think with this blend, it is best served as what it should be:  Rosy Earl Grey.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed both cups of tea immensely.  In that first cup, the rose was so strong, almost evenly matched with the tangy bergamot notes.  The blend of teas provided a nice background of flavors:  primarily that of black tea, I could taste earthiness and hints of vegetation as well as a pleasant sweetness.

In the second cup, the jasmine emerged as the focal point, sweet and exotic, and the rose notes accented the jasmine tones very nicely.  There was a hint of sharpness to the cup, something I noticed less with the first cup than now with this second cup.  The bergamot was light but it still had that zesty tang to it, and the tea flavors were more vegetative than earthy this time, lighter and not quite as sweet.

If you have an Earl Grey enthusiast in your life, this would make a perfectly romantic Valentine’s Day tea gift for them!  I am really glad I finally got around to trying this tea, it is spectacular!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  White (Blooming Tea)

Where to Buy:  Alice’s Fine Teas

Tea Description:

Sweeping jasmine arch over a bright lily. This tea is mellow, even buttery, with a hint of sweetness from the jasmine. Absolutely delightful! Ingredients: Lily (said to enhance energy and to have a cooling effect), Jasmine (sweet fragrance, said to moisten the skin, ease anxiety and anti-inflammatory) and Silver Needle Tea

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

What a beautiful display!  The pale green leaves of the tea open up to reveal a red-orange flower and an arch of white blossoms.  Really pretty.  This is a tea you’ll want to be sure to steep in a tall glass or teapot so that you can fully experience the bloom as it unfurls.

The color of the tea surprised me, it is a bit darker than other blooming teas that I’ve tried.  It is still a light color – I’d say it’s light amber – but darker than the pale yellow liquor that I’ve experienced with other blossoming teas.

The flavor is delightful.  It is sweet, smooth and floral, but, not in a soapy kind of way.  The flavor of the white tea is prominent.  It has a fresh, airy kind of flavor with notes of hay and sweet grass.

There is a creamy element to this tea as well – buttery – and a mouthfeel that complements the creaminess.  The floral notes are definitely jasmine, with a lighter lily tone than I recall tasting with the Jasmine Fairy Blossoming Tea (also from Alice’s Fine Teas).

What a delightful tea experience – one that would be fun to share with friends.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  White

Where to Buy:  The Persimmon Tree

Tea Description:

A beautifully hand-crafted blooming white tea that displays a ring of jasmine and amaranth flowers, with blueberry and peach essence.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

There are those who avoid blooming teas because they think they’re gimmick-y and that the tea they produce does not taste up to par.  I used to be one of them!  But, since that time, I have found quite a few blooming teas that are quite delicious.  This blooming tea – Halo from Persimmon Tree Tea – is one of my newest favorites!

This tea is slow to unfurl; it did not completely open after the first infusion of five minutes.  I infused the partially open bulb again, and after the second infusion of six minutes, I enjoyed a beautiful display.  There was a white floral arch that extended to support a pretty bright pink flower.

In the first infusion, I found the floral tones to be sweet and soft, and they meld quite nicely with blueberry and peach flavors.  The flavor of the white tea lends a delicate creamy note to the cup.  With the second infusion, the floral notes were a bit stronger, but it was still a very delicious cup.

This is a really lovely blooming tea.  I think it would be a perfect tea to serve at a tea party, it would surely make a great conversation starter!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Green Tea Lovers

Tea Description:

A luxury Jasmine green tea with cornflower, safflower, osmanthus, calendula and sunflower petals. The cup is a heavenly mixture of sweet floral notes and grassy undertones. A fabulous blend befitting the island that gives it its name.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

What a lovely Jasmine.  This is the kind of jasmine green tea I’d recommend to someone who has had jasmine in the past and has found it disagreeable because the jasmine tones were too strong, verging on the edge of soapy.  This jasmine is so gentle and soothing, I think that it could those tea drinker’s beliefs about jasmine tea.

The green tea base is light.  It has a sweet overtone and just a hint of grassy taste.  It is smooth with a creamy note that melds quite nicely with the floral tones.  It is not bitter and there is very little astringency to the cup.  A very nice, mild tea to meld with the exotic flavor of jasmine.

As I’ve already indicated, the jasmine notes here are quite gentle.  It doesn’t come across as soapy or aggressive, instead it is smooth; a very harmonious match for the creaminess of the green tea base.

The osmanthus flower is probably the next flavor that I notice, and it offers a whisper of peach-like flavor that weaves its way in and out of the sip.  Adding a bit of contrast is the sharpness of sunflower.  The other flowers – calendula, cornflower and safflower – do not affect the flavor as much as the affect the appearance of the dry leaf, giving it a gorgeous look to match its beautiful flavor.

Overall, a very smooth floral tea, where the jasmine is the most pronounced of the flowers, but it is not so strong that it overpowers the other floral notes.  A very nice cup; this is one of those jasmine teas that jasmine lovers as well as those on the fence about jasmine are likely to enjoy.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  White (Blooming Tea)

Where to Buy:  Alice’s Fine Teas

Tea Description:

Our Jasmine Fairy starts out as a ‘mushroom’ shape ball. White jasmine and beautiful lily hide inside the silver needle tea. Pouring boiled water causes the red lily petals to rise up trying to follow the white jasmine dancing light-footed like a fairy flying in the sky. This fragrant tea tastes smooth and sweet. Ingredients: Jasmine (sweet fragrance, said to moisten the skin, ease anxiety and anti-inflammatory), Lily (said to enhance energy and to have a cooling effect), Silver Needle Tea

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

It’s been a while since I’ve had a blooming tea, so I decided that now was the time.  I have really enjoyed the blooming teas that Alice’s Fine Teas offers, so I was pretty confident I’d enjoy this one too.

After steeping for six minutes in 175°F water, the bloom was open, but, I fear that my glass cup was not quite tall enough to see the full effect of the white floral extension (as shown in the photo above).  To the right, you’ll see what the bloom appeared like with a slightly shorter glass.  Still beautiful, even though the extension was not fully visible.

But even more important (at least to me) is the flavor of the tea, and I am not at all disappointed with the flavor of this blooming tea.  It is light, sweet, and even a little creamy!  The floral notes are present but in keeping with the overall lightness of the tea, and they do not overwhelm the flavor of the silver needle tea.

The floral is not entirely jasmine here, as I can taste the lily flavor too.  I like that even though it is a combination of flowery flavors, it doesn’t taste like perfume or soap.  It tastes more like … spring.  Like the freshness of spring:  crisp air, full of life as the flowers begin to bloom after winter’s frosty chill.

A very fun and delicious tea!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Octavia Tea

Tea Description:

Although we work with sources and gardens that offer less expensive grades of Jasmine Pearl (and you may see many out there on the market), we have chosen to forgo these lesser grades because none of them compare to the quality, appearance, fragrance and flavor of the grade we offer here. This tea is the absolute best Jasmine Pearl on the market and we are very proud to offer it to you!

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

These pearls are indeed of high quality, as evidenced not only in the exquisite flavor of the tea, but also in the appearance of the pearls.  They are very uniform in size and shape, and there are very little “stray” bits of tea leaf with these pearls – very few broken or crushed tea leaf parts mean more beautiful pearls!

I steeped these pearls in my gaiwan, and while I do keep the lid on the gaiwan as the tea infuses, I would occasionally peek inside to watch the pearls slowly open.  Such a lovely dance!  I combined the infusions in my designated “Jasmine” Yixing mug (a total of five infusions!) and the result is an absolute jasmine paradise in this tea mug.  It smells delightful – the sweet, exotic fragrance of jasmine with no chemical-y or artificial aromas present.  Just pure tea and flower.  The way a jasmine tea should be.

A very well-balanced flavor of green tea – light, slightly vegetative, with a buttery undertone – and jasmine flower here.  The jasmine is not too strong, nor does it come off perfume-y.  It isn’t a sharp flavor, instead, it is very smooth and sweet.

An excellent jasmine pearl, one I’d recommend to those who love jasmine as much as I do.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Teavivre

Tea Description:

Hugely popular in China, Silver Jasmine Green tea is produced by adding jasmine flower petals to the tea buds during processing, so infusing this premium green tea with a subtle fragrance and taste of jasmine.  After drying the flower petals are removed, leaving the tea with its unique taste and fragrance.  TeaVivre’s Silver Jasmine is made from premium Fuding Da Bai and Da Hao tea trees grown in Mt Taimu, Fujian.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

If you’ve been reading my reviews for very long, you’re probably well aware that I am quite fond of jasmine tea.  It is one of my top three “tea flavors” (the other two are bergamot and chocolate … yeah, I know that chocolate isn’t really a traditional tea flavor, but, what can I say?  I’m a chocoholic!)  And this is a very fine jasmine tea.

I’ve enjoyed this twice now and have found it to be a remarkable representation of jasmine tea … or shall I say, what jasmine tea should be.  It doesn’t taste perfume-y or artificial.  The flavors are very well balanced.  The jasmine is sweet, delicately floral and not sharp or off-putting at all.  The green tea tastes fresh and offers hints of a nutty undertone.

The second time I tried the tea, I added a bit more leaf, because the brewing parameters on the website suggests 1 – 2 teaspoons of tea for 8 ounces of water.  The result is – obviously! – a stronger brew, but, the flavors remain remarkably balanced.  All of the flavors I mentioned above from the first cup are present in this second cup, they’re just intensified from the addition of tea leaf.  It did not cause the tea to become bitter or off-putting, and I found that I enjoyed both servings of the tea.  For a relaxing cup later in the evening, I’d recommend just 1 teaspoon per cup, and for a more invigorating cup earlier in the day, use up to 2 teaspoons per cup.

A very nice jasmine, no matter how you choose to serve it.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Steven Smith Teamaker

Product Description:

Delicate, tender green tea leaves from China’s Fujian Province are harvested each May and steam-fired to maintain their flavor – then placed amid just- picked jasmine buds, which open slowly to share their fragrance. Many call it the perfect marriage.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I live in the Pacific Northwest, and there are many things to love about living here.  I love the change of seasons (coming from Southern California, where it would seem that there is one season), I love all the trees and I even love the grey skies.  And recently, while driving home with my husband after lunch in Portland, I realized something else that I love about living up here… the TEA.

Over the past few years (the last decade?) the consumption of tea has increased, but let’s face it, as a nation overall, the United States seems to be a coffee nation.  Even I used to drink coffee until I came to the realization that it was the cause of my daily feelings of nausea around 11 am.  Once I stopped drinking coffee, those ill effects also ceased.  Since then, I’ve embraced tea and I love it.  Even more than I ever liked coffee.

Steven Smith's teashop in Portland, Oregon

Anyway, the Pacific Northwest seems to be home of the coffee explosion (aka Starbucks), but we are also home to some pretty fantastic tea too.  In fact, Portland is home to none other than Steven Smith, who is (at least, in my opinion) a ROCK STAR of tea!

And it definitely ROCKS that I can travel just 15 minutes or so and be in the presence of greatness at Steven Smith’s teashop.  And even if you don’t live close by, most of Steven Smith’s delicious teas can be procured online.

As a jasmine fan, this was a tea I was most eager to try, and it certainly did not disappoint me.  It lived up to the quality that I’ve come to expect from Steven Smith.  The flavor is light and fresh – evoking thoughts of springtime (not that I’m eager for the change in season, but, the thoughts of the season are beautiful).

The green tea is sweet and light. There are vegetative tones to it which add a crispness to the flavor, but even with these slight vegetative tastes, I wouldn’t call this a grassy tasting tea.  Just lightly vegetal, which is matched perfectly with the flavor of the jasmine, which is a soft, flowery taste without tasting overdone, perfume-ish or artificial.  These two flavors are well balanced, and play off each other well.

Thank you, Steven Smith, for helping to bring the joy of tea to the Pacific Northwest.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Tea Licious

Product Description:

Green tea with jasmine petals.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This is a delightful jasmine tea – the flavor is so light and sweet. The jasmine essence here is one of the more delicate jasmines I’ve encountered.  It doesn’t have a heavy flavor nor does it taste perfume-y or soapy.  It is sweet and gentle.

In fact, gentle is the word I would use to describe this tea overall.  The green tea does not possess a strong, grassy profile.  It is fresh and soft with no bitterness and very little astringency – in fact, I only notice the astringency when I am actually focusing on finding it.  Otherwise, the delivery is smooth from start to finish, with a light sweetness in the aftertaste.

This tea has a very light, crisp demeanor.  There are vague hints of vegetation, but like the astringency that I mentioned previously, it is really only noticeable when I am focusing to find that vegetal taste.

This is a lovely tea, ideal for someone who has had jasmine teas in the past that were too overbearing or perfume-ish.  This tea can offer a taste of the softer side of jasmine.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  White

Where to Buy:  Verdant Tea

Product Description:

This jasmine has helped us understand what jasmine is all about.  It starts with a silky smooth silver needle white tea from Yunnan with notes of cinnamon sweetness.  Jasmine blossoms are scattered around the tea while drying for several nights in a row, and removed in the morning to be replaced by fresh blossoms, scenting the tea in the traditional method.  The result is a perfectly integrated flavor, that starts off with the textures of a white tea, and sweetness drawn out and extended by a silky jasmine aroma.  Continue steeping this out, and an intriguing apricot jam flavor starts to come out and compliment the subtle spice of the yunnan white.  In later steepings there is even the slightest hint of pine needle.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

What a splendid jasmine!

Some time ago on Steepster, I recall reading a forum post from an individual who suggested that scented teas were of inferior quality.  I think that if that sipper were to try this Yunnan White Jasmine, they just might change their mind!

Of course, just like any thing else, there are good scented teas and there are bad ones.  This is definitely one of the good ones!  I’d even go so far as to say one of the best.  The deliciously sweet, light white Yunnan tea has a delightful flavor that possesses fruit-like tones and hints of that peppery spice for which Yunnan black teas are often celebrated.  It has a creaminess to it that when combined with the sweet, luscious flavor of the jasmine becomes quite an indulgence.

My jasmine Yixing mug holds about five infusions from my gaiwan, so I steeped these leaves five times and combined all five infusions in my Yixing.  It is interesting because the flavors change with each infusion, so I taste many different things in this cup.  The sip starts with the sweetness of jasmine, along with just a hint of spice.

By mid-sip, the creamy flavor washes over the palate, and as the sip nears the finish, an intriguing, almost-resinous note arrives … it almost tastes of pine or perhaps rosemary.  I thought maybe my palate was playing tricks on me, until I read through the tasting notes from Verdant Tea, and I notice that they also experienced this flavor.

What a truly remarkable jasmine tea … it will surprise even the most seasoned of jasmine aficionados out there!