Floral teas done just right can really deliver an experience like no other tea can. There is something so romantic, so alluring, so down right comforting about having a floral tea that delivers. And after the last few weeks of constant meetings and trainings, I needed some comforting.
So while I was organizing my stash I saw this delight that had gotten stuck behind a few other blends. Jasmine Pearls are typically a tea that I gobble up eagerly so to say the excitement was real would be an understatement.
Brewed with water prepped right around 175 and steeped for about well, the tea is still steeping because I’m using my Wall mug (from Boreal Wildcraft- do yourself a favor, check out this mug and get one. Game Changer!) Even with the tea constantly steeping, this tea is simply perfection. Soft subtle green tea notes mingle with stronger floral flavors to present this romantic combination that I have fallen in love with yet again.
What I adore most about this tea is that even with using this unique brewing vessel, the tea is not overwhelming or giving me that really overpowered floral note that makes the tea too harsh to enjoy. Each sip is just providing so much enjoyment and allowing me to really dive into the tea while enjoying watching the tea sit at the bottom of the mug. Simple, beautiful, and comforting. All the attributes you want to find in a good cuppa tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: My Tea Guy
Description
Jasmine Pearl tea is a fragrant, refreshing tea made by combining jasmine flower blooms with green tea leaves. The flowering jasmine plant originated in Persia and was brought to China around 300 A.D. Tea scented with jasmine became popular during the Song Dynasty between 960 and 1270 A.D.
Our Jasmine Pearls are hand-rolled under the supervision of tea master LIN ZHENG KAN (The fourth generation tea family descendant). The spring picked tea leaves are hand-rolled into pearls and then dried until summer when they are blended with unopened jasmine flowers which bloom overnight, releasing their aroma into the tea. The flowers are then removed and the process is repeated several times.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Jasmine Pearls from Silk Road Teas. . . .
These charming, tightly-wound light-and-dark green balls unfurl dramatically into curls that Shirley Temple would be proud of. Watching them expand is like watching a slow-motion figure skating performance.
The resulting flavor is a delicious, buttery, almost nutty green. Its flavor is subtle. The light touch is not to be confused with weakness, however. It manages to leave a lasting impact that’s the epitome of a warm afternoon in a sunlit window, watching trees wave in the breeze. The perfect pillow upon which to meditate.
Speaking of which, my meditation practice has stalled, and this reminds me: I need to get back to that. It felt really good. I’d like to get back to that state of mind. Until then, there’s this tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Silk Road Teas
Description
Jasmine Pearls is a delight to watch unfold as well as to drink. This tea is certainly one of China’s finest quality jasmine offerings. The quality of the Pearl rests with two key attributes: a high-quality, spring pick green that is hand rolled then kept in cool place to await the jasmine harvest. Secondly, the number of scentings the pearls receive is key to the quality of their jasmine taste. The best quality pearls are scented up to 20 times but more typically 7-8 times for today’s “high-grade” pearl. The resulting jasmine flavor should be smooth and naturally sweet building on the sweet notes of the green tea pearl. Lot is 2018 crop and is made to EU Standard. Lot # JP-1.
Why we selected this particular lot. The white downy color that wraps our pearls indicates an early spring green tea harvest. This indicates the pearl is higher grade and the base green tea taste is sweet. Our source for this tea is in Fujian Province where we believe the best jasmines teas are made. The leaves unfurled and showed two leaves and a bud and a rich green color. The scenting of this lot is natural, soft on the tongue and lingering. The jasmine flower petals are minimal, again indicating a higher grade. Once rolled, the pearls wait until the jasmine flowers are harvested later in the summer. For a high-grade pearl such as ours, the flower petals are introduced and then removed after imparting their fragrance.
Tasting notes. The aroma of this tea is exquisite. With water, the pearl releases a sweet and delicate green tea redolent with the fresh scent of jasmine. The taste is very natural, smooth and clean. The jasmine will soothe. It goes very well food as well.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Ganesha Green from Nepal Tea LLC. . .
I know you aren’t supposed to judge a tea by its name – but that is exactly what I have done with this tea which is Ganesha Green from Nepal Tea LLC. I couldn’t tell you why I was drawn to this tea because of its name I just was.
The company says that this tea is “A step up from our Kanchanjangha Verde, Ganesha Green is a finer pluck, medium bodied with prominent marine flavors, such as kelp and seaweed.”
I can’t say as I have tried their Kanchanjangha Verde but I can tell you what I thought of this tea based on my personal experience.
I thought it was pretty bold for a green…more on the grassy and seaweedy side of things for sure.
As you may know – brewing green tea is considered rather complicated since steeping green tea for too long or in too hot water will result in a bitter and astringent brew regardless of the quality of the leaves.
I found this to be one of the more tricky greens, too! I was able to play around with it at least 2 to 3 times. My personal preference was to steep for about 1.5 minutes. I found anything longer than that the tea turned a bit bitter to quite bitter depending on how long you over infused it for.
1.5 minutes was my HAPPY ZONE. It was just the right amount of green and the right about of savory I look for in a greener-seaweedy type green tea. Some might call it a soupy type tea or even a greener miso flavor.
Regardless…once I found my HAPPY PLACE with this tea…I was a fan!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Nepal Tea LLC
Description
A step up from our Kanchanjangha Verde, Ganesha Green is a finer pluck, medium bodied with prominent marine flavors, such as kelp and seaweed.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Moroccan Mint from Swallowtail Teas. . . .
Today I was in the mood for more of a classic tea. And then I remembered. Moroccan Mint from Swallowtail Teas was one of the teas I was hoping to review this week.
Being a huge fan of green teas and mint blends, Moroccan Mint was one of the teas that I became obsessed with when I first started drinking teas. To the point that I completely burnt myself out of drinking the classic blend. But time has passed and I will admit- it is past time for me to go back to the classics.
I brewed up this delight with the recommended parameters and sat myself down to do some work. After I while, I realized that I was no longer working but both hands were hugging my mug and I had totally started to reflect on the weekend coming up. I started thinking about what fun activities I could do with my kiddos and hubby. I wasn’t thinking about the stressful requests coming into my inbox but wondering where we could go out to eat and when we could visit my parents.
That is the sign you have a fabulous tea on your hands. A tea that transports you, your mind, your soul, just your everything into a state of calm and happy without you even realizing it. The tea itself is everything you could ask for. Crisp, fresh, minty, slightly smoky, with a subtle vegetal hint here and there. The mint and the crisp factor of the tea are really the stars and keep me coming back for more. A classic done in a classic way. No frills, just delicious spot on flavor. Oh how I love my gunpowder green teas!
Beside the teas amazing flavor, the tea is presented in a really unique way. I’m used to teas being sent in pouches and tins, but never in an old fashion type tin. The lid reminds me of an lid from days past where you have to pry it off with a butter knife. The label is old school and just adds to the classic overall feel of the tea.
For being my first venture with Swallowtail Teas, I’m already hooked. The prices are right and so far this first tea is exactly what a tea should be. Can’t wait to explore more of their offerings.
And just for our readers, enter Soroiteasisters at check out for 20% off your order. Trust me. You are going to want to pick up some of these teas!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Swallowtail Teas
Description:
Swallowtail’s take on a classic tea blend, Certified organic spearmint and Pinhead Gunpowder. Vegetal, smokey, and balanced.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Green Tea / Hobbs Tea
Any new tea company I stumble upon is almost always a must buy for a tea adventurer like myself. This tea company was very new to me and seems to be new in general. They, according to the lady at the store who is a friend of the owner of the tea company, hand pack each bag and do not use any pesticides etc. It’s an uncommon Hawaiian grown tea. That all seemed wonderful so of course I picked up a box, glad to support a local tea company who is also well aware of the plight our planet is in.
That being said I was disappointed to open the box and see their tea bags packaged in plastic. But the disappointment doesn’t stop there. They describe the tea as Bright & Smooth. Interesting descriptors. It is smooth. Barely any astringency save for a bit with the after taste but bright stumps me.
The disheartening part is that there really is no flavor. It’s dull. Almost as if the tea leaves had been steeped a few times before they were packed. Considering the price I paid for the amount of tea in there it was even more upsetting.
Despite this I still encourage others to give it a try. Perhaps I just received a bad batch.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Hobbs Tea
Description
Our rare, limited harvest tea is grown, hand plucked, and processed on a small farm at 4,000ft elevation on the slopes of Kīlauea Volcano, Big Island, Hawai’i. Beyond organic, and watered only by the rain, the bushes benefit from heavy mist, cloud cover, and the natural shade of native Ohi’a Lehua trees and large curly ferns. Situated above two active lava tubes, the garden’s fertile volcanic soil yields a smooth, sweet brew that is low in tannins.
Tasting profile: This refreshing tea is silky and smooth to the taste.
Ingredients: Whole leaf green tea
Caffeine: Medium
Each 100% plant-based bag is hand-filled, hand-tied and hand-sealed in certified biodegradable and compostable, non-toxic bags.
