Looking for a little cup of calm this evening, ready to sit and sip on the porch in the cool evening air, I decided to make this new (to me) jasmine dragon pearl tea. I will be using a small tetsubin and using the whole sample of pearls.
Like most jasmine dragon pearls that I have tried, this calls for one teaspoon per cup. Unlike most, it calls for much cooler water at 158F and a 2-4 minute steep. I like to follow instructions for new teas and then change up the steeping parameters to suit my taste. I gave it just two minutes.
The first steep is almost completely clear. It really looks like water with the tiniest tinge of gold if I really use my imagination! At first sip, I think it is far too weak, but as I keep sipping and really pay attention to the tea, I find that it has lovely subtle flavor, nice jasmine taste, and is indeed a very calming cup. (I have had some jasmine green that was a bit arresting and harsh to me.) As subtle as it is, I would never serve this with food as it would simply taste like a cup of hot water. I really did enjoy it by itself, though.
For the second steep, I decided to go with my usual parameters. I raised the water temp to 175F and gave it a three minute steep. Now I have tea with a decidedly golden color and more flavor. As I drink, a pleasant briskness is building. Now THIS is how I would make it to serve with a meal.
As a stand alone sipping tea, I think my perfect cup would happen at their recommended temperature of 158F but for a longer time than I gave it, probably three to three and a half minutes.
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Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Rivertea
Description
For those moments when you need some inspiration, this Jasmine Dragon Pearls will bring your imagination to life. Dragon Pearls green tea is a rare specialty from China. Only the youngest and most tender leaves are repeatedly blended with fresh, very fragrant jasmine flowers, a process that is repeated at least 8 times, at the end of which the flower petals are removed and the tea leaves are carefully hand rolled into small, tight pearls. The jasmine aroma is closed in and unfolds fully when infused giving the tea an exquisitely fragrant perfume and taste. Its colour is so intense and palpable that the tea almost appears like a syrup. A pleasure for the eyes, nose and palate, a fragrance that will inspire your days!
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Lychee Jasmine Green / Tealyra
Lychee is one of my favorite flavors. Jasmine is a long time favorite for tea flavoring as well as my first tea I tried. Needless to say this was one I had to try. It has a fairly sweet smell. Nothing overly artificial like some companies and no sugar so my hopes are high. The initial few sips through me for a loop.
The taste reminds me more of artificial flavors at first. Though as the sips progress I find myself enjoying it more. Fruity notes are the core with some hints of jasmine. There is a bit of astringency but nothing too major. This just depends highly on the steep time. This would make an awesome bubble tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Tealyra
Description:
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Inspired by enormous Shanghai; China’s most populous city- it is ever changing, ever growing. It is a booming, fast paced modern city, yet has remained true to rich culture and to tradition- our Lychee Jasmine Green is a celebration of tradition among change! One of the more popular teas in the neighborhood is this delightful blend of Lychee and jasmine. Fragrant, floral and fruity notes of lichee fruit complement the exotic tones of night blooming jasmine flowers; two very distinctly Chinese favorites. Our green tea base has a bright flavor with touches of honey, citrus, flowers, and green apple. This inspired blend stands the test of time; it could have been enjoyed in old tea houses 40 years ago as easily as it could today at a trendy milk tea shop!
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Jasmine Snow Bud (Mo Li Xue Ya)/Teavivre. . . .
My favorite jasmine teas have come from Teavivre, a tea company located in the Fujian Province in China. My number one jasmine to keep on hand is their Premium Jasmine Dragon Pearl tea, as well as their Peach Jasmine Dragon Pearl, which is a favorite with guests. I think I have owned nearly every type of jasmine tea they have ever carried!
I also kept their “economy” jasmine tea on hand for serving with food, because the meal masks the high quality of the other teas and it made sense to go with something less expensive when I couldn’t taste and enjoy the tea fully. But I really preferred the others for special tea times and gong fu steeping.
Jasmine tea is a great de-stresser for me. It is as effective as a bubble bath, if not more so, for making tight muscles relax and tense nerves mellow. I love to make a pot when there is a lot of hubbub, like lots of guests and mad holiday cooking going on full speed ahead. So when I found out they have added new jasmine teas to their line up, I had to try them!
This snow bud tea is a loose tea that is first scented repeatedly with fresh jasmine flowers and then finally, more strongly scented jasmine flowers are added to the leaves and left to impart even more flavor.
Does this make it too flowery? Too soapy? Not at all. This costs about the same as the economy grade jasmine I used to buy but is far superior to it, in my opinion. At this price point, I will gladly serve it with food, but the flavor and smoothness of the base is so good that I can happily enjoy it all by itself or with a treat. It is a worthy addition to the Teavivre jasmine collection.
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Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Description
Rich jasmine fragrance with sweet aftertaste
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Jasmine / Wize Monkey Coffee Leaf Tea
I’m feeling a bit under the weather and so I needed something with a little kick to pick me up and a bigger boost of flavor.
Jasmine usually is a good floral for that when your tastes buds are a bit out of whack.
Didn’t hit me until half way through the cup that this wasn’t real tea. Even my taste buds said ‘naw man this isn’t tea but we enjoy it.’
The flavor is a cross between a rooibos and a barley tea. It’s sweet with some unique nutty, closer to hazelnut, hints. The jasmine plays well with the rest of the flavors. Slightly hidden at first but when you seek it out you instantly find it.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Coffee Leaf
Where to Buy: Wize Monkey
Description
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Jasmine Rose/Calabash Tea & Tonic. . . .
We’re in that seasonal stage now where it’s technically spring and everyone wants to act like it’s already warm outside, but it just isn’t yet. I am not immune from that urge. The long slog of winter has made me dream of sunshine and singing birds. I’m still waiting for springtime to hit the air, but in the meantime I can brew it up in my mug.
This blend is perfectly spring in a cup. Calabash lists the ingredients as jasmine flowers, Turkish roses, and first-pluck sencha green tea. First-pluck sencha usually comes out in April or May, so this is literally a spring tea. Plus I always think of flowers as a sign of spring (although I looked it up and it seems jasmine primarily blooms in summer and most but not all types of roses bloom in spring).
I like the choice of sencha as a base tea here. Its lightness allows the florals to shine. Rose is definitely the prominent flavor here, with jasmine playing a supporting role. It doesn’t have that chemically, artificial taste that some floral teas do and it’s not over-the-top. I also like that it’s only two flowers, so it’s not too busy. I get two solid steeps out of the leaf before it loses flavor.
This tea is the perfect way to tide me over until springtime arrives for real.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Calabash Tea & Tonic
Description
Hand-plucked jasmine flowers and Turkish roses compliment our exclusive first pluck sencha green tea & Love
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
