Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Kally Tea
Tea Description:
Once you taste this excellent Jasmine scented organic green tea, you’ll be walking in floral heaven. The Jasmine is subtle so as to not over power the true taste of this tea. Truly heaven with every sip!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Organic Green Jasmine Tea from Kally Tea is a lovely jasmine scented tea. First of all, I *love* that it’s organic. The aroma of the jasmine is heavenly, but as the description above suggests, the jasmine essence is not an overwhelming one for the palate. I can taste subtle, exotically sweet notes of jasmine flower without a perfume-y or artificial taste.
I am finding this tea to be exceptionally soothing on this cold afternoon. I don’t know if that’s due to the fact that it’s a delicious hot drink and it’s cold outside, or if it’s due to the fact that I simply needed some jasmine tea. Then again, it could be both factors. Whatever the reason, this tea is really hitting the spot for me today.
The green tea is sweet and fresh tasting, not really “grassy” nor is it even a strong vegetative taste, it tastes fresh and leafy, if you know what I mean. There is a light buttery tone to this, and it adds a certain “luxurious” taste and feel to the cup.
But the real star of this cup is the jasmine. It is not a sharp tasting jasmine note, it’s exceptionally smooth. This smoothness enhances the aforementioned “buttery” tone, giving the tea a very cozy sort of feel, but at the same time, I can feel it reinvigorate and replenish me.
If you’re a jasmine tea fan and want something organic … this tea would make a great choice as a cupboard staple for you! Plus, I must admit that I love dealing with the people at Kally Tea. They’re a really friendly company that offers a really wonderful product.
Jasmine Passion Tea Blend from The Persimmon Tree
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black & Green Teas
Where To Buy: The Persimmon Tree
Tea Description:
Our Jasmine Passion tea is a divine blend of green and black loose-leaf teas, passion fruit essence and jasmine blossoms. Not only does it taste great hot, it also makes a killer iced tea for those warm summer evenings.
Learn more about this blend here.
Taster’s Review:
I am finding myself in agreement with the last sentence in the above description … this Jasmine Passion Tea Blend from The Persimmon Tree makes an excellent tea served hot OR iced. I took my first few sips of this hot, but then I was distracted and my cup turned cold, and the flavor is still so good!
I generally find myself questioning why a company would combine two different leaf types as it has been done here, using both green and black teas to create the tea base. I mean, black teas are typically brewed at boiling temperatures, and green teas are typically brewed at lower temperatures (around 180°F) and are often steeped for different lengths of time. So, to appreciate fully the black tea in this blend, one would think that the tea should be brewed with boiling water for 3 minutes or so. But that temperature would – more often than not – scald the delicate green tea leaves, and three minutes? That could result in a bitter cup of green tea!
But, after tasting it, the combination works well. I brewed the tea at a lower temperature to observe the needs of the green tea leaves, and steeped it for a little longer than I would a green tea, but a little less than a typical black (2 1/2 minutes). This produced a really tasty cup of tea!
The sweet, fruity notes of the passion fruit and the exotic, floral tones of the jasmine come together in a very pleasing way. It is both fruity and floral, with the fruit notes just narrowly claiming the edge over the flower.
The black tea and the green tea play very nicely together too. The black tea is a softer taste than one might be used to with a black tea, but this is because I brewed it at a lower temperature for less time than I might normally brew a black tea. But the lighter flavor of the black allows the green tea to express itself without being overpowered by the stronger black flavors. I taste the sweet, delicate notes of the green tea, and the earthy tones of the black tea.
This tea is a really well-executed blend from The Persimmon Tree. I like it quite a bit, and I’m glad I got the opportunity to try it!
Oolong Osmanthus Jade Pearls from Tea Mania
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Tea Mania
Tea Description:
This Oolong from Doi Mae Salong is a Oolong # 17 Jade Pearls which was flavored with the Osmanthus flower. The sweet, honey-like aroma of Osmanthus flower harmonizes wonderfully with the mild flavor of the Oolong # 17 Jade Pearls. The beautiful fragrance of Osmanthus complements the mild flavor without masking the taste of Oolong. Due to the intense floral aroma and its honey-sweetness, the osmanthus flower is often used in Chinese desserts.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Having previously reviewed Tea Mania’s Oolong #17 Jade Pearls and enjoying that tea, I was pretty confident that I’d love this one – Not only do I like the base of this Oolong Osmanthus Jade Pearls from Tea Mania, but, I also love Osmanthus and the flavor that the flower imparts on Oolong teas.
And I am really enjoying this tea. The Osmanthus notes in this particular tea are a little different from some other Osmanthus Oolong teas that I’ve tasted, in that I taste a little less of the “peach-like” notes of the Osmanthus (although I do taste those notes too), and more of a honey-esque tone that is almost pollen-y, it’s so honey-sweet!
I think that this may be due in part to the dry leaf, which has quite a bit of “powder” from the Osmanthus flower, and it kind of looks like the pollen from the flower. But that’s not a bad thing in this reviewer’s estimation, because I’m enjoying the sweetness from the Osmanthus and how those honey-like tones meld so beautifully with the floral notes. It’s like a flower garden in the early spring … right in my teacup!
But let us not overlook the Jade Pearls – because those are not at all overpowered by the Osmanthus. There is a really delicious balance going on here. It’s sweet, lush, and slightly vegetative. The natural floral notes of the Oolong are enhanced by the Osmanthus flowers. There are some buttery notes to this as well, and I think that Osmanthus helps bring that out too, because I don’t recall as much a buttery flavor in the pure version of the Jade Pearls. The Osmanthus and the Jade Pearls work together in a really harmonious way to create a very pleasing flavor.
My first cup (infusions 1 & 2) was very smooth and buttery, with a strong pollen-y, honey-nectar type flavor that was a pure joy to sip. My second cup (infusions 3 & 4) became a little more focused, the flavors were less “fuzzy” and soft, and while this cup is different from the first, it was no less delicious! I like being able to now taste the notes of peach a little more distinctly, as well as the floral tones which are so beautiful. My third cup (infusions 5 & 6) was a little softer in flavor than the second cup, but still very enjoyable. The tea is a little less creamy and buttery now, and a little more focused on the fruit and floral tones.
This is a really good Osmanthus Oolong. If you are an Oolong enthusiast and haven’t yet tasted the joy of Osmanthus Oolong tea, well, why not? You’re missing out, and this one from Tea Mania is a really good place to start exploring Osmanthus Oolong and how much the Osmanthus flower brings to a cup of tea.
Magnolia Blossom Oolong Tea from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
This Guangdong specialty is a lovely oolong tea, scented with magnolia flowers. Alternately known as Orchid Oolong or in Chinese Yu Lan, this selection is a must try for those who appreciate a fine scented tea. The flavor nuances are unique, but hints of jasmine lend a recognizable character.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
It’s been a while since I’ve had a magnolia scented Oolong tea, so I was happy to find this Magnolia Blossom Oolong Tea from Upton Tea Imports in my tea stash! And it’s a really good magnolia Oolong with it’s delicately soft, sweet floral notes and hints of a fruit-like quality in the background. It’s delightfully complex.
My first cup (the first and second infusions combined following a 15 second “awakening” of the leaves) of this tea was very flavorful … much more flavorful than a typical “first cup” of Oolong tea, which generally are very subtle. There is a lot of flavor in this cup. The first thing I notice is the sweetness, it’s like nectar. As the sip progresses, the floral notes develop. In the background, I notice distant notes of fruit: something between a sweet apple and melon.
The second cup (infusions 3 & 4) is where I start to notice a creamy character come through. It’s soft and buttery and almost decadent. It has a very luxurious taste and texture. The floral notes are still present. The floral tones are a slightly sharper now. It’s not so much a nectar-y sweetness now as it is a floral and buttery/creamy sweetness. I still taste the notes of apple and melon in the distance, but another fruit note also seems to be emerging – grapefruit? Not the tartness of the citrus, but the sweeter grapefruit notes is what I’m tasting here.
The third cup (infusions 5 & 6) maintains its floral qualities. The citrus notes are more pronounced now. This note is most noticeable toward the finish. I notice a slight astringency now, this cup is not quite as soft and creamy as the first two cups were, but it is still very flavorful and wonderful to enjoy!
Overall, a very enjoyable magnolia Oolong, and a truly lovely way to spend an afternoon. It evokes thoughts of an early, warm summer afternoon which is kind of nice since it’s been so cold! Yes, I do love the cooler weather, but, it’s also nice to have memories of the warmth. Actually, I think I prefer the memories in a teacup of the warm days of summer versus the actual summer day!
Rose Congou Emperor Tea from Culinary Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Culinary Teas
Tea Description:
Congou is a general name for non-broken Chinese black teas. Rose Congou is layered 5 times with rose petals, which give the tea a delicate ethereal rose character.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Until today, I had never tried a Rose Congou tea iced. I had heard so much about how good Rose Congou tea is iced, but, I had not tried it. So when it came time to try this Rose Congou Emperor Tea from Culinary Teas, I figured it was high time that I try it iced!
And WOW! All that I’ve heard – all the hype and praise of Rose Congou as an iced tea – it’s all true! This tea is absolutely DELIGHTFUL iced! It’s a little sweeter, and there’s a tangy quality to it that is … it’s not quite what I’d call “tart” exactly, but, it offers a really pleasing contrast to the aforementioned sweetness. It is actually a little reminiscent of a Baklava that’s been flavored with rose water … at least, that’s what memories it evokes for me.
I really like this Rose Congou … having tried it first hot before allowing the remainder of the pot to cool enough to chill in the refrigerator, I found that this particular rose tea was very pleasant. The rose is soft and delicate and doesn’t taste perfume-y or overly floral.
The rose is nicely balanced with the Chinese Congou black tea, which provides a smooth, rich backdrop of flavor for the rose notes that play on the foreground. It tastes sweet and exotic. A very enjoyable cup hot … made even more enjoyable when served iced!
So, if you’re like me, and haven’t taken the time to stash a pitcher full of Rose Congou Tea in the icebox, do that now! You won’t be sorry. This makes an incredibly refreshing, unique and surprisingly delicious cold drink.