Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
When you brew Two Dragons, two arms of jasmine and globe amaranth petals will slowly expand upwards cupping a single marigold flower – and so it is given the name of Two Dragons and a Pearl. Thanks to the jasmine and amaranth, this tea has a wonderful sweet, flowery aroma and taste. The taste is long-lasting and will survive 2 or 3 infusions.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is the third and final tea from my Steepster Select box from February: Year of the Dragon. It is a very slow-to-open blooming tea from Teavivre. It’s fun to watch it slowly unfurl to reveal the beautiful flowery display tucked inside the handcrafted bulb.
The instructions suggest using boiling water and 2 minutes steep time. However, I couldn’t bear to pour boiling water over these bulbs, I was afraid I’d burn them. Instead, I heated the water to 185°F, and steeped for 2 1/2 minutes. Only a few leaves opened away from the bulb, so, I infused it a second time, adding 1 minute onto the steep time. With the second infusion, the bulb expanded more, revealing hints of the colors of the display, but, still did not open fully. 
It wasn’t until the third and final infusion that the bulb fully opened, revealing a beautiful orange flower at the base of the leaves, and jasmine “arms” that reach up to hold a gorgeous red flower. The photo to the right doesn’t begin to do justice to how lovely this bloom really is.
The tea from the first infusion was a very gentle flavored tea, with notes of jasmine and hints of fresh grass and hay. It was delicious, but I do think it could have improved with a longer steep time. Perhaps a hotter water would have produced more flavor as well, but again, having scorched more than my share of green and white teas in my past, this is something I do not wish to repeat.
The second infusion provided a much more flavorful cup. The flavor is sweet and floral, and the tea tastes fresh and even a little creamy. Very smooth, with no notable astringency or bitterness. The third infusion was a little less flavorful, but still was quite enjoyable … and even though the flavor had waned a little, the splendor of the bulb finally opening fully made it worth the effort to steep it a third time.
Another lovely tea experience from Teavivre. I’ve come to expect greatness from them, and they’ve yet to fail!
Pu-Erh Earl Grey from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pu-erh & White Tea
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Aged Pu Erh tea has some similarities to green tea but yet still has a taste all its own for tea lovers to enjoy. This aged tea is combined with bergamot oil to create a new take on the traditional Earl Grey tea. Pu Erh Earl Grey uses only the finest aged Chinese tea along with bergamot and a touch of peony to balance out the flavor. The result is a strong cup of tea with amazing citrus tones and a hint of floral accent. Pu Erh tea has a distinct strong flavor that tea lovers will recognize instantly and the Earl Grey blend is one that will take this aged tea and make it a favorite of everyone.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
For those of you who have read very many of my reviews on different types of Earl Grey tea, you’re probably well aware that I’m carrying on an unabashed, passionate love affair with the Earl. So when I am given a new Earl Grey to try, I get very excited.
But, I can say that this was one Earl Grey that I was not excited to try. I was even a little nervous to try it. I love Earl Grey, but, I’ve had my ups and downs with Pu-erh. And while I am slowly coming to terms with the rather assertive nature of Pu-erh, and even gaining some appreciation for the tea, it’s taken quite a while for this to occur, and I wasn’t too sure I was ready to try my beloved Earl Grey as a Pu-erh.
I did not steep according to the instructions on the website, which suggest a boiling temperature for 5 – 7 minutes. Instead, I got out my gaiwan, eyeballed a measurement of the tea in the bottom of my gaiwan, added hot water (190°F) and put on the cover. I did a quick rinse, and then allowed the first infusion to steep for 45 seconds, and the second for one minute, and these two infusions were combined in one cup.
The Pu-erh is a shou Pu-erh, which means it has been fully ripened. It is strong and earthy. But, fortunately, the bergamot is also strong, and the bright, tangy character of the citrus fruit shines through. Also in this blend is a sprinkling of white tea, which surprised me when I first opened the pouch, as I didn’t expect to see Silver Needles in the package. I don’t know that I can taste much of the Silver Needles’ contribution to the cup, but, I can’t say that the tea would taste the same without this component.
And I have to say that despite my misgivings about the idea of a Pu-Erh Earl Grey, this is quite good. Delicious even! It earned a It’s not going to earn its way into my list of favorite Earl Grey teas, but, it certainly has earned a spot on my list of preferred Pu-Erh Teas.
I like this!
Jasmine Fairy Blooming Tea from Alice’s Fine Teas
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!
Jasmine Silver Needle (Moli Yin Zhen) from Canton Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Canton Tea Co.
Product Description:
Other names: Jasmine Silver Needle Tea, Silver Tip Tea, White Pekoe, Bai Hao Yin Zhen
2011 Great Taste Award Winner
Jasmine Silver Needle is a soft, lush tea, made from the young, unopened silvery tea buds which have been layered with fresh Jasmine blossoms over several nights. The fragrance is absorbed by the buds and gives the tea a pure, sweet, distinctive flavour that is mellowed by the white Silver Needle. This tea is a great accompaniment to food and full of beneficial antioxidants.
Taster’s Review:
What a beautiful jasmine tea.
The white tea base is a silver needle. The flavor is so soft and has a pleasant sweetness to it. The mouthfeel is soft and supple. There is very little astringency and no bitterness.
The white tea seems to bring out a milder, lighter taste in the jasmine notes. It isn’t a sharp or perfume-y jasmine taste. The grassy tones to the tea are faint and they meld with the gentle floral tones of the jasmine so well. It becomes like a gentle spring breeze for the palate.
One of the finest jasmine teas I’ve tasted. I highly recommend this to all tea enthusiasts – even those who aren’t particularly fond of jasmine – because it is so delightfully perfect. I love this tea.
Silver Needle Bai Hao (Wu Yi Qu Hao) from In Nature
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: In Nature
Product Description:
Silver Needle Bai Hao white tea is possibly the most natural form of tea. It is only made from the buds, picked when they are at their most tender.
These sweet and tender leaves used to be exclusively for the Emperors and royalty of China, as they were so rare and exquisite. A real treat that is now available for the enjoyment of all tea lovers.
The tea brews to a pale yellow-green colour with fresh aroma similar to green tea with a crisp and fresh taste.
Taster’s Review:
This is sooooooo GOOD! So very good!
These long, slender leaves are of very high quality, evidenced by the fact that they’re covered in silvery-white, soft fuzz. The aroma of the dry leaf offers hints of fruit and floral notes – but with an airy quality to the scent as well. Sort of like the way the air would smell while walking through a fruit orchard (perhaps an apple orchard?) in bloom. The fragrance of the brewed tea is a bit softer, but it still smells fresh and crisp.
The flavor is sublime. It is a remarkably smooth and sweet taste. Very pure and clean! It has a light vegetative quality that is not exactly grassy, but not exactly vegetable either. I would describe it as somewhere in-between the two tastes. It is a remarkably light vegetative note, but I like the way it contributes to the refreshing taste of this tea.
One of the best silver needle teas I’ve encountered in a very long time. If you’re a fan of silver needle teas – I suggest putting this one on your must try list!